Lavender Cottage, Bramber

A sensitive single-storey extension to a historic cottage in the Bramber Conservation Area

Out with the Old
The existing extension was past its useful life. Constructed with single-skin brickwork, a flat roof, and poor materials that didn't match the cottage's character, it was cold, damp, poor quality, and lacked sensitivity to the cottage. Our clients wanted something better - a space that would work for modern family life while respecting the building's historic roots.

Less is More
Our proposal was intentionally smaller than a previously consented scheme. We kept the footprint largely within the existing extension and concrete base, reducing visual impact on neighbouring properties. The new form is simple and well-articulated, designed to prevent overshadowing of the neighbour's garden whilst maintaining the incredible view towards Bramber Castle.

Good Bones
Dating from the late medieval period, Lavender Cottage has been altered and extended many times – most notably with an early 20th-century side wing. Our approach was to respect this layered history by creating an extension that's clearly of its time, using honest materials and modern construction methods whilst taking cues from the original building's form and proportions.

Material Matters
We specified a limited palette of local and traditional materials. Red handmade brick matches the existing cottage, whilst knapped flint – abundant in Sussex and already used in the original building – provides textural interest. Sweet chestnut timber frames the garden elevation and forms exposed internal beams, echoing the historic cottage's heavy timbering whilst using a sustainable, locally-sourced alternative to oak.

Making Space
The extension creates a flexible ground-floor room that can serve as guest accommodation, home office, or garden room. It includes a much-needed ground floor WC and shower, plus boot and coat storage for this active family who walk Ziggy, their dog, and cycle locally. Large timber doors open the flexible space to the garden, creating the connectivity to outdoor space the clients wanted.

Playing by the Rules
The design aligns with Bramber Conservation Area guidance, which states that extensions should respect spaces between buildings and the linear nature of the village, be restricted to the rear of properties, and not dominate the original building. Our proposal stays behind the development line established by properties further up The Street, with a low roofline that minimises impact on the neighbouring property. The proposal achieved planning and conservation area consent.

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