Residential designin Newport and South Wales

Victorian and Edwardian terraces around Stow Hill and Maindee, larger villas in Allt-yr-yn, historic houses in Caerleon, and village and farm properties across rural Monmouthshire and the Usk Valley. Further west, Cardiff's Pontcanna, Canton and Penylan offer similar terraces to Bristol, but under Welsh rules.

Planning in Wales follows Planning Policy Wales and Technical Advice Notes, applied by Newport City Council, Monmouthshire County Council, Cardiff Council and their neighbours. Permitted development rights for householders are set by Welsh legislation and differ from England in detail, so assumptions from English projects should be checked.

Building regulations are also devolved. Energy performance requirements under Part L in Wales, and fire safety requirements for new homes, including sprinklers in new dwellings, differ from England. We design to the Welsh standards from the start.

The Wye Valley National Landscape, the Brecon Beacons National Park (Bannau Brycheiniog) and many conservation areas, including Caerleon with its Roman remains, bring additional constraints. Archaeology can be a real consideration around Caerleon and Usk, and we plan for it early.

Flood risk along the Usk and the Severn estuary is assessed under Welsh flood guidance, which takes a precautionary approach to new homes. Sustainable drainage approval from the local SuDS approving body is also required in Wales for most new buildings, separately from planning. Both affect what can be built and where, so we review them at the start.