Extension Approved for Listed Farmhouse Near Braintree
How I secured planning permission and listed building consent for a single storey extension to a Grade II listed farmhouse near Braintree.
PLANNING APPROVALSBRAINTREEESSEX
Andrew Ransome
7/15/20262 min read
In 2021, I secured planning permission and listed building consent from Braintree District Council for a single storey side and rear extension to a Grade II listed farmhouse in the rural parish of Greenstead Green, Essex.
The scheme extended a historic timber-framed dwelling while respecting its setting within open countryside, and required careful navigation of heritage policy after the Council's own conservation adviser raised concerns about the impact on the listed building's significance.
Overcoming Heritage Officer Objections
The Essex County Council Historic Buildings Adviser objected to the application, citing concerns about the “wrap-around” footprint of the proposed extension against the significance of the sixteenth-century farmhouse. The adviser also flagged the absence of photographic evidence showing the rear and side elevations in their wider setting, making it difficult to fully assess the visual impact of the scheme.
Rather than commissioning a lengthy new heritage assessment, I built the case around the site's planning history and previous approvals. A comparable extension, matching the footprint and materials of the current proposal, had already been approved in 2013. That extension had not been implemented but there had been no material change in national or local heritage policy since that decision.
Balancing Harm and Public Benefit Under NPPF Paragraph 196
Drawing on Policy RLP100 of the Braintree District Local Plan Review and Policy LPP60 of the emerging Section 2 Local Plan, I demonstrated that any less-than-substantial harm to the listed building was outweighed by the established planning precedent, the use of matching lime render and plain tiles, and the modest, subservient nature of the single storey addition when viewed against the scale of the farmhouse.
I also highlighted that the extension would be partially screened from the principal elevation by an existing brick garden wall, limiting its visibility from the most sensitive public viewpoint.
The Council accepted this reasoning in full, granting both planning permission and listed building consent.
Planning Application Advice
If you're planning an extension to your home, contact me to discuss your project and see how we can assist with the planning process.
Andrew Ransome MRTPI - Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
About me
Andrew Ransome is a Planning Director and a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), with more than two decades of experience in town planning.
He specialises in delivering strategic planning solutions for complex developments across both rural and urban environments, helping clients navigate planning challenges and unlock development opportunities. Connect with Andrew on Linkedin.
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Get in touch for planning advice: Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
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