THE FLOORPLAN
The ground floor centres around an open-plan kitchen, dining and sitting area, but a snug, utility and study provide some more secluded spaces, too. Upstairs, Anthony and Liz wanted a big master suite with en suite and dressing area. This sits alongside three further bedrooms for when friends and family visit.
FIRST FLOOR
Master bedroom Dressing room Bathroom Bedroom
GROUND FLOOR
Dining area Kitchen Utility Shower room Snug Study Sitting room
1 2 FIRST FLOOR Navigating the planning process
“We chose to make a few minor changes to one of Border Oak’s standard designs and submitted that for planning permission, but it was completely rejected,” says Anthony. “In the end one of Border Oak’s chief designers and I went to see the planners in our local council and we directly talked through what they wanted and what we could do with a design — something I understand is quite unusual.”
It emerged through these discussions that as he and Liz were planning to demolish the existing farmhouse, Cheshire West and Chester County Council felt the replacement should replicate the original in size and appearance. A fairly traditional front elevation was essential and the building needed to roughly follow the footprint of the original house — including some sections that had fallen down due to lack of maintenance.
After two years – during which time the brick and mortar specifications were discussed and approved, and the proposed front oak porch was removed from the design – a revised application passed. The resulting design blends the traditional farmhouse the planners were after with the modern home Anthony and Liz had envisioned.