A new rural working hub in the Cotswolds

SF Planning Ltd is delighted to have secured planning permission for a rural work hub at the Calmsden Estate in the Cotswold AONB.  Working with Millar Howard Workshop, MHP Design and Cotswold Transport Planning, planning permission has been granted for a commercial development that will provide a mix of traditional, studio and co-working office spaces to serve the rural workforce.

The scheme is a timely response to changing working practices as people seek to work more flexibly and closer to home.  It will also have significant benefits to the Calmsden Estate as it diversifies its present, mainly agriculturally based portfolio, which is a key objective as it strives for stability and longevity in the context of its transition away from past reliance upon the EU’s agricultural tariffs.

The scheme embraces energy efficiency and sustainable design through a comprehensive approach that specifies sustainable building materials, including green roofs and walls, uses renewable energy generated on site and promotes the use of sustainable transport solutions.  Whilst a modern energy efficient approach has been specified, the architectural design of the new buildings will pay homage to the traditional agricultural buildings already found at Calmsden in order to retain the existing traditional Cotswolds character of the estate.

Planning permission has also been secured for new agricultural buildings to serve the estate’s present livestock and arable farming activities.  These modern buildings will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the farming practices too.

It is hoped this planning permission will help the Calmsden Estate to be robust to future change and we are looking forward to seeing working starting on site soon.