Residential designin Somerset

Blue lias limestone around Somerton and the Levels, red sandstone in the west towards the Quantocks, Doulting and Ham stone in the south and east, Mendip limestone in the north. Each area has its own vernacular, and we draw on it. A new building near Wells should not look like one near Taunton.

The Mendip Hills and the Quantock Hills are both protected landscapes, now known as National Landscapes. Development within them is held to a high standard, and views from and into them matter.

Since April 2023, Somerset Council has been the single planning authority for most of the county, replacing the former district councils. Local plans from the former districts still apply until a new county-wide plan is adopted, so policy can differ between, for example, Frome and Taunton. Exmoor National Park has its own planning authority.

Barn conversions may proceed through Class Q prior approval, which allows agricultural buildings to become homes within strict limits, or through a full planning application for traditional buildings. Phosphate levels in the Somerset Levels and Moors have also affected new housing approvals, and we check whether nutrient neutrality applies to your site.

Stone and timber barn conversions. Farmhouse extensions and renovations. Replacement dwellings on rural plots. Garden studios and annexes. New homes on infill plots in villages and market towns.

Flood risk is a real consideration on and around the Levels. Sites in flood zones need a flood risk assessment, and floor levels, materials and escape routes may all be affected. We check the Environment Agency flood maps at the first visit. Further from the Levels, many farm buildings sit in open countryside where landscape and ecology carry as much weight as design.