House in Henley-on-Thames.
Supporting extensions to a property in a well-preserved conservation area requires careful consideration and justification. Mark was asked to support a proposal and provide a Heritage Statement for the demolition of an existing conservatory and the erection of a single storey side extension.
The scheme needed careful justification to ensure the proposals preserved the Remenham Henley Bridge Conservation Area. The property was described in a local newspaper at the time as being a ‘riverside residence in great demand in this favourite locality’.
The style of the house had its roots in the Arts & Crafts movement and ‘Old English’ fashions. Timber frame or ‘half-timbering’ revival superseded the high Victorian style of architecture typically characterised by the Gothic Revivalism of the mid-19th century.
Mark was able to justify the proposals and the design of the side extension. These maintained that the alterations caused no harm to the conservation area. An assessment and statement of significance was provided, taking into account national policy.
Conservation area designation does not exclude all possibility of alterations to properties within the area. It requires that it preserves or enhances the character or appearance. The report also had to take into account the Council’s Adopted Core Strategy Development Plan as well as its Borough Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document.
Mark was able to provide a Heritage Statement adhering to national and local guidance.
