The brief
The cottage was built for mining families working Killifreth Mine, and Hawke’s Shaft engine house stands less than 150 metres away. It had been left to decay for around twenty years.
Two previous applications had proposed a two-storey extension to the west and both were refused: the extra height blocked views of the engine house from the road and overwhelmed the cottage. The owner came to us wanting to give the site one more try, for a four-bedroom home with modern living space.
What we did
- Measured survey and mining surveys
- Heritage consultation with the World Heritage Officer
- Design and 3D visuals
- Landscape design
- Planning permission
Our approach
We carried out a full measured survey and mining surveys of the property, and met with the World Heritage Officer and Cornwall’s planners to understand exactly why the earlier schemes had failed.
Rather than building west and upwards, we went east and stretched the extension across a single floor. The new east wing is set down below existing ground level and topped with a sedum roof, so the landscape appears to run on past it and views of the engine house are kept clear.
The original cottage is restored with a new internal layout, keeping its chimneys and character and replacing the slate roof. Gorse and wildflower planting covers most of the site, with a more formal garden tucked in front of the east wing, out of sight of the road.
The application (PA23/06726) was approved first time, after three years of frustration for the owner.
