Coach house is an extension refurbishment and extension of a 19th Century Coach house on the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells located within the Royal Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Conservation area. The proposal seeks to enhance the best features of the house by removing the unsightly lean-to conservatory to the west of the house and adding a contemporary infill extension to the North. The glass break between the existing and house and new conservatory will clearly delineate between new and old and allows the turned brick eaves detail to be retained. Existing PVC glazing and external wall infill where the existing garage doors were located will be removed and replaced with contemporary metal glazing.
The design concept is to extend the original 19th century brick coach house with a contrasting charred timber ‘barn’. This references the existing Kentish rural barn structures on the site and adjacent parkland. This new West-facing wing that will envelop a new garden courtyard and have extensive views out across the parkland landscape. The new extension will rebalance the orientation of the existing house out towards the South parkland as it was originally built as a functional stable block that simply addressed the incoming track. The house has since developed into a significant family house within an area of unique significance within Tunbridge Wells that needs to be redesigned to address its siting in a positive and well-considered way.
Planning permission was granted in May 2020 and work is ongoing on site.