KIRKLAND
FRASER
MOOR
ARCHITECTS



Selected Projects

Ashraya
Beeches
Bluebell House
Morcott
Goose Acre
Foxglove House
Meadway
Kings Road Church
Nora Grace Hall
Dunchurch Pools
Pouchen End Farm
Rosa Maria Farm
Blackthorn Reach
Drakelow Campus
Hverfjall Centre


Archived Projects

Paragraph 84
Greenbelt Projects
Library


Ideas

Studies
Journal

 About

Greenbelt Projects
Berkhamsted, Wiggington, Bovingdon, Hemel


Remagen
Shothanger House
Water End
Rosa Maria Farm
Pouchen End Farm
Beeches
Ten Oaks
Foxglove House





Greenbelt & Rural Context

Many projects undertaken by the practice fall within sensitive rural settings such as Greenbelt or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Planning policy generally presumes against new developments in such areas and where permitted ‘exceptional circumstances’ need to be applied in order to justify scuccess. Paragraphs 84e and 139 are key planning policies contained within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that provide a proscribed avenue for navigating ‘exceptional circumstances’. 

Many of our successful projects however have not had to rely on these policies and instead have been undertaken via negotiation where land has been previously developed and innovative building forms are put forward .

Protection of Greenbelt and AONB sites tend to fall under two main concerns, harm though increased visual impact and harm through intensification. Our approach seeks to mitigate visual harm though innovative design strategies that seek to work from first principles and with the grain of the natural visual and ecological environment present.  

We await with interest the new Labour governments commitment to releasing ‘grey belt’ land as a foundation for delivering their new house building manifesto.

‘’Labour is committed to preserving the green belt which has served England’s towns and cities well over many decades. Under the Conservatives, green belt land is regularly released for development but haphazardly and often for speculative housebuilding. Without changing its purpose or general extent, Labour will take a more strategic approach to greenbelt land designation and release to build more homes in the right places. The release of lower quality ‘grey belt’ land will be prioritised and we will introduce ‘golden rules’ to ensure development benefits communities and nature.’’


NPPF Paragraph 84

Planning policies and decisions should avoid the development of isolated homes in the countryside unless one or more of the following circumstances apply:

a) there is an essential need for a rural worker, including those taking majority control of a farm business, to live permanently at or near their place of work in the countryside;

b) the development would represent the optimal viable use of a heritage asset or would be appropriate enabling development to secure the future of heritage assets;

c) the development would re-use redundant or disused buildings and enhance its immediate setting;

d) the development would involve the subdivision of an existing residential building; or

e) 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.


NPPF Paragraph 139

Development that is not well designed should be refused, especially where it fails to reflect local design policies and government guidance on design55, taking into account any local design guidance and supplementary planning documents such as design guides and codes. Conversely, significant weight should be given to:

a) development which reflects local design policies and government guidance on design, taking into account any local design guidance and supplementary planning documents such as design guides and codes; and/or

b) outstanding or innovative designs which promote high levels of sustainability, or help raise the standard of design more generally in an area, so long as they fit in with the overall form and layout of their surroundings.



Shothanger House
Ten Oaks
Ten Oaks
Ten Oaks
Remagen
Remagen
Remagen
Remagen
Kirkland Fraser Moor Architects           Tel: 01442 864 673 Email: mail@k-f-m.com
 8-12 Clarence Rd Depot, Clarence Rd. HP4 3AS