A super-modern overhaul of a bungalow in a sleepy village has been approved after previously being rejected and dubbed 'alien'. The new home design, filed by engaged couple Sam Elgie and Trisha Pegg, will see a dramatic facelift and an extra floor added.
The development has finally won approval following two planning applications and three committee meetings. The duo can now convert and build what will be their own home for their family of six.
Miss Pegg admitted the initial rejection was hard to take. But the couple were able to reach a compromise after liaising with their Derbyshire neighbours over the concerns, DerbyshireLive reports.
She said: "We were gutted. It really surprised us as we felt what we had planned in was spectacular and would really add to the beautiful area we live in. Once rejected, we spoke with the neighbours to understand their concerns and made amendments so as not to cause an impact on them."
"We removed the large double-height feature from the front of the property and the rear and also removed the extension on the garage. "We have also now moved the front entrance of the property to the side to give a more grand entrance as well as sacrificing some of the garden to create a large four-car driveway.”
At a council meeting in July, Cllr Lisa Brown had said the site is in the former ancient kitchen garden of the old Egginton Hall, with a historic wall running along Fishpond Lane blocking the property from view. She had said homes in the area were predominantly single-storey cottages and bungalows.
Cllr Brown had said: “The proposal before us tonight conflicts brashly and abrasively (with neighbouring properties). It would dominate its neighbours in its current form, particularly with the alien form of grey and metallics. It has a total lack of respect for its neighbours. “It is the wrong design in the wrong materials in the wrong location.” However, South Derbyshire District Council has since said it is happy with the tweaked project.
Images of what the family's "dream home" would look like show a clear and distinctly modern design, with a large first-floor balcony to the rear of the property, a vast panel of glazing on the ground floor for the kitchen and dining room areas to look out onto the patio and garden. The property would be largely white with dark grey cladding and roofing, as in the original designs.
Miss Pegg added: “We are elated. The committee said they were really pleased that we had listened and acted on their concerns to make this more acceptable for the village and were excited for what this will bring to the area. We are a large family of six with the children at the local schools, so we are hoping to make this into our long-term family home.
“We both work full time in our business Elgie Group, which is investing in and developing property with a huge passion in restoring and regenerating Derby. We own such properties as La Gondola, Sitwell Tavern, The Private shop on Osmaston road, to name a few, where we are completely transforming them into beautiful affordable homes for professionals. We are so excited. It’s now finally our turn to give ourselves a home to be proud of.”
