Innovative and exemplary low carbon dwelling in a quarry setting.

The unique location of this building is within a redundant quarry with steep cliff faces and a lagoon below.

The design positions the house on “a new elevated living strata” featuring defining characteristics that complement and are incorporated within the immediate surrounding landscape - including the use of limestone rock.

North East Derbyshire District Council described the site as a special landscape area and, following their advice, a ‘landscape first, architecture second’ approach was adopted to the build.

The owners wanted to reduce the risk of danger associated with this abandoned quarry by positioning their home within the steep stone faces that line the quarry, deterring trespassers by occupying the unique site.

Rural Solutions worked in collaboration with architects and ecologists from FPCR Environment and Design Ltd, along with sustainability consultants Ecospheric who pioneer eco-developments to save carbon and drive technological change.

Objective

To gain planning consent for the development of a new home of exceptional design quality in a unique and technically challenging location.

Approach

An initial planning appraisal was undertaken to assess the site and its position within the landscape. Followed by a pre-application involving extensive discussions with Natural England to establish the broad principles of locating a residential dwelling on this Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Regionally Important Geological (RIGs) designated site.

A design review panel was carried out to highlight the “substantial consideration that had been given to the use of locally sourced materials, particularly the limestone boulders discarded by the quarry workings. Not only because of the reduction in transport-related carbon emissions but also because they support the creation of a building design deeply integrated within the local landscape.”

A full paragraph 84e planning application approach was taken to development, in which through exceptional design the construction of a new, isolated home in the countryside could be granted planning permission. Within this, the argument was made that the build would have minimal visual impact upon the setting and instead enhance it.

The planning team initially visited the site in 2019 and in October 2024 consent was granted under Paragraph 84e at committee, subject to section 106 agreement to mitigate the impact of the development on the local community and infrastructure.

Once built, the new home will meet Passivhaus Plus standards and will be the first certified build in North East Derbyshire.

Images © FPCR Environment and Design