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by Sean Hill on Jul 4, 2025
Hidden behind a screen of wild grasses and hedgerow just outside Faversham sits a plot that tells a story many know but few want to face: a house that once served its time, now left to the elements, a shell clinging to life it no longer has. When we first stepped onto this patch of Kentish countryside, we saw an old ruin and an opportunity rolled into one — a chance to show what the next chapter of rural living could be.
The original farmhouse: beyond repair but rich in history — the starting point for a new chapter in sustainable rural living near Faversham
The Fiction of ‘Easy Wins’ — What Really Happens with Replacement Dwellings
On paper, planning policy is clear: if you can prove a lawful residential use, you may replace the building. But reality is messier. In our case, the original structure had deteriorated so severely that reusing any part of it was impossible. Walls were crumbling, the roof was collapsing, and damp had made the shell unfit for even basic storage — let alone modern life.
That gave us two options. One: prop it up with short-term repairs and squeeze a compromised house out of a compromised shell. Or two: start again — and prove to planners that a new building could be an asset to the landscape, not an intrusion.
Many rural sites get stuck in this grey area. Planners want to see continuity — a ‘like-for-like’ swap. But sustainability today demands we do better than like-for-like. We knew that if we tried to save what couldn’t be saved, we’d be building in decades of future problems: hidden damp, structural patchworks, poor thermal performance. So, we made the case for bold replacement — not as luxury, but as necessity.
The new vision: a low-energy barn-style home designed to respect and revive a rural Kent plot
Designing a House That Belongs — Without Imitating the Past
Kent’s countryside is dotted with barns, sheds and workers’ cottages — buildings born of function, built with simple, robust shapes that weather well. From the start, we wanted our new home to speak the same language: a gabled roof, an agricultural spirit, but reimagined for 21st-century family life.
We studied the local vernacular carefully — the way barns settle into the land, how they sit low but long, how they open up to the fields around them. We borrowed those cues for massing, scale and orientation. Then we layered in our own contemporary twist: vertical timber cladding that will silver naturally over time, standing-seam metal roofing for durability, and generous glazing that frames the surrounding meadow as living art.
The design is deliberately modest in height but rich in detail: deep eaves, slatted shading, and robust materials that feel at home whether you see them in sunshine or under winter rain. It’s a house built for seasons — not just for a planning drawing.
Sheltered dining and timber screens create a seamless flow between inside and out — a modern barn home rooted in its Faversham landscape
Pitfalls We’ve Tackled So Far
No project is smooth sailing. Here are some early challenges we’ve navigated:
1. Footprint and Volume — The planners’ first concern was whether we were ‘overdeveloping’ the site. So we worked within the approximate footprint of the old building, but reorganised the internal plan to deliver bright, flexible spaces without adding bulk that dominates the landscape.
2. Access and Services — Like many rural plots, this one came with limited access, dated utilities, and no clear drainage strategy. We resolved this with a discreet new access point that respects local hedgerows and landscape ecology. For drainage, we’re integrating a sustainable drainage strategy (SuDS) that will reduce run-off and support local biodiversity.
3. Ecological Impact — The overgrown ruin was a haven for wildlife. Before design work even started, we brought in ecologists to survey bats, nesting birds and protected species. Our proposals include new native planting, wildflower meadows, and hedgerow enhancements — ensuring we give back more habitat than we take.
Inside and out in harmony — a modern timber barn-style dwelling reimagined for rural Kent
Making Sustainability More Than a Buzzword
Many rural new builds promise to be ‘eco-homes’ — but when you look closer, it’s often bolt-on tech hiding a drafty structure. We take a different approach: the sustainability is baked into the bones.
Fabric-first: Super-insulated walls and roof. Triple glazing. Airtight construction to minimise heat loss. Natural ventilation strategies to reduce overheating — essential as summers get hotter.
Low-energy systems: A heat pump and MVHR system to keep air fresh and energy bills low. Roof-integrated solar PV to offset energy demand and prepare for future battery storage or electric vehicle charging.
Low embodied carbon: We’re using a timber frame and natural finishes to keep the construction footprint low. Concrete is minimised. Materials are sourced with end-of-life recyclability in mind — so the house isn’t just low-energy today but easier to adapt or deconstruct decades from now.
Where indoors meets outdoors — a contemporary rural home designed for open-plan living in the Kent countryside
Bringing the Community and Planners Along
Out here, the neighbours are fields, hedges and the odd passing tractor — but the planning officers and local community have a voice too. We knew early engagement was key.
Our visuals make the case clear: this isn’t an out-of-place ‘statement house’, but a quiet evolution of what stood here before. We showed how the new house sits lightly on the land, how its silhouette echoes Kent’s farm buildings, and how careful landscaping will blend the plot back into its rural setting.
By being transparent about materials, biodiversity gain and energy use, we’ve won early confidence that this project will be a genuine asset to the area — not just for its owners, but for the wider landscape story of how Kent can embrace modern design without losing its soul.
A quiet statement in timber and stone — our sustainable replacement dwelling near Faversham reimagines rural living for the next generation
Next Steps — And What This Means for Rural Contemporary Homes
As this project moves towards planning submission, it reminds us that ‘replacement dwelling’ isn’t a loophole — it’s a responsibility. When you knock down an old house, you owe the landscape something better in return.
Our goal for this small site near Faversham is simple: a home that respects what came before, fixes what couldn’t be fixed, and quietly sets a new standard for how rural living can feel — comfortable, low-energy, full of daylight and ready for tomorrow’s climate.
Sometimes the best way to honour an old building is to let it go — and build something that will last for generations.
Better Buildings, Better Living
At RISE, we believe even a neglected corner of land can spark something bigger. A replacement home isn’t just about starting over — it’s a chance to craft a space that treads lightly, works harder, and feels right for generations to come.
Thinking of replacing an old structure or ruin with a future-proofed home?
We’d love to help you shape what’s next.
Let’s start with a conversation — drop us a line or give us a call.
→ architects@risedesignstudio.co.uk
→ 020 3947 5886
☉ RISE Design Studio Architect, Interior Designers + Low Energy Experts
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