If you are planning an extension, please engage with the board at the earliest possible time to avoid expensive design changes later.
The legal covenants coupled with Conservation Area status (Article 4.2), place important restrictions on what may be done to the houses and gardens.
Architectural Integrity
Preserving the architectural integrity of Fieldend is of paramount importance in maintaining the exceptional environment in which we live. It's due to residents upholding the Scheme of Management and the vigilance of the Board over the last 60 years that the special architectural and historic interest of the estate and the quality of its communal gardens has been maintained.
Being designated a conservation area confirms that Fieldend is a special place and that the houses have retained their distinctive architectural details. The enlargement of a property, hard surfacing, or provision of an enclosure that is visible from public view could unbalance the regularity of the development. As such, permission is required for these developments from both the Board and the council.
The Board and the Council Conservation Officer are particularly focused on the parts of the extension that can be viewed from public areas. It may be that council planning permission is granted with conditions, that must be fully discharged before the building begins.
If you are considering any sort of repair or alteration that will modify the external appearance of the house in any way, please contact FRAL first. The Committee can advise on what is likely to be acceptable and can put you in touch with others who may have done similar work: learning from their experience can save you time and money.
It is vitally important to gain approval from FRAL before submitting a planning application. In 2011 the Court of Appeal upheld the right of a Scheme of Management based on the same type of covenant as ours to prevent alterations to a building (Zenios v Hamptsead Garden Suburb Trust Ltd). The court interpreted the restrictive nature of the covenant as it had been intended and found that the proposed alteration was contrary to the property's design concept and would set a deleterious precedent. The Court found that the Scheme of Management could overrule a grant of planning permission. The fact that it went to the Court of Appeal means that this is a strong legal precedent.
The regulations are intended to make living on Fieldend as pleasant as possible whilst, at the same time, upholding the basic design principles that make this award-winning development unique.
Fieldend was intended to be a self-regulating community with residents caring for their own shared environment. To aid community cohesion we always ask householders who are planning extensions to obtain written approval from their immediate neighbours who will be impacted most by the build.
All planning condition submissions regarding materiality and design details are also subject to being reviewed and approved by FRAL. Below is a list of design elements that we consider when looking at extension plans (not exclusive), we hope these will help when planning your extension:
Top fascia: We ask that you use white wooden shiplap, this helps tie-in the extension with the design of the existing building. The architectural quality of the estate relies on the consistency and repetitive rhythm of neat, identical houses and the wooden shiplap helps with this.
Brick: We ask that this matches (as far as possible) the brickwork on the main house. We recommend Ibstock Funton Orchard Mixture but other bricks can be a good match.
Windows and doors: Wooden windows and doors that match the main build are preferred but we understand that this is not practical for larger sliding doors. The proportion of the fenestration must harmonise with the main house.
Colour: If you are planning on using powder-coated aluminium patio/sliding doors we request that the aluminium be painted white and not grey. The colour scheme of the estate changes (in 2020 it changed from grey/white to green/white) and we feel that white will ensure the extension fits with the main colour scheme going forward.
Height: We ask for the height of the extension to be in line with neighbouring extensions, some people have found that this restriction has meant that they must dig-down.
Main House: If your building works involve changes to the main house please be aware that services for the houses have all been carefully designed inside the house, leaving the exterior free from wires and pipes. Please make sure that any changes will not require a boiler flue or any service pipes through the front or side of the house.
Technical Drawings: FRAL must sign off all detailed technical drawings before the building work begins. FRAL can offer a helping hand so that both resident and FRAL know planning drawings are going to be adhered to in the detailed design and the build itself. This avoids costly alterations to any incorrectly built work.
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