Heritage Meets Modern Design - A Visual Solution for Planning Approval
The Challenge
Nestled in the Kent countryside, Hedgehog Cottage began its life as a modest hop picker’s hut - a rare and culturally significant structure tied to the region’s horticultural heritage. When the property’s owners proposed a renovation and the addition of a contemporary extension to adapt it for modern living, the project quickly ran into challenges with the local planning authority.
Due to the building’s heritage value, any intervention had to be sensitively handled. The planners required reassurance that the proposed extension would:
Clearly distinguish new construction from old with a glazed link
Complement the scale, materials, and tone of surrounding agricultural buildings
Remain visually unobtrusive from the public highway
Simply submitting architectural drawings wasn't enough. The council needed to see how the proposal would work in context - visually and culturally.
The Solution
Working closely with the client I produced one highly detailed visualisation from within the properties garden to highlight details and materials of the conversion of the existing building and the design of the new extension, including the clear glass link visibly separating old and new. A set of lower quality images were also produced including:
Renderings from the public highway and an adjacent footpath proving that the extension was low-profile and did not dominate the existing form.
An elevated view that gave an overview of the scheme.
The Result
With the visualisations produced forming the centrepiece of the planning submission, the local authority was able to clearly understand the proposal’s sensitivity and intent.
The result?
Planning permission granted!
Positive feedback from neighbours on the respectful integration of old and new.
A homeowner empowered to move forward with their dream home, knowing it would preserve and honour the site’s heritage.
Why It Matters
This project is a powerful example of how visual storytelling can break down barriers in complex planning scenarios - especially where heritage is involved.
Without the visuals I produced, the risk of misinterpretation or objection was high. With them, the submission team built trust, demonstrated integrity, and showed that modern architecture and heritage preservation can coexist beautifully.
