Category Archives: renovation

Successful Planning Application for Launton

Friday, August 12th, 2022

Members of Launton Parish Council were delighted to hear that their planning application for improvements to the Parish Hall has been granted permission by Cherwell District Council.

This gives the green light for substantial improvements to the hall to bring it up to modern standards, providing new facilities and enhancing the energy efficiency of the building. An old side extension will be demolished and replaced, to provide a new catering style kitchen. The building will be re-roofed with zinc, a tough, natural and recyclable material. PV Solar panels will generate electricity with the potential for battery storage. And replacement windows and doors will help to stop drafts and keep in the heat.

We have guided the Parish Council and Hall Working Group through the steps towards achieving planning permission, and look forward to being of further assistance when funding is available to carry out the improvements.

3D Visualisation of Improvements to Launton Parish Hall

Work Begins at Winslow Public Hall

Thursday, July 28th, 2022

Work has begun this week on a new extension and programme of improvements at Winslow Public Hall in Buckinghamshire. These will encompass a smart new entrance and lobby area, together with a modern catering kitchen, WCs and plant room. The existing large meeting hall will have enhanced public accessibility, a fresh decoration scheme and built-in storage facilities amongst other changes.

Renewable and sustainable energy solutions are always at the forefront of our thinking during the design phase. In this case, the hall will have two ranks of roof-mounted PV panels to generate electricity with battery storage to conserve the power. As a finishing touch, the area around the new extension is a popular thoroughfare, and this will be attractively landscaped at the end of construction.

We are delighted to be working on this project on behalf of Winslow Town Council, and in conjunction with principal contractor JET Construction (Milton Keynes) Ltd.

Social Housing Refurb at Croft Court

Friday, May 27th, 2022

We’ve recently completed a phased refurbishment project for Thame & District Housing Association, a Registered Social Landlord providing rented accommodation in the Thame area.

The works at Croft Court, which is a residential block with eight single bedroom flats for the over 60s included replacing the kitchens and bathrooms in each, removing a sliding door into the kitchen and enlarging the opening to create a more usable and modern space. The works also incorporated the replacement of the roof. We provided drawings and specification and following a procurement process, principal contractor JET Construction (Milton Keynes) Ltd was appointed to carry out the building works. By paying close attention to the project programme, we ensured that the flats were refurbished in a phased way, so there was the minimum of disturbance to existing residents.

Thame & District Housing Association Facilities Manager Mick Hancocks said: “We have appointed PCMS Design to carry out the project management and architectural design for a number of our properties. We have found that they are sensitive to the protection and privacy needs of our residents, which is very important to us. I would not hesitate to use PCMS Design again.”

Another Listed Building Success

Friday, January 18th, 2019

Planning and Listed Building consent has been granted by St Edmundsbury Borough Council in Suffolk for a side extension to an old water mill in the village of Kedington. The former water mill has Grade II listed status; parts of the old industrial mechanism are still visible, and the mill race, which is part of the River Stour, runs through the garden.

It was a pleasure to produce designs for what is without doubt one of the most picturesque projects that we have worked on! Planning consent has now been secured for a new rear entrance combined with a lobby and ground floor WC/ shower room. Care was taken to ensure that the new extension blends seamlessly with the existing historic building, and we produced a Heritage Statement in support of the proposal alongside other supporting statements.

We have experience of working on older listed buildings which each present with unique challenges. Do get in touch if you would like to find out more.

Detached House Gets Permission for a Revamp

Monday, December 17th, 2018

We have heard today ahead of the determination date that home owners in Berkhamsted have been granted planning permission for improvements to their home. This is a good example of how one planning application can cover a number of different changes, in this case both to the main house itself and to other buildings and/or features within the curtilage of the dwelling.

There were three distinct proposals attached to this application: the first for new bay and dormer windows to the house, the second to convert the double garage to ancillary accommodation so that an office and gym can be created, and the third to construct a new timber framed ‘carriage house’ style garage with attached log store in the grounds.

All three of the proposed changes submitted as one householder application have gained consent from Dacorum Borough Council just before Christmas, with no pre-commencement conditions. The family can now spend the festive season happily making plans and looking forward to making a start on their improvement projects!

Barn Conversion Secures Planning Consent

Friday, December 7th, 2018

In a leafy Oxfordshire village, close to the Chiltern hills, stands a barn ripe for conversion! PCMS Design worked with the homeowner to develop plans for the barn to be converted to an ancillary dwelling.

The starting point was to establish the structural integrity of the barn – and therefore its suitability for conversion. Next an ecology survey was commissioned and restrictions around when the work can be carried out were agreed with the local authority to ensure no harm comes to any potential bat roosts.

Care has been taken with the design and materials to make sure the external character and appearance of the barn is preserved, and planning permission has now been granted. When completed, the barn will have a bright and spacious open plan interior, extensive glazing with views and an external dining area.

Renewal of Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent

Thursday, November 15th, 2018

A local homeowner recently was very pleased to have planning and listed building consent (LBC) renewed by Aylesbury Vale District Council for an extension to their home. The proposal involves demolishing a conservatory at the rear, and replacing it with a more attractive two-storey extension with a glazed link corridor. A new double garage and replacement for the porch has also been granted consent.

This application was a renewal of a previously consented application to the local authority: as the three year statutory expiry of permission was approaching without work beginning, we were able to make a strong case for renewal of the planning and listed building consent.

The homeowner was very pleased to hear about the renewal of consent and commented “Great news! Thanks so much for your help with this application.” It is hoped that work will shortly begin on the home extension project.

Planning Permisson for The White Lion

Tuesday, August 7th, 2018

We were all extremely pleased yesterday to hear that planning and listed building consent has been granted by Chiltern District Council for The White Lion public house in St Leonards, which is Grade II Listed. This extension and renovation project will see the historic building rejuvenated and the pub re-open for business – hopefully by 2019.

Our design details a replacement rear extension to allow the bar and trading area to be extended and refurbished, and a number of repairs to the fabric of the building to safeguard it for the future. Care was taken to retain the original charm of the building, whilst addressing some significant building condition issues.

The pub has been closed for business for some years now, and since a new owner took it on we have assisted them with securing consent – which can be a painstaking process with a listed building. Strong support for the application was also given by the local Save the White Lion campaign group and the Mid-Chilterns branch of CAMRA.

On hearing the news, owner Mandy Grimwood said: “Thank you to everyone at PCMS Design for all your hard work to get the planning decision we were hoping for. We are now looking ahead to the future with optimism, when we can start trading again.”

Picture: Robert Gladstone

Extension to Family Home

Friday, July 27th, 2018

We have recently managed the construction of a part two-storey and part single-storey rear extension to a family home in Buckinghamshire. Our clients had already received planning permission for the scheme, but needed assistance with producing construction drawings, finding suitable builders and then administering a building contract.

On the first floor, a new master bedroom was added with an en suite bathroom. Downstairs the extension has allowed not only for a large open plan kitchen / breakfast room with folding doors into the garden, but also a useful utility and storage room.

Everything ran very smoothly and finished on time and within budget. Our clients are delighted with their larger home: “PCMS Design’s assistance in liaising with the building firm and administering the contract was invaluable, and everyone worked together really well. We could highly recommend this service to others in a similar situation.”