31/07/2026
🥳 Planning permission secured for the extension and renovation of a Victorian house in Emsworth 🎉
Dating from at least the 1860s, the property originally formed part of the former National School for Boys. Its character is defined by red brickwork, contrasting buff brick detailing, steep clay-tiled roofs and prominent gables.
Rather than attempting to replicate the Victorian building, the design draws upon the principles of its original architecture, including its proportions, vertical emphasis, roof pitch and material character, and reinterprets them in a contemporary form. This allows the old and new elements to remain clearly legible while respecting the heritage of the building and its setting.
The two-storey extension is positioned to the rear and remains subordinate to the original house. A clearly defined junction between the two ensures that the historic building can still be readily understood.
Red brick provides continuity, while projecting brick courses introduce a simpler and more restrained form of detailing. The pattern also brings a personal element to the design, referencing the owners’ time spent in Asia.
A red zinc roof reflects the warmth of the existing clay tiles, with folded zinc edges providing a contemporary interpretation of the original bargeboards.
Dark window frames further distinguish the extension. As part of the wider renovation, the existing uPVC windows and later bargeboards will be replaced with carefully selected heritage-style alternatives that are more sympathetic to the character of the house.
The approved scheme creates a larger kitchen and family space, improved circulation and additional bedroom accommodation, while responding sensitively to the setting of the neighbouring Grade II listed St James’s Church.
