Designing in Britain’s Most Protected Landscapes

Working as an architectural practice within the UK’s National Parks is both a privilege and a challenge. Over the years, we’ve had the opportunity to deliver projects in three of these extraordinary landscapes (Dartmoor, the New Forest and the South Downs) - each with its own character, community, and environmental sensitivities. These experiences have shaped the way we design, collaborate, and ultimately bring ideas to life in places where the stakes are high and the context matters deeply.

Navigating complex planning environments is at the heart of what we do. 

Sites within National Parks come with rigorous policies designed to protect precious landscapes, biodiversity, and cultural identity. Add heritage significance into the mix—listed buildings, conservation areas, historic farmsteads or archaeological remains - and the path from concept to consent becomes even more nuanced. 

It’s a journey that demands patience, specialist knowledge, and a commitment to listening as much as creating.

Our approach is rooted in understanding a site’s story and history. Whether we’re restoring a historic structure or introducing contemporary interventions within sensitive settings, we strive to design with honesty and respect. Every project is a balance between client aspirations and the responsibilities that come with working in protected places. 

By engaging closely with planning authorities, heritage bodies, local communities, and specialist consultants, we aim to craft architecture that enriches its setting rather than competes with it.

Working in National Parks has taught us that constraints often spark the most considered and enduring solutions. It’s a process we value—a blend of creativity, rigour, and reverence for landscapes and histories that deserve careful stewardship.