conservation architects hereford Archives

Class Q Barn Conversion

KODA architects working with Tomkins Thomas Planning have successfully secured planning approval for a class Q barn conversion in Herefordshire. The existing barn occupies a unique location near the Black Mountains.

The scheme reuses the original curved form of the Dutch barn roof to form a double height space with mezzanine level. Agricultural materials such as corrugated metal and industrial steel frame have been used in the walls and roof, these are complemented by the insertion of large modern slim profile aluminium windows and doors maximising the exceptional vistas.

Class Q was introduced in 2014 as a form of permitted development designed to help ease the pressure on housing in rural areas. This type of planning permission allows the change of buildings that meet certain criteria from agricultural to residential use. This can often be a creative route to a new home in open countryside which would otherwise be difficult to achieve.

There is more guidance available on Herefordshire Councils website. If you have a redundant agricultural building fulfilling the criteria that you think has the potential to be a striking home in a unique location then please get in touch.

Replacement Dwelling

KODA architects successfully secured planning approval for a replacement dwelling in the Herefordshire countryside. The new 4 bedroom home replaces a former 1970’s bungalow that did not meet the space and layout requirements of our clients family. Furthermore the building is expensive to heat and maintain and moreover costly to upgrade thermally and adapt to meet the families specific space requirements.

The proposal replaces the dated bungalow with a larger 4 bedroom, thermally efficient home meeting our clients living requirements. Local Planning Policy stipulates that a reinstated dwelling should be of a comparable scale of the replaced building. Creating a much larger home presented us with an interesting design challenge. The new home takes the form of a 'H' shaped plan with a partly hidden basement forming a south facing undercroft and courtyard hidden to the wider landscape. Whilst the new home is considerably larger than that it replaces, we worked a with the Local Planning Department in justification for the scheme and finally secured planning approval for the home our clients desired.

The main building takes a traditional form and constructed from local stone and a natural slate pitched roof. In contrast the building utilises large aluminum framed sliding doors and full height windows and furthermore the elevations are punctuated with elements vertical Cedar cladding and frameless balconies.

The layout utilises a double height height entrance hall and gallery staircase. The main ground floor living spaces are interconnected but divided by large sliding walls to create a versatile space. The basement level utilises the sloping site and extends into an undercroft and open courtyard discreetly hidden from view. Correspondingly the attached double garage and carport site below a grass roof that merges discreetly into the topography of the site.

Our client was elated with the result and equally our service, the house is currently under construction and due for completion 2023.

St. Michael and All Angels Church in Hereford

KODAs conservation architects in Hereford were commissioned following a competitive tendering process and work began in investigating the repairs to this magnificent building at the beginning of this summer. As conservation architects in Hereford, working on a magnificent building such as St. Michael and All Angels church is a pleasure. We love investigating historic buildings and how they came about, tracing their history and how they’ve developed over time.

Located in rural Herefordshire, St. Michael and All Angels Church was constructed in the 14^th Century with later alterations in the 15^th and 16^th Centuries. The building is Grade I listed and has very fine medieval glazing featured in the chancel, north and south aisles. The chancel features a very ornate painted wagon vaulted ceiling which was installed as part of the restoration by GF Bodley in 1866-68. The building features fine stone carving throughout with a number of gargoyles, grotesques and label stops, which is great to see.

KODA's Conservation Architect in Hereford Fred Hamer said “Working on this historic building was particularly rewarding. Before we proposed making any repairs or changes, to the historic fabric, we have thoroughly investigated how the building is used and maintained. We have proposed some exciting changed to enhance the buildings significance and conserve the historic fabric were possible and in doing so created a more sustainable building."

A two stage grant application was prepared and submitted to the newly reformed Nation Heritage Lottery Fund. The project was one of the first successful applications to be awarded and was the largest in the region at the time.

Conservation repair works started in April 2021 with the project being awarded following a competitive tender process to Treasure and Sons, based in Ludlow. The specification and repairs were carried out on a priority basis to safe guard the historic fabric against further decay.

The conservation and repair of the fabric started in April this year and we look forward to unveiling the enhanced St. Michael and All Angels Church later this year. We will continue to post out progress on this buildings careful repair on our instagram feed which you can follow @kodaarchitects.

KODAs conservation Architects in Hereford, Fred Hamer said: “at KODA we have a passion for working with historic buildings from all ages. The storey of who built, lived and used these buildings enriches architecture from more than a pile of building materials. This storey is enhanced as we open up historical buildings as we learn more about how and why they were constructed in the manner they were. KODAs conservation architects in Hereford categories their findings as they progress through the construction and uncovering stages which enriches the storey further.”

Useful links:

Hereford times article

Sustainable self-build homes in Ludlow

KODA architects have successfully secured planning approval for 3 new sustainable self-build homes in Ludlow. The site is combines an underused hidden parcel of land with part of a large formal garden within the Town. Sustainable design was at the forefront of the brief and the homes are positioned to take full advantage of the southern aspect whilst also affording views of St. Lawrence's Church.

The scheme develops an underutilised urban site to provide high quality housing utilising energy efficiency measures. They are built from highly insulated and sustainable materials. The dwellings are designed with large, glazed wall areas to the south and west elevations benefiting from passive solar gain. The first floor areas include recessed balconies featuring long roof overhangs protecting the bedrooms from excessive solar gain in the summer months. This still allows sunlight to reach the depths of rooms promoting thermal gain in the winter when the sun is lower in the sky. Internal air quality and comfort is supplemented by automated mechanical ventilation and heat recovery, MVHR.

The buildings include standing seam metal mono pitch roofs that reduce impact on the neighbouring amenity but also being orientated to the south and west present an ideal location for the arrays of photovoltaic and solar thermal panels producing heat and power for the homes. Rainwater is collected and harvested on site for re-use in the buildings and gardens.

The development resists temptation to optimise built density in preference the new high quality homes are sited within generous individual plots and will be sold to independent self-builders.

Bastion Mews Hereford

Bastion Mews Hereford is encircled by the Hereford City Wall which was constructed in the 13th Century by Royal decree, getting its name from a defensive bastion which once stood at the site, defending one of four City gates. The site has had many uses in its history with the latest use being home to Shack Revolution and more recently, Bastion Street Feast. Quickly gaining a local reputation for great quality street food the vibrant site has been a huge success for the City.

The proposed new development will build from the already successful Shack Revolution Events space and Bastion Street Feast. The scheme will provide restaurant, office and workshop spaces as well as short term residential accommodation in association with the existing Shack Events venue and their LIVE|WORK|PLAY mantra.

The aesthetic of the site is one of an industrial past which reflects the sites history as one of the manufacturing centres of the City. Originally home to ironworks, the recent success of the site is down to its honesty through great food, drink and simplicity.

To continue the sites enduring success, KODA architects have been appointed to carry out master planning and detailed design to redevelop the site. Working closely with the wider team, KODA architects have utilised the industrial aesthetic to develop a mixed use scheme creatively utilising shipping containers.

Part of the underpinning philosophy of the sites redevelopment a diversity of uses and users. This multi use ideal elaborates on the ethos of the highly successful Bastion Street Feast where different street food vendors pitch up their stalls and sell their high quality food in a sharing and collaborative atmosphere. The masterplan calls for a mixture of live work units as well as recreational areas and amenity space in this highly sustainable location on the edge of the City Center. Complimenting the existing uses of the site, the new proposals are testament to 21st Century design, innovative and flexible to allow them to be easily changed should the site need to in the future.

The industrial aesthetic of the site is the main visual underpinning of the design but supplemented and softened with planting and punctuation with open oak cladding. The proposals have been submitted for Planning and we hope to be onsite summer 2021.

Imperial Square | Cheltenham

KODA architects Cheltenham have gained planning and listed building consent for building repairs and extensive refurbishment to this Grade II* listed property. Accompanying the planning application and listed building consent applications, the proposals were to to restore this fine Regency home back into a single dwelling.

Built in the early 19th Century, Imperial Square was built as part of the booming expansion and gentrification of Cheltenham. Built by Robert Todd and William Prosser to designs by eminent architects Cheltenham, John Forbes. The building is home which forms a terrace of properties providing a formal frontage along Imperial Square, Cheltenham. The uniformity , significant contribution to the Cheltenham Townscape and architectural evidence is the reason why the terrace is Grade II* listed.

KODAs Conservation Architect in Cheltenham Fred Hamer said: "Working with such an iconic building as Imperial square, we were very careful in how we can restore this small part of the wider terrace back to its former glory. The building has been completely renovated from top to bottom allowing the it to be a family home once again."

The regency architecture of Cheltenham is known as one of the most complete architectural styles in the UK. As such, the town is covered by the largest conservations area which protects the historic and architectural significance. Added to this layering of protection, Imperial Square is Grade II* listed and is listed as the same significance as Buckingham Palace and The Palace of Westminster.

A high quality of finish achieved at the property in the result of meticulous attention to detail. The property has been carefully designed to reestablish the house as a busy family environment. The lower ground level has a close connection with the courtyard with off street parking whilst the drawing room has extensive views over the centre of Cheltenham. The property boasts five bedrooms with four bathrooms together with preserving the period details of the original building.

Being listed however does not mean that we cannot make changes to these buildings, however we must consider the impact our proposals have on the historic fabric. Once historic fabric has been removed, it cannot be replaced. Before any intervention can take place, a closing inspection and investigation of the existing must take place.

The Manor | Gloucestershire

KODAs Conservation architects Gloucester have carried out repairs this fine Grade II listed French Chateaux style manor house in rural Gloucestershire. Built by eminent ecclesiastical and secular architect and Samuel S. Teulon, Huntley manor was completed in 1862 and a testament to Victorian invention and advant-guard, Victorian Gothic style. The property is largely intact with fine decorative details including Minton floor tiles, fine limestone fireplaces and decorative iron work surviving to this day.

KODA conservation architects Gloucester were appointed to carry out repairs to a number of structures in the grounds. The property was reduced in size in the late 20th Century which saw a quarter of the building being demolished. This restructuring however has created a number of issues with damp penetration and dry rot setting into the cellar level.The works include installation of a french drain to reduce levels of damp, repairs to windows, roofs and decorative finishes. The works also took care of the leaking swimming pool roof.

This package of works are part of the cycle management of the property

“Having the opportunity to work on specular buildings such as this fine Manor House, we are able to peer into the past to a different way of living. When the manor was constructed, modern expectations and standard of living were not thought of. The building therefore relied more heavily on support from staff to tended to its maintenance. The proposals were considered to assist in the day to day upkeep of the building and to safeguard its future, so that future generations may enjoy this building”

Repair works to the swimming pool have just been completed and repair works to the Manor are set to take place when the warmer weather returns in the spring/ summer.

We will be following the progress as the works take place onsite on our Instagram page, take a look to see more.

Class Q Barn Conversion

planning approval for a class Q barn conversion

Project Information

What is class Q planning permission?

Replacement Dwelling

Planning approved for replacement dwelling in Herefordshire countryside

Project Information

Planning approved for new self-build home

St. Michael and All Angels Church in Hereford

Conservation Architects in Herefordshire

Project Information

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