Homes & Houses

Just Building One House? You Still Need To Know About CIL!

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a development tax introduced in England and Wales in 2010 to support local authorities in funding the necessary infrastructure for new developments in their areas. Local governments can impose this charge on most types of new development, allowing them to secure funds for essential services that will benefit the…

Stunning Cotswold Extension

This week, for pure indulgence, we wanted to show you a recently photographed project ahead of a full feature and case study. This project involved a substantial kitchen extension to a large country residence in the Cotswolds. Full height sliding doors, provided by Sightline, and a floating zinc roof, create a dramatic and light filled…

Building Your Dream Home In The Countryside

For many, the idea of building a new home in the countryside is a dream that seems out of reach. However, the little known Paragraph 84 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPFF) offers a possibility that few might have considered achievable. This provision allows for the construction of new isolated homes in the countryside under special circumstances, offering…

Sensitive Landscape Integration For A New Home

Here we have the site plan from another successful planning permission, obtained earlier this year. Thinking Buildings worked with Savills planning consultants and NDLA landscape architects to reach a positive outcome for our clients on this challenging site. The plot is a small paddock attached to a larger dwelling, which had previously been developed with…

Contemporary New Build in Cheltenham

Whilst we are busy working on several school projects at present, it’s not all education at Thinking Buildings. Our other main area of work is in higher end homes, often for private individuals or smaller luxury developers. This is a new build contemporary house that recently gained planning consent in Cheltenham. The design provides 4…

Contemporary Family Home In London

We’re delighted a project in north London, which has been with us for over 8 years, is very close to completion. This project, for a new family home in north London, came to us after a failed planning application. The local planning authority have proved very difficult to work with, but after much persistence, we…

Contemporary Garden Room

This stylish project moves onto site this week. The scheme, to provide a new, contemporary garden room to the rear of an existing Oxfordshire cottage, will replace a dated traditional style conservatory. The project is being built by Barr Construction, and will feature slimline glazing, and a bronze coloured zinc roof. The garden room vastly…

Oxfordshire site redevelopment

This exciting mixed use site redevelopment close to Oxford is taking shape as it progresses towards a planning application. The scheme redevelops an existing commercial site with 2 new proposed buildings; a 3 storey, 500m2 office building, and a 9 unit apartment building. The design includes soft tonal brickwork and zinc standing seam cladding with…

Integrated Photo Voltaic Panels

Here’s an interesting idea. Building integrated Photo Voltaic panels. What’s that I hear you ask? When it comes to fixing solar panels to a roof, it’s all about making sure they stay put, while also being mindful of the roof’s structure. For sloped roofs, which are the most common, roof hooks or brackets are securely…

Contemporary Home, Cheltenham

We want to share another peak at our new house project that was recently submitted for planning consent. Whilst the front is strongly articulated by a series of interlocking architectural forms and overhanging first floor, the design to the rear is simpler, focusing on good proportions, soft tonal materials and the use of subtle brickwork…