Through careful negotiation with Warwickshire District Council, we have gained approval to replace an existing house with a significantly larger, high-performance dwelling located in the sought-after area of Baddesley Clinton, near Solihull.

Our strategy cleverly maximised the new home’s volume by leveraging all available permitted development rights associated with the existing house. This included allowances for extensions, an additional storey, and outbuildings, enabling us to establish a larger theoretical volume than would typically be considered acceptable. By demonstrating this as the baseline, we successfully justified an increased size for the new dwelling within planning constraints.

We also navigated key planning challenges, including ancient woodland preservation, biodiversity net gain, ecological impact, and highways considerations. Additionally, we achieved a significant improvement in energy efficiency by integrating sustainable technologies and a high-performing building envelope.

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Carefully designed to complement the natural landscape, the new home appears to float above the cliff edge, creating a striking yet sensitive presence. From the roadside, the property appears a modest single-storey structure, minimising its visual impact, while stepping down into a double-height space to adapt to the site’s dramatic level changes.

The design maximises stunning coastal views while respecting its protected environment, delivering a sustainable contemporary addition to this remarkable location.

Careful siting and layout design has enabled generous building footprints whilst working around the existing trees so they are all preserved.

Natural materials and simple lines help the building nestle into the wooded plots. Glazed areas and strategically placed ‘cut-outs’ allow an abundance of natural light into the buildings and afford views out to the private grounds.

View Plan
View Plan

This new-build house is located on a prestigious road in a leafy suburb in south Birmingham. At basement level there is a swimming pool and gym along with a changing room and shower area. The basement will include an additional subterranean area linked to the garage above to allow additional cars to be parked at lower level using a platform lift system. A lower terrace accessed from basement level has steps up to garden level. On the ground floor the double height hallway leads to a music room/library, study, formal dining room, and large open plan kitchen with living area and separate utility room. From the kitchen/living area, doors open onto a terrace with covered seating area. On the first floor a glass bridge leads to 5 bedrooms with en-suites and a 6th bedroom/playroom. The master suite and 2 additional bedrooms will have access to a balcony at the rear of the first floor. Another staircase from the landing will lead to the second floor which will include a cinema room and games room along with a WC and additional storage.

Externally, we have drawn up detailed proposals for a fully landscaped front and rear garden. At the rear, the terrace will step down to newly planted beds filled with grasses and semi-mature shrubs and trees. Further along are two seating areas, one with a pergola which overlooks the lower part of the garden, the other smaller seating area will be set within large rocks to provide a quiet space to relax. In the centre of the garden, two Japanese-style pools linked with a waterfall take advantage of the change in level and the lower pool will be surrounded by seating stones overlooking a ‘cricket pitch’ lawn at the far end of the garden. At the front, the driveway will be resurfaced and the garden will be replanted with new beds and a lawn.

Fit-out and interior shots courtesy of Interior Designers Faber.

Site orientation and careful massing of the building made the most available use of views and natural light to the East and West. The greenbelt location, which falls within Stratford on Avon’s planning district, imposed restrictions in terms of volume so a careful balance between footprint and roof heights was required.

The Client required some traditional elements to the building shape with pitched roofs in order to maximise the potential sales market. However, with modern materials and detailing, using aluminium framed windows and doors and concealed guttering, a contemporary quality was instilled. Continued monitoring of budget, aesthetics and performance ensured that the project remained financially viable whilst generating an uncompromised built form.

View Plan
View Plan

We explored two possible designs and agreed to take a modern stance with a simple ‘L’ shaped plan which would emerge from the slope of the hill with the living and bedroom spaces then floating above the grass.

We deliberately kept the building low and let the natural environment dominate.

The building orientates itself to the open countryside beyond and presents a very modest and private frontage to the lane it is accessed from.

View Plan

The plot has an enviable position overlooking a lake so we introduced large windows and bi-folding doors to the rear elevation. A balcony and frameless glass handrail from the master bedroom and an aligned stone terrace from the rear family space also take full advantage of the views to the rear.

The house is almost 7000sqft over three floors and each of the five bedrooms are positioned around a central atrium and glazed oak framed entrance bay. Lots of natural light spills into the house and views to the green surroundings are opened up from every room.

View Plan

We created a bold stone clad modernist pavilion attaching itself to the dwelling, both at ground and first floor level.

Internally a large 11m long pool has been created with hydrotherapy, spa, steam room and bar within the transparent glass link.

External terraces with a sunken dining area stem from this and the sliding glazed doors at the end of the pool will open electronically to blur the join between pool and the stone plinths outside.