Littleberries Estate
Type residential conversion and new build
Size 17 large houses and apartments
Client Legal Estates plc
Status planning consent granted December 2009
Scheme Description
The site is located close to Mill Hill Village on the Ridgeway on the very northern edge of London. At the heart of this amazing site is a listed house, the core of which is Georgian with a variety of additions over the following 150 years. The house enjoys marvellous views over the surrounding landscape part of which was designed by Capability Brown.
For much of its more recent history the house was used as a seminary and various unsympathetic extensions were added over the years. The site was acquired by our client who then commissioned us to work with a full team of consultants to design a new scheme and negotiate a consent with English Heritage and the planners at LB Barnet.
Not only are many of the buildings listed but the site is also located within the Green Belt as well as within a conservation area. Other constraints included the need to retain existing trees and respect the contours of the site. The new build elements are carefully arranged on the lower part of the site creating an informal arrangement inspired by courtyard precedents. This desire to increase the sense of openness allows a strong connection with the adjacent formal gardens of the main house, reinforcing the setting of the listed building.
The scheme proposes the conversion of the original Littleberries House into 8 very large apartments between 2,000 and 6,000 sqft. In addition there will be 8 detached houses (some newbuild and some converted) between 2,000 and 4,000 sqft. The scheme was granted planning permission unanimously at Committee at the end of 2009.
