RESIDENTIAL

Horrobin Farm is on Greenbelt land and located 5 miles from Bolton, the site is closely situated near a cluster of dwellings, Horrobin Fold, and forms part of a small parcel of land linked to the applicant’s existing residence. The client requested a modest, single-storey home designed to support independent living after a serious injury. The site presented several constraints and challenges, including no set site precedent since the existing is an open field, restrictions to Greenbelt policies, steep topography, protected trees (TPO), a high-voltage cable crossing the land, and potential flood risk. What seemed negative at the outset turned out to be positive and this helped to pivot and shape the design development.

The proposed design innovatively places the building beyond established limitations while fully satisfying client needs with an inclusive design, well-organized interior spaces, and a distinct outdoor area that supports therapeutic activities. This is complimented by landscaping with native plants and gentle terracing using the site natural slopes, fostering privacy and biodiversity. This results in a harmonious relationship between the structure and its surroundings, achieving carbon neutrality through a fabric-first approach, passive design strategies, and integrated renewable energy solutions.

The proposal has secured a rare full planning approval given the considerable obstacles we had to overcome but we successfully demonstrated ‘Very Special Circumstances’ (VSC) under Greenbelt policy, thanks to a compelling argument built on exceptional design quality and standards, comprehensive sustainability measures, and the client’s unique personal situation. This remarkable scheme was considered to significantly outweigh the potential harm to the Greenbelt, offering substantial tangible environmental benefits and improvements to local design and housing provisions.