The site lies in the centre of the Essex village of Great Chesterford, within the Conservation Area. It forms part of the extensive garden to a non-listed large detached house. The site lies just beyond the village development limits. Great Chesterford is located at the north-western edge of the District Council of Uttlesford, close to the border with South Cambridgeshire. It is a large village with an extensive Conservation Area and a great number of Listed Buildings situated on the banks of the River Cam. The site forms a bridge between the historic core of the village, to the south and west, and the modern housing in Jackson’s Lane to the east.
Planning permission was granted in January 2017 for two detached houses. The houses are of very different designs. One will be a traditional, vernacular style, narrow spans, steeply pitched roofs, projecting gables to the front and rear, chimney stack and a traditional oak porch. It will be constructed of rendered walls under a clay plain tiled roof. Its detached cart lodge will reflect a similar vernacular design approach, with oak bracing and tiled roof. Internally the house will comprise a living room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, utility, study and WC. On the first floor, there are 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.
In contrast, the second house will be of contemporary design. Extensive glazing will form its rear elevation, affording views over the paddock to the west. In contrast the façade, set well back behind the existing mature trees but fronting Jacksons Lane, with a setback zinc/lead roof, is constructed of yellow Cambridgeshire stock bricks. Three storeys high it comprises a large open plan area on the ground floor and a drawing-room, 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms above, and 2 bedrooms and bathrooms within the mansard roof. Its 3-bay cart lodge is located on the northern boundary and reflects the contemporary design of the house.
