Location; Rufford
Completion Date; Ongoing
The proposed new dwelling at Kennels Farm in Rufford presents a bold yet sensitive architectural response to a disused rural site formerly occupied by agricultural poultry sheds. The scheme replaces these redundant structures with a highly sustainable, low-lying home, designed to sit quietly within the surrounding landscape while embracing progressive environmental design principles. The project remains under planning determination and has been carefully shaped to deliver a dwelling that enhances biodiversity, responds to local character, and respects its unique setting within the Grade II registered Rufford Abbey park and garden.
KENNELS FARM
The site itself lies just east of the settlement of Rufford, in a visually secluded location surrounded by mature woodland and set within a natural dip in the landform. This positioning, combined with the remnants of two former poultry sheds, has provided a clear architectural cue for the new design. The proposal occupies the same footprint and floor area as the five dwellings previously granted under Class Q permitted development, maintaining a similar spatial logic but dramatically improving both architectural quality and environmental performance. By choosing to pursue a bespoke new-build dwelling rather than proceed with conversion, the design team has embraced the opportunity to elevate the scheme’s spatial, visual and ecological ambitions.
The form of the building draws directly from the linear geometry of the former sheds. Two elongated, low-slung volumes are linked by secondary structures to create a series of interconnected internal and external spaces. The resulting composition is distinctly contemporary yet rooted in agricultural precedent. It avoids any overt domesticity in favour of a restrained and elemental architectural language that feels entirely appropriate in this rural context. The plan is arranged to promote clarity, flow, and connection to the landscape, with the principal living spaces orientated to maximise views and daylight while maintaining privacy.
Internally, the home has been carefully zoned to reflect modern patterns of use. The southern wing accommodates open-plan family and living spaces, designed to feel both generous and connected to the environment. The northern wing provides more private accommodation, including bedrooms and ancillary rooms, while a discrete annexe and garaging complete the ground floor. A modest first-floor element is set back to the rear of the site and houses the principal suite, offering elevated views across the courtyard and surrounding countryside.
Material selection has been central to the scheme’s environmental and aesthetic aims. A primary structure of GGBS concrete—a low-carbon alternative to traditional concrete—provides durability, thermal mass, and a refined finish with reduced embodied energy. This is complemented by vertical Millboard cladding, a recycled timber-alternative that delivers visual warmth, resilience, and low maintenance. Detailing across the building is precise and pared back, favouring a minimalist expression that supports longevity and avoids fussy or decorative treatments.
Landscaping is fundamental to the success of the project. The proposal incorporates a wide-ranging suite of ecological enhancements, from biodiverse grasslands and ponds to native tree planting and green roofs. These interventions are designed not just to mitigate impact but to deliver a measurable biodiversity net gain, transforming a largely barren former farmyard into a thriving natural habitat. The domestic garden area is tightly defined, allowing the majority of the site to remain semi-wild and environmentally productive. This approach helps reinforce the project’s visual integration with the broader landscape and reduces the sense of intrusion.
From a sustainability perspective, the design adheres to rigorous standards aligned with Passive House principles. The dwelling features a super-insulated and airtight envelope, passive solar design, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and renewable energy systems including integrated photovoltaics with battery storage. Orientation and massing have been optimised for natural light and thermal performance, while external water use is supported through sustainable drainage and rainwater harvesting strategies. The scheme also includes electric vehicle charging points, cycle storage, and a designated work-from-home space, further contributing to its low-impact lifestyle credentials.
Access to the site is via a private track, shared in part with the Robin Hood Way public footpath, and no changes to this route are proposed. The development’s modest vehicle use and secluded location ensure that its presence will have minimal impact on local movement or visual character. This discretion is further reinforced by the site’s position within a natural hollow and the enhanced tree planting proposed to its boundaries.
Heritage considerations have played a key role in the project’s evolution. While the site itself holds no direct heritage designation, it lies within the wider landscape of the Rufford Abbey registered park and garden. As such, the design has been subjected to careful analysis to ensure it does not detract from the character or significance of this historic setting. Crucially, the site is screened from key heritage views and there is no direct line of sight to Rufford Abbey or its associated assets. The development’s form, materiality, and landscaping have all been guided by a desire to sit quietly and respectfully within this sensitive context.
The proposal represents a shift away from the purely utilitarian forms that previously occupied the site, towards a new kind of rural architecture—one that is environmentally responsible, architecturally coherent, and deeply attuned to its landscape. Rather than being an isolated house in the countryside, the new dwelling is conceived as a contemporary evolution of the site’s agricultural legacy, recast through the lens of sustainability and modern living.
In summary, the Kennels Farm project is a considered response to a challenging site and planning context. It offers a compelling alternative to the previously consented Class Q scheme by delivering far higher environmental and architectural standards within the same development footprint. Through its sensitive massing, low-carbon construction, ecological enhancements, and design clarity, the proposal seeks to reimagine rural living for the 21st century—rooted in place, minimal in impact, and ambitious in quality. As the planning process moves forward, the project stands as a benchmark for what rural redevelopment can achieve when design and sustainability are aligned from the outset.
GALLERY
