Designing in the New Forest National Park
From our studio, located in the northern part of the New Forest National Park, we enjoy daily the beauty of this setting and how it changes through the seasons. We are uniquely placed to understand the constraints and opportunities of designing architecture within this Designated Land environment.
As an NFNPA award-winning practice, we are skilled in the planning policy of the New Forest National Park Authority. One of our new build projects Oak Framed House is featured in The New Forest Nation Park Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) that was formally adopted in January 2022 and forms a key part of the planning guidance for the National Park. This document analyses the character and development context of the New Forest, sets design principles, develops a Design Code, and looks at traditional and contemporary materials and sustainability, landscape, and ecological considerations. It follows on from the National Model Design Code published by the Government in 2021.
Oak Framed House is used as an example of a project that has successfully used a contemporary material of green roof and careful massing to blend into the landscape. As well as helping this building blend into its forest surroundings, the green roof in this project increases the biodiversity and attenuates rainwater.
We are always looking at how our projects can have a positive impact on the environment. We prioritise a ‘fabric first’ approach, designing buildings that have an excellent thermal envelope to reduce energy demand in the first instance. We work with energy assessors and specialists to specify complementary energy supplies such as Air Source Heat Pumps and photovoltaic arrays. We have worked with consultants to design rainwater harvesting systems and grey water recycling.
If you have a project in the New Forest National Park or another Designated Land site please get in touch with us to see how we can help you navigate the planning process.
