Lake Cottage

Planning permission was granted on 6 October 2025 for the demolition of the existing dwelling and annexe at Lake House, and the construction of a replacement dwelling with integrated annex accommodation.

Located within a remote rural setting in the CA2 Agricultural Belt Character Area, as defined by the Copthorne Neighbourhood Plan, the 0.23-hectare site is accessed via a private driveway from Old Hollow. The proposal responds sensitively to its countryside context, maintaining the established character of the approach, including the existing circular driveway and mature trees.

The new dwelling introduces a contemporary design with an H-shaped footprint, arranged over two floors. With a maximum ridge height of 7.9 metres, the scale and massing are carefully considered in relation to the existing property and surrounding landscape. The replacement dwelling provides approximately 590 sqm of floorspace, representing a proportionate increase while remaining comparable to the previously permitted built form.

The development was assessed as compliant with the Local Plan, supporting a one-for-one replacement dwelling in the countryside. The design, materials, and overall scale were deemed appropriate, and it was concluded that the proposal would not adversely affect the setting of nearby listed buildings due to the separation distances involved.

A comprehensive assessment confirmed compliance across all key planning considerations, including highways and access, residential amenity, heritage, ecology and biodiversity, sustainability, flood risk and drainage, and low carbon energy.