Modern Craft in the Devon Countryside: Inside the Larch Houses

We’re always excited to be appointed to undertake new projects located in the countryside and the recently completed Larch Houses at Manley Farm in Tiverton show how contemporary architecture can be successfully woven into a rural context.

Built by Huntworth Developments Ltd, North Larch House and South Larch House make up an exclusive micro-development of just two bespoke detached homes. They manage to balance the natural beauty of the Devon landscape with modern design. By combining contemporary materiality with highly practical layouts, these homes are a masterclass in light, spatial flow, and sustainability.

Form, Flow, and Light

Good architecture is all about how a space makes you feel the moment you walk in. Each of these homes offers a generous footprint of around 3,336 sq ft, and the spatial narrative kicks off instantly with a fantastic double-height reception hall. It’s a soaring, light-filled void anchored by a beautifully crafted oak staircase that draws your eye right up to the galleried landing above.

The ground floor layout perfectly understands the rhythm of modern living, playing with the balance between open, social zones and quieter, cellular spaces. The core of the home is a huge open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space designed to be the social hub. But because open-plan living isn't always the answer to everything, the design thoughtfully carves out a separate sitting room and a dedicated quiet study.

We particularly love how the indoor-outdoor threshold. Expansive bi-folding doors essentially dissolve the walls, extending the living space seamlessly out onto the terraces. Because the landscaped gardens are oriented to the west, the architecture actively captures the warmth of that golden afternoon and evening sunlight.

A Fabric-First Approach to Performance

You can’t talk about contemporary architectural design without talking about environmental performance. These homes take a rigorous 'fabric-first' approach, meaning the building itself does a lot of the heavy lifting to reduce its carbon footprint.

The integration of green technology is incredibly clever but totally unobtrusive:

• Air Source Heat Pumps: Providing a highly efficient, low-carbon solution for heating and hot water.

• Smart Glass: Used across the expansive glazing, this is a brilliant architectural touch. It actively manages solar gain, preventing the beautifully glazed rooms from overheating in the summer while locking in the warmth during the winter.

• Zoned Underfloor Heating: Giving you precise, room-by-room climate control across the entire ground floor footprint.

Sanctuary Spaces

Heading upstairs, the galleried landing acts as a bridge between the lively ground floor and the private retreat of the bedrooms. The spatial hierarchy up here feels incredibly generous and calm.

The five bedrooms are laid out to give everyone their own space:

• The Principal Suite: A real sanctuary, complete with a dedicated dressing area and a beautifully detailed en suite bathroom.

• The Guest Suite: Featuring its own en suite shower room, offering privacy for visiting family or friends.

• Three Further Bedrooms: Generous, flexible spaces that share access to a meticulously finished family bathroom.

The Larch Houses are a wonderful reminder that rural homes don't have to be stuck in the past. By mixing contemporary materials with thoughtful, human-centric design and high-tech sustainability, this beautiful little development at Manley Farm feels like a breath of fresh air in the Devon countryside.

These properties are currently on the market and please see the link http://www.huntworth.co.uk/ for more information.

Breathing New Life into Somerset Barns: Navigating Class Q Conversions

The dream of converting a rustic Somerset barn into a stunning contemporary home is incredibly exciting. We completely understand the emotional pull of these beautiful agricultural structures and the desire to preserve their heritage. But we also know that navigating the planning system can feel daunting and frustrating.

That is exactly why we are here to demystify "Class Q" permitted development—the golden ticket for many barn conversions. We want to ground your grand visions in the reality of current planning laws so your project actually gets built.

What Exactly is Class Q?

Class Q is a form of permitted development rights in England that allows you to convert agricultural buildings into residential dwellings without needing a traditional, full planning application. It is designed to bring redundant farm buildings back into use, bypassing some of the usual greenbelt or countryside planning hurdles.

However, Class Q is not a free pass. It requires a "Prior Approval" process. Furthermore, following the significant legislative updates that phased out old rules in 2025, the rulebook for 2026 is stricter in some areas and much more flexible in others.

The 2026 Class Q Rulebook: Essential Need-to-Knows

If you are eyeing a barn in Somerset, here is the factual, grounded reality of what your building needs to qualify for Class Q today:

• The 150 sqm Limit: You can create up to 10 dwellings on a single agricultural unit (up to a combined maximum of 1,000 sqm). However, no single dwelling can exceed 150 sqm. The days of creating massive, sprawling single-dwelling estates directly under Class Q are over. If you want a larger home, you will need to secure Class Q first, and then look at a "betterment" planning application later on.

• The Crucial Date: The building must have been part of an agricultural unit on or before July 24, 2023. If it was not, or if it was built after that date, different timelines apply.

• Conversion, Not Rebuild: This is the most common pitfall. Class Q is strictly for conversions. Your barn must be structurally sound enough to take the new loads (like a new roof or heavy insulation) without needing new foundations or a complete rebuild. A structural survey at the very start is an absolute must.

• Access is Non-Negotiable: The site must have an existing, suitable access to a public highway. You cannot create a brand-new access road under Class Q.

• New Extensions Allowed: You are now permitted to add a single-storey rear extension (up to 4m deep), provided it sits on hardstanding that was already in place on or before July 24, 2023.

The Somerset Catch: Protected Landscapes

We live and work in one of the most beautiful counties in the UK, but Somerset's natural beauty comes with planning caveats. Class Q does not apply in protected areas.

If your barn is located in any of the following, the permitted development rights are removed, and you will need to apply for full planning permission instead:

• National Parks (e.g., Exmoor)

• National Landscapes / Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (e.g., The Quantock Hills, Mendip Hills, Blackdown Hills)

• Conservation Areas

• Listed Buildings or their immediate curtilage

At Tandem Architects, we always cross-reference your site against local Somerset planning maps before you spend a penny on design work to ensure we are taking the correct route.

The Prior Approval Process

While you don't need full planning permission, you must submit a Prior Approval application to your local Somerset council. They will assess specific, limited impacts, including:

Assessment AreaWhat the Council Looks ForHighwaysSafe entry and exit, and the impact of any extra traffic generated by the home.Noise & ContaminationEnsuring the home won't be too noisy (e.g., situated right next to a working dairy) and the ground is free of agricultural chemical contamination.Flood RiskVital in low-lying parts of Somerset; ensuring the dwelling and its access routes are safe from flooding.Design & LightAdequate natural light in all habitable rooms and ensuring external alterations are "reasonably necessary" for the building to function as a home.

How Tandem Architects Can Help

It is easy to get swept up in the romance of vaulted ceilings and exposed timber, but a successful barn conversion requires cold, hard facts and rigorous structural planning first.

At Tandem Architects, we bridge the gap between your dream and the planning reality. We coordinate the vital structural appraisals, design creatively within the strict 150 sqm limits to maximize your space, and compile the complex Prior Approval applications to satisfy local Somerset planners. And if your barn falls outside Class Q, we can guide you through the traditional planning route with an expertly crafted design.

Beyond the Bricks and Mortar: How the Spaces We Inhabit Shape Our Wellbeing

Beyond the Bricks and Mortar: How the Spaces We Inhabit Shape Our Wellbeing

We spend the vast majority of our lives indoors. Yet, how often do we pause to consider how those environments actually make us feel?

At Tandem Architects, we believe that architecture goes far beyond mere bricks and mortar. It is the profound art of shaping the human experience. Whether it’s a bustling commercial workspace, a serene community library, or your own sitting room, the design of a space has a direct and measurable impact on our physical and mental wellbeing.

Here is a look at how thoughtful, human-centric architecture influences our everyday lives—and why it matters.

The Psychology of Light and Space

It is no secret that we are highly sensitive to our physical surroundings, particularly here in the UK where the weather can often be somewhat grey. Small, poorly lit rooms can make us feel confined and lethargic, whilst expansive, light-filled areas tend to foster creativity and optimism.

"A room is not a room without natural light." — Louis Kahn

When we design a space, maximising natural light is rarely an afterthought; it is a central guiding principle. Strategic placement of glazing, rooflights, and reflective surfaces helps to regulate our circadian rhythms, improving sleep quality and boosting daytime energy levels. Furthermore, playing with spatial proportions—such as vaulting a ceiling in an open-plan kitchen whilst lowering it in a snug or private retreat—creates an intuitive flow that guides how people naturally move and interact.

Bringing the Outdoors In (Biophilic Design)

Modern life often disconnects us from nature, but our brains are still wired to crave it. This is where biophilic design steps in. By integrating natural elements into the built environment, architects can significantly lower stress levels and improve cognitive function.

We achieve this connection through several thoughtful methods:

• Tactile Materials: Utilising natural timber, exposed stone, and raw textiles to create a warm, organic feel.

• Visual Connections: Carefully framing views of surrounding gardens, rolling landscapes, or urban greenery.

• Indoor Planting: Designing dedicated spaces for plant life, living walls, or internal courtyards that breathe life into a property.

Designing for Adaptability

A truly successful building is one that can evolve alongside its inhabitants. As our lifestyles change—whether through the rise of remote working, growing families, or shifting business models—our spaces must adapt seamlessly.

We prioritise flexible floor plans that allow spaces to serve multiple purposes. A quiet alcove can function as a morning reading nook or a mid-day study space; open-plan living areas can be cleverly zoned with pocket doors or bespoke joinery. This longevity not only reduces environmental waste but ensures that the building continues to serve its purpose for decades to come.

The Ethos

Ultimately, brilliant design should feel almost effortless. You shouldn't necessarily notice the meticulous angle of a roofline or the exact placement of a window; you should simply feel that the space works, that it is exceptionally comfortable, and that it feels like home.

Whether we are designing a contemporary bespoke new build or sensitively restoring a listed period property, our goal remains the same: to create environments that inspire, comfort, and elevate the human spirit.

On Site Works Progressing Well

We currently have a number of projects on site which are at different stages of construction and completion. These have provided some challenges both in the form of construction in regards to the integration of a sunken wine cellar and tide pool, as well as working within tight site constraints and existing building conditions.

Hopefully within the next month 3 of these projects will be completed with another due for completion in the new year. We also have another 2 projects starting within the next few weeks and will hopefully have some news on these projects in the near future.

Busy Start to the New Year

It’s been a very busy start to the new year with the commencement of a number of projects on site including the conversion of Burrowbridge School in Somerset to residential properties, a new development in Bishop’s Lydeard and extension to a cottage in Pitney. All are proceeding well and we will upload some photos of progress when we can.

We are also have some very exciting new commissions for projects in Dunkeswell and Branscombe in Devon and look forward to developing these design’s over the next few months and updating our blog with their progress.

Photo by Duncan Sanchez on Unsplash

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. We have a number of very exciting projects to move forward in the near year and so please visit our blog page from time to time to keep updated or you can follow us on twitter.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Planning Approvals

Its been a very busy week in the office with planning permission granted for a number of projects ranging from the redevelopment of a redundant school building into residential properties, a number of extensions to create additional living space and change of use from agricultural land to domestic use.

These applications have required on-going monitoring and liaison with different local authorities including Taunton Deane Borough Council, South Somerset, Mendip & West Dorset Councils.

Next year we will upload some of these projects as they are completed on site.

Works to a new dwelling at Charminster, Dorset to be completed in the next few months.

New House, Dorchester, Dorset

New detached dwelling and carport is nearing completion on site. The new dwelling utilises an existing brownfield site in a rural location which was designed to incorporate significant topographical changes across the site.

The construction has primarily been in timber frame so as to benefit from its enhanced thermal qualities and ease of build.

From inception and development of the project to completion on site via planning and building regulation approval it has taken approximately a year.

New Dwelling, Dorset

Currently under construction is a one-off new 4-bedroom dwelling in Dorset. The building is being constructed on timber frame and clad in local natural stone. Tandem Architects have been involved with developing sketch scheme drawings, submitting a reserved matter planning application and preparing building regulations drawings for the project. The site involved clearing conditions relating to soil contamination, rights of way and topographical restraints.

New Year 2018

Christmas over in a flash and now were into an exciting 2018!

We’re busy chasing planning applications and await decisions on projects currently in with West Dorset, Mendip, South Somerset and Taunton Deane Councils. 

We are developing sketch scheme options for the conversion of a former primary school into residential units and progressing a number of Building Regulation packages for one off houses and extensions. 

After studying ‘A Ladybird ‘Achievements’ book – The Story of Houses and Homes’ over the Christmas break we thought we post some images from the book we particularly liked, especially the Elizabethan Montacute House!

Six Months In!!

We can't believe that we have been trading for six months! We will shortly be updating the website to show all our current projects.

It's been another exciting month with the development of several projects to scheme design stage, planning and building regulations approvals within South Somerset and Taunton Deane. We have also been appointed to undertake works on a Grade II* Listed Property as well as an interesting redevelopment of a property to a contemporary modern family home.

Martello Tower, Aldeburgh, Suffolk February 2015

New Year Ahead

The start of the year looks like it’s going to be a busy one! Planning Applications within South Somerset, Purbeck and West Dorset have already been approved and works to the Abbey Barn in Glastonbury are to commence on site shortly. 

We also have some interesting projects we are currently developing with the re-design of a chalet bungalow in North Somerset to a contemporary 2 storeys, 5-bedroom property.

Muchelney Nr Langport, Somerset - January 2013

Tandem Architects

Welcome to our blog page. As well as our twitter page this is where you can find our most recent and up to date information about what we have been doing and what is currently on our drawing board (computer!!). We will also be also sharing information on things that interest us, such as the 20th Century Society and SPAB.

We are slowly finding our feet with the website and it is evolving as we go, so there should always be new things to see and read.