1.0 
Introduction 


03
6.0 
Design Proposals 


16
2.0 
The Applicants  


04 2.1 
The Owners   


2.2 
The Architect 


3.0 
The Site  


05
3.1 
Site Location and Context
3.2 
The Existing Site and Building
3.3 
Heritage Value
3.4 
Neighbouring Trees
3.5 
Recent Planning History
6.1 
Site Constraints and Opportunities
6.2 
Use
6.2.1 Problems 6.2.2 Solutions
6.3 
Proposal
6.4 
Design, Form and Materiality
6.5 
Size, Massing and Space
6.6 
Privacy and Amenity
6.7 
Sustainability
6.7.1 Social and Cultural Sustainability 6.7.2 Environmental Sustainability 6.7.3 Economic Sustainability
4.0 
The Existing House 


12
7.0 
Planning Policy  


21
4.1 
Photographs
5.0 
Precedent and Inspiration 


14
7.1 
National Planning Policy Framework
7.2 
Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) Core Strategy
7.3 
PDNPA Design Guide
7.4 
PDNPA Landscape Strategy
8.0 
Conclusion 


24
5.1 
Precedent: Faha Farmhouse, Jamie Fobert Architects
5.2 
Precedent: Watergate Phase 1, James Gorst Architects
5.3 
Precedent: 
 Boreraig House, Dualchas Architects
5.4 
Precedent: Dovecote Studio, Haworth Tomkins Architects
9.0 
Bibliography 


24
Appendices 


25
A 
Existing drawings
B 
Proposed drawings

## 1.0 Introduction

 
This Design and Access Statement is in support of a householder planning application for the extension of the house at Sheldon House Farm, The Brund, SK17 0HP.

## 2.0 The Applicants 2.1 The Owners (Us!)

 
We are a family of 4 and have purchased Sheldon House Farm 
as our home. Our oldest child is 4 years old and we hope that she will start attending a local primary school in September 2018. We chose this house because of our family connections with the area: I grew up on a small-holding not far away in Onecote and we got married in St. Peter's Church, Alstonefield. My family have been farmers in Leek and Upper Hulme for centuries so the idea of living on a small farm seemed to me to be natural. The opportunity to purchase such a property is rare and we are very excited to be in ownership of it. We hope 
for Sheldon House Farm to be our home for many years to come.   
 
Our aspirations are to create a family home that that will 
give our children the space to grow whilst appreciating and benefitting from the beautiful location in which we will live. We fully understand the responsibility of being the custodian of a property within a conservation area and National Park. As such, we are keen to ensure that any works we carry out to the property both improve and enhance the house and the area.  

## 2.2 The Architect (Me!)

 
I am an architect with many years of experience of working 
within conservation areas, on listed buildings and in national parks. 
Much 
of 
my 
career 
was 
spent 
working 
with 
Chris 
Hesketh, 
a well-respected local Conservation Architect at ctd architects in Leek. In addition, I spent 8 years working in Manchester 
and London in architectural practices who specialise in the design of high quality one-off private houses (reuse, extension etc). I have a post graduate diploma in Sustainable Heritage from the Bartlett School of Graduate Studies at UCL. I strongly believe in a sensitive and balanced approach to design and the environment and feel that heritage buildings are deserving of a good quality modern design response. 

 
With ctd architects I worked on a wide range of projects 
including Natural England grant schemes within the Peak Park, the William Butterfield Parsonage in Sheen and St. Peter's Church in Alstonefield. Further afield, I worked on heritage assets within the potteries (one of which was awarded Retrofit 'Highly Commended' award 2013 by the AJ. I also designed a 
contemporary wedding venue within the curtilage buildings of a Grade II listed manor house facing onto a Grade I listed Norman church.
 
Whilst practicing in Manchester I designed houses within 
greenbelt countryside surrounding Alderley Edge and worked on the Grade I listed former bank of England on King Street, Manchester. In London I worked for a practice the focus of which is high-quality, bespoke design mainly in the context of private dwellings.  A copper clad modern extension to a Grade II listed house on Chalcot Crescent that I worked on in 2012 was shortlisted for Camden Design Awards in 2013.

## 3.0 The Site 3.1 Site Location And Context

 
Sheldon House Farm is located within the hamlet of Brund 
in the South-West Peak area. The nearest villages are Sheen, Longnor, Hartington and Hulme End. The River Manifold runs to the west and forms a natural boundary along which the land ownership of Sheldon House Farm finishes. The Brund sits to the south west of Sheen Hill, due north of Ecton Hill. The hamlet is within a Conservation Area.
 
Brund is a small agricultural hamlet of coursed gritstone farmsteads and cottages dating from the 17th to 19th centuries. (PDNPA, p.1)
 
The hamlet is formed of a dense collection of farmhouses, 
cottages and outbuildings. These relate to each other through a series of gritstone walls which create small pockets of land in the form of gardens and accessways.
 
As with most of the dwellings in The Brund, Sheldon House 
faces south and sits perpendicular, with a gable, to the main road. It is one of the larger and more recently constructed dwellings in the settlement. 
 
The hamlet takes the form of a compact, linear settlement with 
the farmsteads and workers cottages set in close proximity to one another. The narrow lane that passes the houses on their east side is bounded by low dry-stone walls. The ground falls away towards the river in the west affording views down the valley towards Hulme End and Ecton Hill. 
 
The Brund contains a unique collection of buildings with much 
of its value as a 'heritage asset' being in the group of cottages - a cluster of small cellular units linked by small pieces of 
ground, 'lanes' or paths and low gritstone walls. The quality of the built environment at The Brund is high with several of the buildings being grade II listed. None of the buildings within the curtilage of Sheldon House Farm are listed.  Sheldon House sits away from the cottages distinguishing them, in particular, as a group. Sheldon House is an indivdual entity, further west and separated from the group by a track and a garden wall and then by a driveway and garden.
 
In August 2017 Sheldon House Farm was sold by auction, as 
were the three neighbouring farmworkers cottages (Hillside, 
Plum Tree and Rose Cottage), Lime Tree Farm and 131 acres of land, all divided between 10 lots. Sheldon House Farm was sold to us as a smallholding with approximately 12 acres.  
 
The situation that we, as 'stakeholders' in The Brund, now find 
ourselves is quite unique - Most of properties in this close-knit hamlet are now in new ownership and have, in the main, been purchased for owner occupation. This will see a new lease of life being breathed into the hamlet.

## 3.2 The Existing Site And Building

 
It is believed that Sheldon House, in its current form, was built in 1888 by Professor John Prince Sheldon, an author, mainly on the subject of dairy farming. Professor Sheldon was also appointed to the Chair of Agriculture at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester in 1877. Sheldon inherited the house from his aunt, Hannah Prince upon her death in 1881. It was the house that his mother, Jane Anne Prince, Hannah's sister, had grown up in. According to an interview (source unknown) with Professor Sheldon in March 1913, a few months before his death, 

 
Two hundred and forty years ago this ancient home and farm was bequeathed by Robert Ryley to his nephew John Prince, and the Prince family have resided thereupon ever since. The present owner [JPS] is the fifth John Prince, and he took up his headquarters here in 1863. It was bequeathed to him by his mother's sister, Miss Prince [Hannah], in 1881.
 
 
Sheldon House and its outbuildings are constructed from 
coursed gritstone with Staffordshire Blue plain clay tiled  roofs. The house and the south facing element of the barns both have 
coped verges and pitched, tiled dormer windows at loft level. A date stone on this section of the barns reads 1888. It is likely that the house was remodelled at this time - a theory supported by OS maps from 1880 and 1899.
 
The house that stands on the site today is not entirely the same one inherited by John Prince Sheldon. This man was a 'moderniser' with a specific interest in dairy farming and his ownership of the property began towards the end of the high farming years. It is probable that he rebuilt the house and associated outbuildings in order to bring the farmstead up to date thus maximising productivity. This rebuilding saw the farmhouse becoming larger than its predecessor (likely 17th century cottage/s). There was extensive rebuilding of farmsteads in the Peak District in the 19th century, the result being that relatively few buildings appear to be substantially complete survivals from the 18th century and earlier. (PDNPA, 2017, p.14

 
The house itself is 2 storeys plus an attic in height and T-shape 
in plan form. The windows are mainly white painted timber sliding sashes some of which were replaced in the 20th century. 
A single stained modern timber casement window exists to the kitchen at the rear of the house. The front attic bedrooms are lit by two mullioned windows and the rear attic bedrooms by a casement window.

 
When studying the plan and elevations it is clear that the house has evolved and grown over time. Elements of the ground and first floor south wing of the house have 17th or 18th century roots, evident in the stonework. The entrance porch, gothic arch window, attic dormers and entire north wing were built later, probably by John Prince Sheldon. On the front elevation a door to the right of the main entrance was turned into a window by the Critchlow family in the early-mid 20th century.

 
Despite looking relatively grand from the outside, the house 
is formed of a series of small square rooms with low ceilings and exposed beams and joists resulting in a cottage-esque 
feeling. The entrance door and porch give the impression of an impressive entrance space behind but in fact they lead directly into what was a reception room. The front section of the house appears to use the body of an old cottage as its base whereas the rear of the house seems to have been rebuilt over an older cellar. The two sections are linked together by an awkward curved corridor. 
 
Two staircases access the first floor where the bedrooms have 
slightly higher ceilings. The attic bedrooms are accessed via a further two separate staircases, one in each 'wing' of the house. There is one small bathroom serving 7 bedrooms.
 
John Prince Sheldon lived at Sheldon House Farm (then a house called 'The Brund' - it was named Sheldon House by the Critchlow family in the mid-20th century) between 1881 
and August 1913 when he died. In 1918, the farm was sold at auction to the Critchlow family who remained in ownership of it until 2017. In the 1970s, the deaths of the Critchlow parents lead to the 'modernisation' of the house removing all features of any architectural or historic value: The only plumbed and heated Victorian bathroom in the area (this was in a two-storey extension at the rear of the house); Victorian central heating; and all fireplaces. In 2018, the house is in a state of disrepair having been lived in by an elderly brother and sister for many years.

 

 
A comment made by nearly every visitor to the house during 
the pre-auction period and since it came into our ownership, is that for such a grand albeit 'higgledy piggledy' façade, the 
interior is distinctly underwhelming in terms of layout and lack of original features. On the ground floor the small rooms lead directly into one another; the entrance hall has no sense of 'arrival' about it; the curved corridor that links the two wings together crashes through the rear wall of the house (fig. 8) creating a strange curve in the current ground floor cloak room; the kitchen is tiny; the rooms are dark with low ceilings; it is damp, draughty and lacking in central heating; the ratio of bedrooms to ground floor family space is high and the ratio of bathrooms to bedrooms is low. However, part of what excites us about the house is this sense of evolution and potential for 
the story to continue.
 
The house is separated from the farmyard by a high stone 
'garden' wall and has its own driveway accessed from the main road. The wall has a door passing through the middle, surrounded by large stone quoins and the curved sloping section of the wall down to the farmyard gate is topped with hand carved curved coping stones. Unfortunately, the stone wall was built too high and too narrow with a copper beech tree planted within a metre of it. The strength of the tree along with the design of the wall, have contributed to the destabilisation of the wall over time. It is currently in danger of toppling into the farmyard, bringing the doorway with it (Fig.10). We have removed the coping stones and have them in safe keeping for rebedding when the wall is stabilised.
 
The house is joined to the main body of the garden wall by 
another section of wall at the same height, behind which hide the two stone lean-to buildings. There is no visual link between the front and back of the house other than through a doorway. 
 
There is a grassed area forming a basic garden to the east of 
the house, a concrete courtyard to the rear of the house and a vast area of tarmac following the driveway down towards the house and continuing past the front of the house to the farmyard. A lower stone wall forms the boundary between the farmyard access track and the tarmacked area to the front of Sheldon House. 
 
The house sits to the east of the farmyard which contains a 
T-shaped 
range 
of 
stone 
outbuildings. 
Along 
with 
the 
tall 
garden 
wall, these enclose 3 sides of the main farmyard. These were constructed in the 1880s. To the west of the stone buildings 
are two modern agricultural buildings within a second farm yard which links directly to the land. The linear development of the hamlet as well as the way in which the curtilages were divided for the auction has resulted in Sheldon House Farm being in ownership of a long plot of farm land spanning from the main road to the river Manifold and becoming narrower as it approaches the road. 

## 3.3 Heritage Value

 
The historic nature of The Brund means that there is potential 
for the place to yield evidence about the past. Sheldon House has been dramatically altered over time, diminishing its 

## 3.4 Neighbouring Trees

significance as a piece of built heritage, hence the fact that it is not listed.

 
Three mature copper beech trees were planted just inside the 
stone wall boundary which forms the residential curtilage of the house. Along the boundary with the farm access track is a diseased chestnut tree, a cherry tree and a beech tree. Hamps Valley Tree surgeons submitted an application to the Peak Park Authority on our behalf for the removal of the copper beech tree adjacent to the tall garden wall and the diseased chestnut tree to the front of the house. No objections were received. The copper beech tree has been removed in order to preserve the tall garden wall and to allow the south-west gable of the house to dry out.
 
In terms of aesthetic value, The Brund is of great significance 
but much of this can be attributed to the tightly knit group of small farm workers cottages composed of Rose Cottage, Hillside Cottage and Plum Tree Cottage and the interlocking group of gritstone walls that form the spaces and divisions between these cottages. Sheldon House is set away from this group, and whilst it is larger than these cottages, its architectural and aesthetic contribution to the group is less. As has been previously described, the house is not of one single style but a mixture, resulting in something that is more convoluted than cohesive. 

## 3.5 Recent Planning History

 
There is no planning history related to Sheldon House Farm.
 
Historically and communally, The Brund as a collective 
including New House Farm and Sheldon House, has a great deal of value. Since August 2017, we have been fortunate enough to become part of an already established wider community. It is apparent that the hamlet has meaning for many people even outside of its boundaries and the link to the Critchlow family is live. 
 
The owners of Limetree Farm have recently submitted an 
application for the proposed extension to dwelling and conversion of attached outbuildings to ancillary living space (application number NP/SM/0118/0011). This has recently been approved.
 
The social history links between Sheldon House Farm and 
Professor John Prince Sheldon are fascinating. Learning from the past is important to us and we hope to continue this journey. It is important to note though that these houses and cottages are now in new ownership and what has been neglected for some time will now be given a second chance. 
The Heritage Environment Record has been consulted but 
yielded no useful information. 

## 4.0 The Existing House 4.1 Photographs

towards removed tree, toppling garden / farm-yard wall, and rotten timber, stone and metal garage; rear courtyard;
timber, stone and metal garage;
timber, stone and metal garage;

## 5.0 Precedent And Inspiration

5.1  
Precedent: Faha Farmhouse, Jamie Fobert Architects
 
An original grouping of a cottage and barns looking out 
towards Galway Bay was retained and extended. Materials used include zinc, timber and stone and forms are shed-like'. Both reflect the rural nature of the site. 
:
5.2  
Precedent: Watergate Phase 1, James Gorst Architects
 
The refurbishment of an existing stone barn  (in Oxfordshire) into 
an artists studio and the linking of the two by a new two storey timber building providing garaging and staff accommodation.
5.3  
Precedent: 
Boreraig House, Dualchas Architects
 
A new house built on an old croft on the Isle of Skye. The 
house is constructed from Scottish stone and larch cladding and corrugated metal: All materials found in the landscape (walls, fences, roofs). It is heavily insulated and utilises external shutters as a barrier against the winds. 
5.4  
Precedent: 
Dovecote Studio, Haworth Tompkins Architects
 
The project reuses a derelict brick structure within the curtilage 
of a grade II listed building at Snape Maltings near Aldeburgh in Suffolk. A Cor-ten steel lining sits inside of the existing brick structure, retaining it as existing. The new building is a simple form with a pitched roof

## 6.0 Design Proposals 6.1 Site Constraints And Opportunities

 
Sheldon House is located within an area that is very clearly delineated as residential curtilage by a drystone wall. The house sits towards the bottom of the plot close to the tall garden wall creating a small pocket of space between the house and the stone wall. Two lean-to 'out-houses' sit, concealed behind the tall wall, within this space. One of these buildings is an outside WC, the other a shed - neither relevant to the current or future use of the house or farm. Along with the charming but degraded timber gararge, they are linked by awkward unusable space. There is an opportunity to utilise this space by replacing the WC and shed with habitable space.

## 6.2 Use

 
The existing house is awaiting modernisation.

## 6.2.1 Problems

 
We have identified several issues with the way in which the 
current house is configured, 1. The ground floor circulation lacks sensible flow.
2. The kitchen is small and located in the north wing of the 
house.
3. 
The ground floor accommodation is not well balanced 
with the first and second floor provision.
4. 
There is only one bathroom to service 7 bedrooms.
5. 
Two existing residential 'outbuildings' and an old timber garage with a footprint of 42 sq m GEA that could be better integrated.

## 6.2.2 Solutions

1. 
Reinstate entrance hall in centre of front wing rather than 
utilising as a reception room. Allow the remaining rooms to radiate from here.
2. 
Relocate the kitchen to the western-most room in the 
south elevation thus creating a room that is double aspect with a south facing window, is accessible from the main entrance hall and has the opportunity to be extended to create a dining space and family room.
3. 
Extend the ground floor to the side of the new kitchen 
location into the space behind the garden wall, replacing 
 
What is currently the kitchen will become part of the adjacent 
room giving a double aspect to a dark space. We would like 
to remove the modern stained timber casement window and replace it with a set of painted timber framed glazed doors to give access into the domestic courtyard area to the rear of the house. This room will be a playroom, evolving as the children grow.
the WC, shed and garage. New extension to contain dining area and family room, study area and utility room.
4. 
Positioning kitchen and utility room at the western most 
point of the house creates a more sensible drainage solution minimising impact on the character of the existing house.
5. 
Utilise existing spaces created by outbuildings and 
garage. Incorporate into extension to increase habitable 
 
floor area with minimal impact. New footprint to be 56 sq m GEA (increase of 14 sq m).

## 6.3 Proposal

 
We propose moving the kitchen from its location at the rear 
of the house into a new location to the west of the front wing. This location has dual aspect both north and south but is still not large enough to provide a family kitchen and eating space. Whilst in its new position it is well connected to the entrance 
hall, due to the cottage origins of the plan it does not have enough space to accommodate our family before, during and after mealtimes in addition to being a place in which to prepare food. In order to make sense of the location of the entrance door, we see the space to the right of the new kitchen being primarily an entrance hall from which circulation to the rest of the house radiates. We would, therefore, like to create a small extension to the west of the house which will provide  a dining and informal sitting space for our family - a family room. The existing reception room to the right of the entrance door will be a more formal lounge as per its most recent use. 
 
Sheldon House has been neglected for many years and as a 
result looks quite 'down at heel'. The house requires substantial investment in order to become a comfortable home suitable for a young family. Any improvements we make now must allow flexibility and space for our family to grow into the future. 
Elevationally, the house has stature especially when viewed 
from the south east. Any moves we make in terms of improving or extending the house must not be so apologetic as to diminish this but at the same time must acknowledge and celebrate the solidity and grandeur of the existing building, allowing it to stand proud.
 
Creating a family kitchen / living space in this location will 
reinvigorate Sheldon House, bringing the kitchen  to the heart of the home. By building a small extension to the west of the house, we can benefit from the footprint of the existing outbuildings, increasing the floor area of the house with minimal impact on its character and without obscuring its 
 
We propose to maintain the two main entrance doors (on the 
south and east elevations) into the house, removing the flat roofed concrete porch to the north elevation and creating a window opening here in replacement of the door. 
existing form. The outlook and aspect of the existing rooms will remain as existing.

 
The cellular form and hierarchy of the rooms in the existing 
house will still be very much perceptible; however, the new spaces will be relatively free-flowing. The utility room and homework area will be located within the new timber structure that will replace the existing timber garage. The utility room will sit at ground floor level with the homework area occupying a mezzanine level over.
 
It is proposed to plant a grass and wild flower blanket over the 
flat roof to the living / dining areas. This green roof will sit behind the existing stone garden wall. 

## 6.4 Design, Form And Materiality

 
Other than increasing the area of the ground floor of the 
dwelling and improving the layout of the existing spaces, one of the primary aims of the proposals is to consolidate and make more coherent the design of the existing house. It is proposed that the new extension be designed in a sensitive and contemporary manner, appropriate to a 'Gentleman's residence' within a Conservation Area.
 
As mentioned in section 3.2 the integrity of the existing tall garden wall was compromised by an unmanaged copper beech tree and a fundamental flaw in the design of the wall (too narrow, too high, shallow foundations). The wall is significant in Sheldon's vision to create a grand house, separated from its farmyard. It also has a major part to play in sheltering the house from the prevailing wind from the south west. The new extension will tie back to the existing tall garden wall, strengthening it and ensuring its survival. 

 
It is proposed to replace the garage with another timber and 
stone structure with a metal roof and incorporate the area utilised by the stone lean-tos into the new extension. The new extension will be linked to the house with a frameless glass link. The integrity of the recessed area from which the WC and the rear courtyard are both accessed will be retained. The tall garden wall will remain dominant and legible, punctured only by a set of elegant sliding doors. 
 
The proposed extension is one room deep and sits over the 
footprint of the existing outbuildings and garage. The existing 
form of the house is clearly retained. The new living space creates a dialogue with the existing domestic courtyard area but is closed to the farmyard elevation other than a single access door. The timber section is raised off the ground, sitting over a stone wall. It is proposed that the timber be larch and the stone wall utilise salvaged stone from site. The pitched section of roof will be corrugated zinc. Two weathered steel panels face the farmyard, emerging from behind the wall reflecting the rural character of the site. Behind these panels sits a flat grass roof. Weathered steel is a material that changes and patinates over time,  transforming through rich, autumnal orange colours before finally arriving at a beautiful dark brown-purple. Discreet elements of the cladding will incorporate delicate holes to allow evening light to dapple the interior of the space.
 
The extension is conceived as 3 elements - existing stone 
walls, slender timber framed glazing under a flat grass roof and a simple timber clad pitched roof volume replacing the 
existing garage of the same form and material. 
glass doors to the south elevation. The grass roofed extension nestles behind the garden wall. The overall mass of the extension is horizontal; however, verticality is achieved with the orientation of each piece of glass and the larch clad timber structure. 6.6 
Privacy and amenity

 
The combination of traditional, salvaged materials and new, 
soft and contemporary materials will bring something special to this part of the conservation area. We do not believe that slavishly trying to recreate the design of the house albeit in a smaller form more appropriate to an extension is the correct response here - to create pastiche would be a wasted opportunity, not in line with the best conservation philosophy and not something that Sheldon himself would have believed in. He had ambition and we aspire to pay tribute to that in 
addition to improving and enhancing the house and the conservation area. Old and new are clearly but sensitively delineated.
 
Sheldon House is located away from the small cottages along 
the road of the hamlet - it is further west with its front facing the rear of Limetree Farm. The domestic curtilage is also surrounded by a gritstone wall and separated from the cottages by a row of copper beech, chestnut and beech trees. The proposed location of the extension is at the furthest point 
of the house from the road and therefore the hamlet cottages. It is also further down the hill. The relationship between the location (geographical / shelter etc) of the proposed extension and the rest of the hamlet will ensure minimal impact on setting and therefore privacy and amenity. The south-west corner of Sheldon House and the position of the tall garden wall provide the new living space with a great deal of privacy.
 
The visual impact of the proposed extension is minimal - it 
nestles sensitively behind an existing wall, utilises existing footprints, reinterprets the form of the existing garage and reuses existing apertures into the farmyard and domestic courtyard. 

## 6.7 Sustainability 6.5 Size, Massing And Space

 
6.7.1 
Social and cultural sustainability
 
 
We are a young family who intend to live in the house 
for  many years to come. Our main aim is to bring Sheldon House Farm back into use as a family home in the 21st century thus contributing towards sustaining a living community within The Brund. 
 
The gross external area of the ground floor including domestic 
curtilage outbuildings currently stands at 221 sq m. The gross external area of the ground floor as proposed will be 238 sq m, just 7.5% larger. The useable space in and around the domestic curtilage is much improved with this design when compared to the existing.
 
The garden wall is to be retained as existing in extent and 
form, changed only with the insertion of new timber framed 
 
We intend to use local craftspeople to work on the house. 
In doing so we will be supporting the long tradition of craftsmanship in building that has been established in the Peak District.

## 6.7.2 Environmental Sustainability

our family are proposing to do in this case is adapt what should be a family house but is not currently suitable for this use to the needs of modern life. The measures we 
take within the house to reduce energy consumption will in turn reduce running costs.
 
…there is a vast stock of unlisted 19th and 20th century buildings that quietly contributes to the character of our towns 
and cities. 
These buildings may be less architecturally 
significant than those that are listed, but they also offer greater scope for reuse and environmental upgrading. Making the best use of this excellent, if undervalued, resource means adapting these older buildings to the demands of modern use, balancing in the process a 
sensitive and informed appreciation of original fabric with an inventive approach to design. (Hines, accessed 2018)
 
Sheldon House itself is currently damp inside and out 
due to overshadowing by the copper beech tree; cement pointing externally and plastering internally; and a lack of heating. It is our intention to repoint the facades with lime mortar, re-plaster internally with lime plaster, insulate the ground floor throughout and install central heating including underfloor heating to the ground floor. The removal of any cement based mortar from the building will protect the building fabric from damp allowing it to breathe into the future. We also propose the use of a renewable energy source by introducing 4 clean burning wood burning stoves into the house. The 
building fabric of the new extension will ensure minimal heat loss. In addition, we will be recycling stone in the elevations. 
 
In addition, in using local craftspeople to work alongside 
us in improving and enhancing the house and its environs we will be contributing towards the local economy.
 
Constructive conservation is an inherently sustainable activity that makes use of the embodied energy that has already been consumed in the construction of a building. Modernising and reusing historic buildings also contributes to distinctiveness in the built environment, thus helping to create a better quality of life for present and future generations. (English Heritage / Historic England, 2013, p.3)

## 6.7.3 Economic Sustainability

 
The upkeep of the house, outbuildings and land is a large 
undertaking. The land allocated to Sheldon House prior to auction was unfortunately not enough to allow the property to be viable as a farming business. It is likely that in order to up keep the house and outbuildings we will need, at some point in the future, to let a bedroom or two in the rear wing of the house on a bed and breakfast basis. This will supplement our finances, contributing to the maintenance of the barns and land.
 
In the face of economic austerity and a shortage of 
housing particularly in a national park, upgrading and reusing existing buildings it is of great importance. What 

## 7.0 Planning Policy 7.1 National Planning Policy Framework

 
The NPPF requires that local planning policy is structured 
in such a way as to support developments that, respond 
to local character and history, and reflect the identity of local surroundings and materials, while not preventing or discouraging appropriate innovation (p.15), as well as being visually attractive as a result of good architecture. 
 
The framework also states that local planning authorities should take into account the desirability of new development making a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness 
(p.30).
- 
A conserved and enhanced Peak District, where the natural beauty and quality of its landscapes, its biodiversity, tranquillity, cultural heritage and the settlements within it 
continue to be valued for their diversity and richness. 
- 
A welcoming Peak District, where people from all parts of our diverse society have the opportunity to visit, appreciate, understand and enjoy the National Park's special qualities. 
- 
A living, modern and innovative Peak District, that contributes positively to vibrant communities for both residents and people in neighbouring urban areas, and demonstrates a high quality of life whilst conserving and enhancing the special qualities of the National Park. 
- 
A viable and thriving Peak District economy, that 
capitalises on its special qualities and promotes a strong sense of identity. 
 
In terms of cultural heritage assets, the PDNPA Core Strategy 
document acknowledges that the National Planning Policy Framework states that,
 
The NPPF makes it clear that the impact of change to a heritage 
asset should be weighed up against the heritage value of the asset with great weight being given to the asset's conservation. Sheldon House is not listed and although it is in a conservation area and has a fascinating social history, the proposed works to the dwelling can only be perceived to improve enhance the house and wider conservation area. In addition, the proposed extension is mainly visible only from the private area of the conservation area, viewable only by us. 
 
Local Development Frameworks should set out a positive and proactive strategy for the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment, taking into account the variations in type and distribution of heritage asset, as well as the contribution made by the historic environment by virtue of its influence on the character of the environment and an area's sense of place.  It states that planning authorities should recognise…the stimulus it can provide to inspire new development of imaginative and high-quality design. (PDNPA, 2001, 9.39)
7.2 
Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) Core Strategy The PDPNA Core Strategy 2011 document sets out a series of strategies that will enable its 'Vision by 2026' to be achieved by working towards creating,

 
 
It also recognises that plans point about being l*iving, modern and innovative*. As discussed in the English Heritage document Valuing Places - Good Practice in Conservation Areas, part of their *Constructive Conservation* 
series,

 
should include consideration of how best to conserve individual, 
groups or types of heritage assets that are most at risk of loss through neglect, decay or other threats (PDNPA, 2001, 9.39).
 
One of the ways in which cultural heritage can be conserved 
and enhanced is by 
 
Every conservation area contains places which have changed. Often these changes are features of the character which we wish to protect; often, too, further changes have to be accommodated if we are to ensure such places have a viable and beneficial future. (English Heritage, 2011. p.2)

## 7.3 Pdnpa Design Guide

 
Encouraging the refurbishment and re-use of disused or 
underused buildings of architectural and historic importance to enhance their contribution to the historic character of the area ((PDNPA, 2001, 9.45)
 
Policy 
L3, Cultural 
heritage assets of 
archaeological, 
architectural, artistic or historic significance states that, A. 
Development must conserve and where appropriate 
enhance or reveal the significance of archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic assets and their settings, including statutory designations and other heritage assets of international, national, regional or local importance or special interest; 
 
The proposed refurbishment and extension at Sheldon House 
achieves these aims. It is a sensitive and high-quality design that has been developed following analysis of the existing dwelling and its setting. The form of the extension speaks to the vernacular whilst also utilising salvaged and locally referenced and sourced materials in a way that enhances their contribution to the historic character of the area. The design is contemporary, sensitive and understated, resonating with the 
 
As discussed in the PDNPA Design Guide, dwellings within the Peak District tend to be characterised by robustness, simplicity and horizontality of form (PDNPA, 2007, p.13). They were also generally south facing in order to benefit from light and solar gain. Our proposal is influenced by these principles - it will be robust in its materiality, simple in its form and design, emphasises the horizontality of the building and faces south. The location of the extension creates another room at the end of a series of cellular rooms, speaking to the way in which the house has evolved. The Design Guide states that it is preferable to find a design solution which reflects or reinterprets the local tradition and is also a product of our time (p16). Our aim is for the extension to work in harmony with the existing building. The simplicity of the form and the use of high quality materials, detailing and workmanship will ensure that the new element will complement rather than being identical to the existing building. The form and proportions of the extension have been heavily influenced by the PDNPA Design Guide but also take strong cues from the existing house and site. 

 
We hope that we will further be able to reinforce this at Sheldon House. 
 
7.4 
Peak District Landscape Strategy
 
As previously mentioned, The Brund, is located within the South West Peak District. In studying the Landscape Strategy for this area it is clear that the hamlet and particularly Sheldon House Farm (as its land slopes down to the river Manifold) falls somewhere within the Upland Pasture or Upper Valley Pasture category, taking characteristics from both these descriptions.

## Upland Pastures.

 
This is an upland pastoral landscape with a traditional dispersed pattern of gritstone farmsteads of probable ancient origins. There are also localised village settlements. Permanent pasture is enclosed by drystone walls and some hedgerows. Trees are scattered along incised cloughs and around dispersed gritstone farmsteads. This is a very peaceful rural landscape with open views to surrounding higher ground. (PDNPA, 2009, p.16)
 
Upper Valley Pastures.
 
This is a settled pastoral valley landscape with scattered trees along hedgerows, around settlements and following streams. Fields of permanent pasture are divided by hedgerows and occasional drystone walls. This is a settled landscape with dispersed gritstone farmsteads with stone or clay tile roofs. Views along the valley and to surrounding hills are filtered through scattered trees. (PDNPA, 2009, p.18)
 
One of the objectives of the Landscape Strategy is to provide 
a framework from which to protect and manage the distinctive 
historic character of the landscapes through sustainable 
landscape management (p.25). In the upland pasture areas this 
manifests as a priority to protect historic field boundaries and 
historic settlement patterns whilst protecting or managing the diversity of pastoral farmland. In the upper valley pasture areas, 
the priority is to protect and diversify the historic network of boundaries and trees, and to encourage natural river processes to provide flood storage, amenity and biodiversity benefits (p.26).
 
This design and access statement is related purely to the 
proposed extension at Sheldon House. However, it should be mentioned that increasing biodiversity; protecting field 
boundaries (drystone walls and hedges); diversifying the network of trees; encouraging natural river processes are all of utmost importance to us and we intend to manage our small parcel of land in a way that will help achieve the PDNPA's aims. 
 
Both the Conservation Area Appraisal and the Landscape 
Strategy document mention the negative visual impact from powerlines within The Brund and the wider South West Peak. In the future, we would be looking to take these cables below ground, an aspiration that is shared with other homeowners in The Brund.

## 8.0 Conclusion 9.0 Bibliography

 
 
Department for Communities and Local Government; National 
Planning Policy Framework; March 2012
 
English Heritage; Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance 
for the Sustainable Management of the Historic Environment; 2008
 
Our investigations have revealed that Sheldon House has 
evolved over time to suit the needs of each generation and the aspirations of the owner at that time. John Prince Sheldon brought it up to date in the 1880s and we would like to do the same thing now by conserving the essence of the house and allowing its story to be told. We intend to improve, repair and conserve the fabric of Sheldon House and hope to be granted the opportunity to create a flexible living environment for our growing family within this exceptional location.
 
English Heritage / Historic England, Constructive Conservation; 
Sustainable Growth for Historic Places; 2013
 
English Heritage; Valuing Places - Good Practice in Conservation 
Areas; 2013
 
Our proposals are modest, sensitively designed and enhance 
rather than adversely affecting the character of the building or 
the Conservation Area. All alterations respect the existing and original historic fabric, layout and hierarchy of the building.
 
Hines, Mark; Conservation in the Age of Sustainability; www.
buildingconservation.com; accessed 30/01/2018
 
Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA); Conservation 
Area: The Brund; date unknown.
 
PDNPA; Design Guide; 2007
 
We believe that our proposals result in a design response that 
is clear in representing a conservation philosophy that has integrity and authenticity at its heart. We aspire to create a sensitive approach to contemporary renovation and extension within this sensitive location. Our commitment to Sheldon House is positive both for the house and the conservation area.
 
PDNPA; Farmstead Character Statement; 2017
 
PDNPA; Landscape Strategy: 9. South West Peak; July 2009
 
PDNPA; 
Local 
Development 
Framework. 
Core 
Strategy 
Development Plan Document; October 2011

## A Existing Drawings Not To Scale

B  
Proposed Drawings

Not to scale