Contemporary Courtyard House Chilterns Residence

Working alongside McLoughlin Planning, OA Architecture has secured planning permission for a new five-bedroom family home on the site of a former commercial equestrian livery yard in Buckinghamshire. Set within the rural Chilterns landscape, the proposals transform a collection of ageing stable buildings into a contemporary residence, carefully responding to the site's sensitive woodland setting.

Through pre-application engagement and coordination with the wider consultant team, the proposal seeks to consolidate the existing fragmented buildings, reducing their visual impact while introducing ecological enhancements, improved access and reduced vehicle movements.

Drawing inspiration from traditional Chilterns agricultural architecture, the approved design comprises a series of interconnected gabled forms arranged around a sheltered central courtyard. Carefully positioned within the site's natural slope, the dwelling incorporates lower-ground-floor accommodation to minimise its perceived scale, while a restrained palette of clay brick, timber cladding and traditional roof tiles responds to the rural context. Developed alongside Laura Lee Gardens, the landscape strategy introduces native planting, wildflower meadows and new habitats to enhance biodiversity, complemented by sustainable technologies including a ground source heat pump, photovoltaic panels and rainwater harvesting. The resulting scheme demonstrates how a considered design and collaborative planning approach can unlock the potential of a previously developed rural site.