Chillesford

Acting for the property owner, Beacon secured planning and listed building consent for the conversion of a Grade II listed Model Farm into 20 homes with 2 holiday lets and swimming pool. The site is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, close to a number of protected wildlife sites and within an area at risk of tidal flooding.

The Model farm dates from the mid-1870s and was built just as the boom time for British agriculture was coming to an end. It is however largely of one build period and, designed by Frederick Barnes of Ipswich (1813-1898) a well-regarded architect. Over the years the buildings have ceased to be essential for the operation of the farm and despite significant investment from the owners were falling into disrepair.

The proposals were underpinned by a detailed Historic Building Assessment which was influential in securing the support of the Council's Conservation officer and the Suffolk Preservation Trust. Beacon worked closely with the Architects, Feilden and Mawson, to devise a scheme for the sensitive conversion of the historic buildings and produced the Heritage, Planning and Design & Access Statements.

The scheme was approved unanimously by Suffolk Coastal District Council's Planning Committee in September 2011 and will ensure the model farm buildings are brought back into use with their long term survival assured with minimal external alterations.