Location; Melton
Completion Date; Ongoing
IVY HOUSE
Ivy House was a proposed one-off new dwelling designed for a greenfield site within the former Melton Park estate, located on the rural edge of Melton in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Set beyond the defined development limits of the settlement, the plot occupied a transitional zone between historic parkland and open countryside, screened by mature trees and hedgerows. As an undeveloped site with no previous dwelling, it lay outside policy boundaries for conventional residential development. In response, the proposal was brought forward under Paragraph 79 (now Paragraph 80) of the National Planning Policy Framework, which permits new isolated homes in the countryside only where the design is of exceptional quality, truly innovative, and sensitive to its surroundings. The application for Ivy House was carefully developed to meet these exacting criteria. It demonstrated a clear design rationale rooted in contextual analysis, a commitment to architectural excellence, and a strong sustainability strategy. The proposal sought to make a meaningful contribution to the local character by enhancing its immediate setting and promoting a design-led approach to countryside living. It was conceived not simply as a house in a field, but as an integrated part of a larger landscape narrative—one that respected the heritage of the former parkland and responded to the topography, planting, and grain of the surrounding area.
The design proposed a single-storey home of interlocking volumes arranged around two internal courtyards. This format was developed in direct response to the site’s scale and containment, as well as its relationship to sunlight, views, and privacy. The low profile of the house ensured minimal visual impact when viewed from the surrounding land and neighbouring properties. Each volume had a distinct role—living spaces, bedrooms, and service areas—while collectively forming a coherent architectural composition that followed the site’s natural contours.
Material selection was central to the design narrative, with a warm red multi-brick chosen as the primary facing material
to echo traditional local construction. Vertical larch cladding was used to introduce contrast and tactility, articulating key moments such as entrance thresholds, courtyard walls, and garden elevations. The roof was proposed as a standing seam zinc system, offering long-term durability, crisp detailing, and a contemporary edge to the otherwise restrained material palette. These materials were detailed with subtlety and care, using deep window reveals, crisp shadow lines, and carefully modulated openings to give the building both elegance and substance.
Internally, the home was planned to offer spatial richness and clarity. A central hallway linked all areas of the house and formed a generous double-height entrance sequence, animated by high-level glazing and timber linings. The main living spaces—kitchen, dining, and lounge—occupied the west wing of the building, benefitting from expansive views and access to a south-facing terrace. These rooms were conceived as flowing and adaptable, with vaulted ceilings, rooflights, and glazed openings that brought natural light deep into the plan. Material continuity from inside to outside created a calm, unified atmosphere intended to reinforce the experience of connection to nature.
The bedroom wing was arranged along the eastern side of the plot, oriented for privacy and morning light. The master suite featured a corner-glazed bedroom, walk-in wardrobe, and en-suite with private courtyard views. Two additional bedrooms with en-suites and a home office space were also included, all positioned to maximise quietness and visual connection to the garden. A discreet zone for utility, storage, and plant was incorporated to the rear of the plan to ensure clean spatial flow in the principal areas.
The proposal was underpinned by a rigorous sustainability agenda aligned with the aspirations of Paragraph 79. The building fabric was designed to achieve very high levels of thermal performance using a timber frame system, thick natural insulation, and a continuous airtight layer. Triple glazing, carefully oriented openings, and shading strategies were employed to manage passive solar gain and limit energy demand. Ventilation was provided by a mechanical system with heat recovery (MVHR), and heating and hot water were to be supplied by an air-source heat pump. The roof was designed to accommodate photovoltaic panels, allowing for on-site renewable energy generation, with infrastructure for future energy storage and electric vehicle charging also integrated.
Internally, the finishes were specified to promote wellbeing and environmental performance. The proposal included breathable plasters, timber flooring, and low-VOC paints, aiming to create a healthy, natural interior environment. Bespoke joinery pieces were intended to support the architectural narrative and allow for practical, long-term use without compromising the clean and minimal aesthetic. Lighting was proposed as a layered system, with daylight maximised through orientation and window strategy, and artificial lighting designed to enhance the warmth and intimacy of the spaces during evenings and darker seasons.
The landscape strategy was integral to the overall vision for Ivy House. Existing trees and hedgerows were to be retained and supplemented with new native planting to enhance biodiversity and define the boundaries of the site. Wildflower meadows, mown grass paths, and naturalistic planting beds were arranged to extend the architecture into the land and provide structure throughout the seasons. A wildlife pond and small orchard were also proposed, creating microhabitats and reinforcing the semi-natural character of the parkland edge. Hard landscaping was to be minimal and permeable, using gravel, stone, and brick pavers in keeping with the house’s material language.
The visual impact of the dwelling was assessed through detailed studies and a Landscape Visual Impact Assessment. These demonstrated that the house would be discreetly positioned within the topography, screened by planting, and composed in a manner that was entirely appropriate for the rural character of the area. Its siting avoided key views and protected the quiet, verdant nature of the estate. From the outset, the building was designed to recede visually, to be experienced primarily from within its own gardens, and to offer only fleeting glimpses from the wider landscape.
The proposal was supported by a robust and comprehensive planning submission that articulated how the design met the criteria of Paragraph 79. It demonstrated innovation not through stylistic novelty but through a deep contextual response, environmental stewardship, and spatial clarity. The planning authority acknowledged these qualities and granted approval on the basis of the scheme’s architectural merit and landscape sensitivity. The house was recognised as a project of outstanding quality, capable of setting a precedent for how new countryside dwellings could be delivered in a way that enhances rather than erodes their setting.
Although the project was granted planning consent, it was not progressed to construction. Nonetheless, the design process and approval represented a valuable demonstration of how design-led approaches can unlock opportunities for exceptional homes in sensitive rural contexts. Ivy House stood as an example of best practice in how Paragraph 79 applications could be framed—grounded in site specificity, environmental performance, and a restrained yet confident architectural language. It offered a template for future schemes where planning constraints are high, but ambition and design quality are allowed to lead.
The project served as a reminder that architecture in the countryside need not be pastiche or conservative. It can be progressive, quiet, and enduring—guided by a clear understanding of place, an honest material expression, and a commitment to sustainability. Ivy House showed how, even when unbuilt, architecture can advance the conversation about rural housing, planning policy, and the role of design excellence in shaping the future of our landscapes.
GALLERY
