Cylindrical house to be built in Rutland’s open countryside near Exton

An unusually-shaped cylindrical house will be built in the open countryside.

Planning permission has been granted for a six-bedroom property on land near Exton, Rutland, after three construction companies joined forces to draw up the plans.

Due to the location of the proposed development, the firms had to apply for planning permission under paragraph 84 of the National Planning Policy Framework. This controls the building of isolated properties in open countryside and requires plans to be designed to the highest standard.

The Exton plans were drawn up by Grace Machin Planning and Property, Influence Landscape Planning and Design and Jonathan Hendry Architects. The building will include six bedrooms and living space spread across the ground and lower ground floors.

Nick Grace, a partner at Grace Machin Planning and Property, was approached by the landowner for ideas. He said: “As a new house in the open countryside and the adjoining land being agricultural, the short to long-term development potential was extremely limited. However, the landholding presented itself as a potential site to accommodate a new single dwelling of ‘outstanding design’.

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“Bringing Jonathan Hendry Architects and Influence onto the project ensured I had the best possible expertise on what was a very detailed application.

“We were able to deliver an exceptional planning application that received the support of the officer and ultimately councillors at Rutland’s planning committee meeting, who gave their unanimous support for the application.

“The resulting grant of planning permission is a major result for us and testament to those skills.”

To secure planning permission, a paragraph 84 property must demonstrate that it is “truly outstanding, reflecting the highest standards in architecture, and would help to raise standards of design more generally in rural areas”.

Sara Boland, managing director at Influence, said: “This location is deeply historic with two registered parks and gardens and many listed assets. In addition it’s a very rural location with the Viking Way passing close by.

“The team and I are proud to have worked with Nick and Jonathan, using our specialist collective skills to bring to fruition a remarkable home, which will sit sympathetically in its rural landscape.”

Jonathan Hendry, managing director at Jonathan Hendry Architects, added: “The proposals embody environmental technologies, sustainable materials and construction methods to minimise the environmental impact and go beyond the specification of ‘sustainable products’ to deliver a fabric first dwelling, which provides the users with a comfortable and sustainable environment in which to live.”

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