The Coach House, Ashover
When MAD Architects LLP was approached to look at this site in Ashover, Chesterfield, the potential was immediately obvious—but so were the constraints. The client had purchased a plot with breathtaking views across the North East Derbyshire countryside. The site came with existing planning permission to rebuild a dilapidated stone coach house.
The Challenge
However, the approved location for the rebuild was less than ideal. It was tucked away in the top corner of the site, heavily overshadowed by trees, and completely failed to capitalize on the panoramic views that made the land so special.
The client’s goal was to move the development to the south—on an area of rough grass that sloped away from the road—to create a light-filled retirement home. The challenge was significant: the site sits just outside the village settlement boundary. The planners were initially resistant, preferring the development to remain in the "safe," previously approved (but dark) location. We needed a design that would unlock the site's potential without imposing on the sensitive landscape.
The Design Solution
Following an unsuccessful pre-application for a traditional bungalow, we knew we had to think differently. We pivoted from "building a house" to "integrating into the landscape."
Our strategy involved a "buried" architecture approach. We utilized the natural topography to sink the building into the ground, minimizing its visual impact. The concept involved taking the existing low stone wall that enclosed the parking area and visually "stretching" it out towards the south, then wrapping it back to enclose the living accommodation.
The Layout: This new stone enclosure was punched with large glazed sliding doors to frame the views. A metal canopy wraps over these openings to provide essential solar shading from the mid-summer sun.
The Entrance: Access is gained via a sunken courtyard. This clever use of levels allows for gravity drainage and floods the guest bedroom and art room with natural light while maintaining privacy.
Camouflage: To ensure the building blended seamlessly with the fields above, we designed a flat roof complete with an extensive native wildflower green roof.
From the Site: Technical Strategy
Although this project did not progress to construction, the technical detailing phase was rigorous, designed to meet the client's desire for a 'Passivhaus' standard of living. This wasn't just about aesthetics; it was about high-performance engineering.
The design featured high thermal mass and enhanced insulation to regulate temperature naturally. We integrated an MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery) system and an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) for sustainable heating. The rebuilt coach house was repurposed to serve as a garage and workshop, acting as a "solar hub" for the PV panels and battery storage system.
Despite a robust planning argument provided by Darren Ridley at The Planning Station, arguing that the proximity to the settlement boundary should allow for this flexibility, the planners ultimately rejected the application.
The Result
While the planning outcome was disappointing, the design process remains a testament to what is possible on sensitive sites. We delivered a scheme that met every emotional and functional requirement of the client brief—creating a home that would have been a piece of landscape art rather than just a building.
The client ultimately decided not to appeal due to personal timescales, but the feedback on the process was a resounding success for the practice:
"It was a complete pleasure working with Martin; very creative and responsive. Able to translate our ideas and needs into such a variety of interesting and workable designs yet maintaining awareness of cost implications. Very supportive throughout the planning journey. Would highly recommend him without any reservations."
— Client, Ashover