Projects

Building a one-off home in the countryside is a dream shared by many, and follows a tradition of the English country house and landscape which planning policy actively seeks to maintain. ‘Paragraph 84 e’ of UK national planning policy (NPPF) allows for one-off homes in the countryside where there would usually be a presumption against development, so long as the design can be shown to be of ‘exceptional quality’ and ‘truly outstanding’.

This policy has had various guises since its original introduction in the late 1990s (PPG 7 from 1997, then PPS 7 in 2004, then Paragraph 55 in 2012, Paragraph 79 in 2018, and now Paragraph 84 since 2021). ‘Paragraph 80 e’ states new one-off houses can be permitted so long as:

‘the design is of exceptional quality, in that it:
– is truly outstanding, reflecting the highest standards in architecture, and would help to raise standards of design more generally in rural areas; and
– would significantly enhance its immediate setting, and be sensitive to the defining characteristics of the local area.’

Eldridge has successfully secured approvals for ‘truly outstanding’ Paragraph 84 houses, with projects in Surrey, Kent and the Cotswolds. Key to the success of a project is a strong and logical conceptual approach which is rooted in the specifics of the site and the local defining characteristics. Our design approach is well suited to this as is our track record of delivering remarkable one-off homes.