An Exceptional Opportunity in the Herefordshire Countryside
Location: Howle Hill, Walford, Herefordshire
Project Type: Paragraph 80 Exceptional Dwelling
Date: February 2020
Status: Strategic Parameters Established
In February 2020, Thomas Studio submitted a strategic pre-application enquiry to Herefordshire Council for an exceptional dwelling at Howle Hill, near Ross-on-Wye. This milestone marked the beginning of one of the UK’s most challenging architectural planning routes: pursuing approval under NPPF Paragraph 80 for a truly outstanding home in the open countryside.
The site presents a rare opportunity – an exposed, rolling landscape west of Howle Hill settlement, bounded by hedgerows and woodland, with dramatic views across the Herefordshire countryside. This is precisely the type of isolated rural location where exceptional architecture can enhance and celebrate the natural landscape.
Understanding Paragraph 80: Architectural Excellence in the Countryside
Paragraph 80 of the National Planning Policy Framework represents the pinnacle of rural residential architecture in England. It permits exceptional dwellings in isolated countryside locations where the design is:
- Truly outstanding or innovative – reflecting the highest standards in architecture
- Landscape enhancing – significantly improving the immediate setting
- Contextually sensitive – responding to local landscape character
Thomas Studio’s approach to this pre-application phase demonstrates the rigorous methodology required for Paragraph 80 success.
Strategic Questions: Building the Framework
Our submission posed four critical questions to establish the project parameters:
1. Site Selection Strategy
Which potential site location would best satisfy the ‘Braintree Condition’ – the legal requirement for sufficient isolation to justify exceptional design?
2. Process Excellence
What design review and consultation process would Herefordshire Council expect, given recent successful precedents like Upper Sapey?
3. Site Viability
What factors would determine whether this particular location could support a Paragraph 80 proposal?
4. Policy Framework
Which planning policies beyond Paragraph 80 would shape the design approach?
Design Aspirations: Innovation Meets Landscape
From the outset, our vision for Howle Hill embraced the site’s challenges as design opportunities:
Responding to Extreme Weather
The exposed hilltop location demanded innovative approaches to integrating residential comfort with dramatic weather exposure.
Landscape Evolution
Understanding how the landform has changed over time would inform a design that works with, not against, natural processes.
Carbon Neutral Pioneer
Pursuing cutting-edge environmental performance through innovative building technologies and sustainable design.
Architectural Excellence
Creating a substantial residence of exceptional quality that would enhance the landscape and raise design standards regionally.
Expert Guidance: Learning from Success
Herefordshire Council allocated our enquiry to Principal Planning Officer Mr C Brace, who had successfully guided two previous Paragraph 80 approvals to completion:
Hope End – Winner of RIBA West Midlands Award 2018 and RIBA Sustainability Award 2018
Coombe Farm – Approved through landscape restoration strategy
Both precedents demonstrated that landscape enhancement must be the foundation, not an afterthought, of exceptional countryside dwellings.
The Landscape-Led Design Philosophy
The Council’s response established a clear framework that aligned perfectly with Thomas Studio’s design philosophy:
Landscape as Foundation
Any exceptional dwelling must emerge from deep understanding of:
- Herefordshire’s Landscape Character Assessment
- Visual impact from public viewpoints and heritage assets
- Site-specific opportunities for enhancement
- Local landscape strategies and character
Site-Specific Innovation
The design must be one that “can only be achieved on that particular site” – responding to unique landscape conditions, orientation, topography, and setting.
Comprehensive Assessment Required
Before architectural design development, the project would need:
- Detailed landscape character analysis
- Visual impact assessment
- Site selection justification
- Enhancement strategy demonstration
- Integration with local landscape type
Architectural Standards: Raising the Bar
The guidance confirmed that Paragraph 80 requires constant innovation:
Design Review Process
Presentation to professional design panels like MADE (Midlands Architecture and the Designed Environment) would be essential to demonstrate architectural merit.
Innovation Beyond Technology
While advanced building technologies like Passivhaus would be expected, true innovation means ingenious, inventive approaches that haven’t been done before.
Outstanding Quality
The highest architectural standards in materials, detailing, spatial quality, and contextual response.
Process Achievements: Strategic Clarity
This pre-application milestone delivered crucial strategic clarity:
✓ Site Isolation Confirmed – Geographic requirements satisfied
✓ Clear Process Framework – Expectations and standards established
✓ Precedent Analysis – Successful models identified
✓ Expert Officer Allocated – Experienced guidance secured
✓ No Policy Barriers – Fundamental approval pathway confirmed
✓ Design Standards Defined – Innovation and quality benchmarks set
The Paragraph 80 Journey: Rigorous Process, Exceptional Results
This milestone demonstrates why Thomas Studio’s approach to exceptional dwellings delivers results. Rather than rushing into design, we invested in understanding:
- Planning requirements specific to Herefordshire
- Landscape opportunities unique to this site
- Process expectations from experienced officers
- Quality standards demonstrated by successful precedents
- Evidence requirements for compelling applications
Next Phase: Landscape-Led Design Development
With strategic parameters established, the project could progress to comprehensive landscape assessment – the foundation for architectural innovation at Howle Hill.
The Council’s response provided a roadmap: demonstrate how this specific site justifies exceptional architecture through landscape understanding, then develop design proposals that respond to and enhance that unique setting.
Thomas Studio’s Paragraph 80 Expertise
Thomas Studio brings extensive experience navigating exceptional dwelling applications in rural locations across Herefordshire and beyond. Our landscape-led design approach ensures that architectural innovation emerges from deep understanding of place, context, and natural systems.
Considering an exceptional dwelling project? Our experience with Paragraph 80 pre-applications, design review processes, and complex rural planning contexts can guide your project from initial site assessment through to successful approval.
Related Services
- Paragraph 80 Exceptional Dwellings
- Landscape-Led Architectural Design
- Pre-Application Planning Strategy
- Rural Residential Architecture
- Sustainable Design & Carbon Neutral Homes
- Planning Applications in Herefordshire
Project Location
Howle Hill, Walford, near Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire – serving clients across Herefordshire, the Welsh Borders, and nationally for exceptional architectural projects.
