Keep up to date with planning news, sketchbook ideas, press and publications here.
By Lizzie
Finding a site on which to build a new home in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a wonderful opportunity. It can be extremely difficult to gain planning permission in an AONB for a new home on an empty plot – though not impossible. A more accessible option is to find a site with an existing dwelling and create a design for a new home that considers...
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By Christophe
All new build projects, and most extensions, require planning permission from the local authority. For some projects this can seem like a leap into the unknown. If the plot or house is in a sensitive area or presents a new style to a neighbourhood, for example, it can be impossible to guess whether permission will be granted. In these cases, one option is to open a...
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By Paul
Today, sustainability needs to be central to the design process. We were delighted that RIBA has created its 2030 Climate Challenge, which we’ve signed up to. This campaign aims to help architects design with a “climate conscious trajectory”. It’s a set of voluntary performance targets in three areas for sustainable architecture: operational energy use, water...
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By Paul
2021 was a great year for architecture awards for TAS Architects! Following on from winning two RIBA awards for Woodside Mews and Manor Ridge Barns, we have won two awards with the Hertfordshire Association of Architects (HAA). In an online awards ceremony, the HAA team announced that our new build scheme Loxley Stables, located just outside Tring, won in both the...
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By Christophe
We’re delighted to have been granted planning permission for the full refurbishment of a beautiful townhouse in Notting Hill. This application for a London house extension was more complicated than some, involving significant liaison with the Westminster planning department and a specific focus on protecting urban greenery. The four-storey family home currently has...
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By Lizzie
While the impact of buildings on the environment is coming under a brighter spotlight, so is the impact of buildings on the people who inhabit them. More people are keen to live in dwellings that bring in lots of natural light, for example, and maintain a comfortable temperature. Increasingly, home owners are paying attention to how the fabric of their homes could...
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By Paul
When people reach retirement age, they often start to consider their living situation. They might choose to downsize, to relocate to somewhere they’ve always dreamed of living or to move to a home that they know will suit them no matter what the future holds. For someone opting for the latter move, they will probably have several priorities. Single-storey living is...
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By Paul
We recently gained planning permission for an exciting project: the creation of a highly sustainable, new-build, single-storey dwelling in a secluded location in Hertfordshire. Our client is extremely keen to take a pioneering approach, using the most sustainable techniques and materials possible. When complete, Long Barn will be a shining example of how carbon...
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By Christophe
This week we’ve had the fantastic news that Ryedale Council have granted planning permission for the renovation and extension of this stone barn in Yorkshire. The barn, which is currently divided into two dwellings, will be returned to one as part of the scheme. Multiple existing extensions and interventions will be removed as the first phase of the works,...
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By Paul
Gutters are functional. They collect water from the roof of a building and transport it away, to a designated place. But how necessary are they? The way their design has evolved is an interesting reflection of how our feelings towards water and function have changed over the years, including areas such as sustainability. The Georgians and Victorians didn’t want to...
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By Lizzie
Thank you to everyone who donated to our fundraising campaign for Angus’ Giant Pledge to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Angus’ fund has an incredible £112,492.00 at the time of writing, which we’re delighted to have contributed to thanks to all your...
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By Emily
TAS has always been committed to supporting students, helping young people to explore the world of architecture. In August, I helped to lead a workshop for A-level and post graduate students held by D-Lab, a workspace and community interest company based in Hertfordshire and London focused on design, architecture, technology, and innovation. The main aim of the...
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