Planning Permission Granted for Historic Home in Surrey

We’re proud to share that planning permission has been granted for Beehive, a carefully developed rear extension to a Grade II listed home located in Dorking, Surrey. This project presented an exceptional opportunity to engage with a site layered in architectural and cultural history. 

Originally a 17th-century coaching inn positioned on one of the principal turnpike routes into London and set between Denbies Wine Estate—one of England’s largest vineyards—and the sweeping natural beauty of Box Hill, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the house occupies a richly evocative setting. But over centuries of adaptation and change, the building evolved into two distinct, disjointed halves—eventually functioning as separate dwellings, each with its own entrance, kitchen, and living quarters. The current owner sought to reunite the house as a single, cohesive home, one that honours its layered history whilst re-establishing a sense of architectural and domestic continuity. 

Central to this vision is a considered design approach that places craft and sensitivity at its core, demonstrating our practice’s ability to work confidently with heritage assets whilst navigating the intricacies of conservation policy and planning consent. 

UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORIC CONTEXT 

Beehive is a home shaped by centuries of architectural layering, each phase of construction leaving behind a distinct spatial and material imprint. The earliest part of the building dates back to the 17th century, when it operated as a coaching inn along the London Road—a major turnpike route for travellers entering the capital. In its prime, it served as a key stopping point where coaches would pause to change horses, parcels were inspected, and tolls collected. Its history as a point of rest and exchange lends the house a civic and social significance rare in residential architecture. 

A fire in the 19th century altered its course, prompting the rebuilding of part of the structure. Today, this layered evolution is clearly legible in the house’s external fabric: the older half is marked by blackened timber cladding, red brickwork and a pitched tiled roof, whilst the later addition—more Georgian in character—is rendered white, with symmetrical windows and refined internal proportions. The visual contrast between the two halves is striking, and it is this juxtaposition that gives Beehive its unique character. 

However, this architectural richness had also resulted in significant functional challenges. Until recently, the house was divided and occupied as two separate dwellings, each with its own entrance, kitchen, and living areas. The only internal link between the two was a narrow and awkward staircase, rendering the home effectively bifurcated. This arrangement, whilst historically interesting, was impractical for contemporary family life. 

Internally, the oldest section contains beautifully preserved features, including original timber panelling and mezzanine levels that evoke its coaching inn origins. These spaces, whilst atmospheric, were not designed for long-term inhabitation in their current form, making them charming but unsuitable as bedrooms. Meanwhile, the Georgian wing offers greater clarity and comfort in terms of layout and volume, including well-proportioned reception rooms and a basement wine cellar. 

The challenge, therefore, was to reconcile two architectural identities—each with its own logic and rhythm—into a single, legible home. Our approach began with understanding the building as a palimpsest: not smoothing over the layers of time, but allowing each to remain visible whilst creating new connections that feel purposeful and considered. 

A STRATEGIC AND SENSITIVE INTERVENTION 

Our proposal introduces a single, sculptural rear extension that unifies Beehive’s divided halves whilst establishing a generous new living, kitchen and dining space. Rather than impose a contrasting form, we drew directly from the house’s existing geometry—extruding rooflines and echoing proportions to create a composition that is clearly contemporary yet in dialogue with the original structure. The result is a low-profile, contextually responsive intervention that remains invisible from the street and respectful of the garden setting. 

The extension—measuring around 70 square metres—acts as a spatial and social fulcrum, reconnecting the home not only to itself but also to its landscape. Crucially, the extension also resolves the issue of circulation. Where once the occupants navigated awkward staircases and disconnected corridors, they will now move through a light-filled sequence of spaces that feels intuitive and fluid.  

Rooflights positioned at key junctions emphasise the points of transition between old and new, and materials have been selected for their ability to reflect the tactile richness of the existing building without replicating it. In this way, the extension reads not as a mimicry, but as a thoughtful evolution—a subtle, crafted addition that strengthens rather than competes with the character of the original house. 

MATERIAL STRATEGY 

Materiality was fundamental to resolving the architectural dialogue between Beehive’s distinct halves. With one wing defined by red brick and black timber, and the other by white-rendered Georgian elegance, we developed a suite of ten material studies to explore how the extension might either unify or reflect this dual identity. 

The process examined everything from dark-stained and pale timbers to red and buff brick, stone and render. Each scheme interrogated how the extension might reinforce or soften the contrast between the two existing volumes. In the end, we chose to retain the legibility of the original forms—allowing the house’s architectural story to remain clear—whilst introducing a complementary material palette that connects rather than competes. 

This decision underscored our belief that sensitive contemporary design within a heritage setting need not mimic the past. Instead, it should articulate a respectful but confident response, one that allows old and new to coexist with clarity and craft. 

NAVIGATING A COMPLEX PLANNING CONTEXT 

Securing planning permission for Beehive demanded a careful balance of design ambition and heritage sensitivity. As a Grade II listed building in a visually prominent setting, every proposed change had to be clearly justified both architecturally and historically. 

We engaged early with the local authority, working in close dialogue with conservation officers to ensure the proposal responded to both the building’s layered significance and its functional shortcomings. The restrained massing, its lack of visual impact from the street, and a material strategy rooted in contextual reference all helped build a strong case. 

Importantly, our approach was underpinned by a frequent presence onsite, careful research and close attention to the building’s existing fabric. By thoroughly examining each part of the structure—inside and out—we were able to identify elements that appeared historic but were, in fact, later additions. This understanding afforded greater scope within the planning dialogue, allowing us to successfully propose changes that might otherwise have been considered more contentious. 

A CONSIDERED FUTURE FOR A STORIED HOME 

Beehive represents more than a sensitive architectural intervention—it reflects a commitment to working with the grain of history, rather than against it. By carefully unpicking the layers of this remarkable home, we were able to design a new chapter that acknowledges its past whilst making space for contemporary living. 

This project exemplifies our practice’s approach to heritage: deeply contextual, materially thoughtful, and grounded in collaboration. It is a testament to the power of detail—how understanding what exists allows us to intervene with precision, and how intelligent design can bring clarity to complexity. 

As Beehive moves toward its next phase, we look forward to continuing our work with the client and project team to realise a home that is both rooted and renewed—one that celebrates its history whilst confidently embracing its future.