Rural Solutions

Celebrating Day 4 of our Christmas challenge countdown. We knew they were good, but our brilliant planning team has really excelled this year, with an impressive 92 planning approvals secured since January. With the planning system under more pressure than ever, and a resolutely urban centric planning policy framework, rural planning is challenging, and it can be a long and complex process to secure permission for development in rural locations. With 93% of The CLA members surveyed saying that they feel that the planning system was preventing economic growth in the countryside, this success rate marks an important contribution to thriving rural places. We take a creative approach to shaping planning strategies to give ambitious development schemes the best chance of success. We manage the planning application process for high quality rural developments and have an impressive track record in gaining planning consents in sensitive locations such as listed and heritage settings, Green Belt, National Parks, and National Landscape (AONB). It’s not just brilliant planners that deliver these results. With our in-house Architects, Landscape Architects, Consultants and Project Managers we integrate the design process with the planning strategy from the start, meaning development proposals are ‘of their place’, taking account of the need to protect and enhance rural landscapes and habitats and often overcome site and setting constraints. Our developments are designed to high environmental standards and whether contemporary or classical, will stand the test of time and be recognised for their design quality. With a new National Planning Policy Framework expected before Christmas there is change ahead, and we expect plenty of opportunities to keep this winning streak going with a powered-up planning system and a more enabling approach to development aligned the government’s growth agenda. If you have a rural development project in mind, would like to explore opportunities for strategic land promotion or have a planning challenge to unpick – please get in touch, we are always happy to chat https://lnkd.in/d9JGqGGt #ruralplanning Nicole Wright Shelley Jones James Ellis Duncan Hartley

So proud of the RSL team! A few snippets of what they have been up to in 2024 below!

Day 3 of our countdown to Christmas... 2024 saw the introduction of mandatory 10% Biodiversity Net Gain requirements on all developments in England, designed to ensure that habitats for wildlife are left in a measurably better state than they were before the development. Whilst these were new requirements as part of the planning system this year, our approach has always considered how rural landscapes and habitats can be protected and enhanced through development and our schemes often outperform the 10% requirement by some margin. A highlight this year was the approval of a replacement country house in the Cheshire Green Belt which will deliver an incredible 103% Biodiversity Net Gain.  Working with Ben Pentreath Ltd Rural Solutions Planning and Landscape teams helped to secure approval for the house, with our Landscape Architects designing a series of landscape enhancements and a house with a strong relationship to the existing lake and parkland setting. Alex Robinson Duncan Hartley    #Architecture #Cheshire #RuralPlanning #BNG 

Day 2 of our countdown to Christmas is a whopper! Celebrating project achievements across the year. From openings, to launches, to development milestones and awards, we’ve been thrilled to see so many of our client’s projects flourish and visions come to fruition. Our 11 reasons to celebrate are:    1. The opening of #Hockerhill Adventure Playbarn in Staffordshire, offering ‘a wild, open space for children from tinies to tweens, to be whoever and however they want to be’. (image 2)    2. After a major transformation, the family-run Brocksbushes Farm Shop in Northumberland, opened its doors to their newly designed farm shop.    3. The completion of a contemporary ‘replacement house’ incorporating a fusion of local materials and styles in a protected landscape in North Yorkshire. (image 3)    4. The launch of a partnership between Howard Castle and Environment Bank to create a habitat bank the size of the City of York – a project with its roots in the creation of detailed natural capital baseline delivery by us in partnership with Fera and Natural Capital Solutions.    5. The opening of a new facility for British Naturism at their Sunfolk woodland naturist site near St Albans, offering camping, glamping and spa facilities.    6. The iconic Langdale Chase Hotel on the banks of Lake Windermere receiving a 5 star AA rating, a project we were delighted to provide a range of services for during its refurbishment.    7. Our client Wild Hydrogen, whose mission is to replace fossil fuels with affordable, carbon-negative hydrogen and bio-methane, launch a successful crowdfunding campaign – visit the crowdfunding page here https://lnkd.in/eAwm2YUQ    8. The scaffolding coming down Marston Hall Derbyshire a major milestone in a project to restore this Georgian house and create a luxury ‘country house experience’ for groups looking for a slice of country life.    9. The opening of the Penny Bun Ilkley on the inspirational Denton Reserve in Yorkshire, which is working to combat climate change through carbon capture, enriched biodiversity and sustainable food production.    10. The launch of the first holiday cottage lets on the stunning Penicuik Estate near Edinburgh – the estate is aiming to become the first in the UK to achieve FSC accreditation for Ecosystem Services.    11. A prestigious Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for Wiston Estate for both their Chalk Restaurant and the Wiston Tour & Tastings recognising them among the top 10% of all listings on Tripadvisor, demonstrating a commitment to hospitality excellence. Sally Ormiston

We are kicking off our series counting down to Christmas today with a project that has been a real highlight of the year.   A 12-metre cantilever.   We were delighted to see the build completed and hand over the keys to this truly exceptional country house featuring a 12m cantilevered balcony jutting out over water, a design feature that demanded an innovative structural solution involving a steel frame with transverse girders, anchored to a set of reinforced concrete walls.   Designing and delivering an exceptional contemporary new home in a protected landscape is no easy task. Yet, our team harnessed their planning, architectural and project management expertise and passion for rural living to deliver a stunning new home with a unique design and high-quality finishes.   The outcome, which secured planning consent by way of the ‘exceptional country homes’ clause (Paragraph 84e) of the National Planning Policy Framework, showcases an outstanding building design that mimics organic forms from nature, cutting into the sloping landscape to create a level base for the garden and exterior water features.   The modern scheme, which is zero-carbon in operation, illustrates how bold, dynamic architecture can fit comfortably in a sensitive rural landscape.   Read more about the project https://lnkd.in/e97M8ZAU Malcolm Birks   Photos © Tom Luddington #LandscapeDesign #NPFF #WeAreRural #ChristmasCountdown

Design Show & Tell ✏️ We’re excited to share a landscape-led approach to the master planning of a rural higher education facility. Here, Stuart Postlethwaite, one of our talented landscape architects, explores removing cars and establishing parking infrastructure to promote a green, walkable campus. By looking holistically at the wider land holding and understanding the inherent opportunities, replacement parking and expanded education facilities are introduced, and a long-term vision for potential growth is understood. We’re looking forward to following Stuart’s progress as the project evolves. #WeAreRural #LandscapeDesign #LandscapePlanning

Recently, we hosted an insightful and empowering session for women in the workplace, led by the inspiring Apriljoy Serrant and Kerry Slater from  The Workplace Collective. The session focused on peri-menopause, menopause, and post-menopause, offering us the knowledge and tools to approach this natural transition confidently. April and Kerry’s expertise and engaging delivery provided a safe space to discuss the science, symptoms, and societal impact of menopause while emphasising the importance of creating an inclusive and stigma-free workplace. Key takeaways included: ⭐ Understanding the phases of menopause and their physical and emotional impacts ⭐ Practical strategies for self-care and well-being during each stage ⭐ How workplaces can support women and foster inclusivity This session is part of our ongoing commitment to empowering women and driving meaningful conversations about health and inclusion in the workplace. A huge thank you to April and Kerry for sharing their knowledge and passion and to the team for their openness and engagement. #MenopauseInTheWorkplace #EmpoweringWomen #InclusiveWorkplace #TheWorkplaceCollective #WeAreRural

Join our upcoming webinar: A rural roundup We’re thrilled to announce that ffinlo Costain, Editor-in-Chief at 8point9.com – The Land Use News Channel, will chair our upcoming webinar. Our speakers Sally Ormiston, James Ellis and Rob Hindle reflect on an eventful year and explore the opportunities and challenges shaping the rural sector in 2025 and beyond.  📅 Date: Tuesday, 3rd December 2024  ⏰ Time: 12 – 1 PM GMT  📍 Where: Zoom (Register to receive the link) Who should attend? - Rural business owners, managers, and entrepreneurs - Landowners, property developers, and countryside stakeholders You can register now to secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/eMbZ_4fa Can’t make it? Register anyway to receive the recording.

Design Show & Tell ✏️ Landscape-led design: Which came first, the house or the landscape? Our strongest solutions are informed by place, inherent characteristics, and the ecological baseline. Understanding these elements ensures our visions are sensitive and bespoke and offer the best chance for planning success. Here, our talented landscape architects guided the architectural response in this former walled garden setting, which the Design Review Panel well received. #WeAreRural #LandscapeArchitecture #LandscapeDesign

Our team donned festive attire at the weekend to take part in the Santa Fun Run in Skipton. It was a day filled with laughter, community spirit, and festive cheer as we joined others to support this fantastic local event. A huge thank you to everyone who participated and cheered us on—we couldn't have done it without you! #SantaFunRun #TeamSpirit #FestiveFun Lisa Allison William Fry Hannah Fell Michael Gordon Nicole Wright Malcolm Birks Jonathan Tunstill