The Brief

Designing in the New Forest National Park presents unique challenges. Our clients in Lyndhurst had a cottage-style property that needed a larger kitchen, but any extension had to respect the National Park setting and satisfy the New Forest National Park Authority's strict design expectations. The brief was for a country-style kitchen that felt as though it had always been part of the cottage — no stark modern contrasts here.

Our Design Approach

We designed a 30m² single-storey extension using traditional materials throughout: hand-made clay bricks to match the existing cottage, natural slate roof tiles, and timber casement windows with leaded light detailing. The roof pitch mirrors the cottage's steep gable, and a prominent chimney-style feature houses the extraction system, adding character rather than a utilitarian vent.

Inside, the country kitchen aesthetic continues with Shaker-style painted cabinetry in a soft sage green, a Belfast sink beneath the garden-facing window, open shelving for ceramics and cookware, and a dedicated pantry cupboard. The dining area features a window seat overlooking the garden with views towards the forest beyond.

Planning and Approvals

Extensions in the New Forest National Park have significantly reduced Permitted Development rights. This project required a full planning application to the New Forest National Park Authority. Our design statement demonstrated how the extension respects the cottage's character and the wider National Park landscape. The application was approved without conditions — the Authority's planning officer commented favourably on the sympathetic design approach.

Key Design Features

• Traditional materials: Hand-made bricks, natural slate, timber windows with leaded lights
• Country kitchen: Shaker cabinetry, Belfast sink, open shelving, pantry
• Window seat: Built-in dining bench with forest views — a favourite family spot
• Chimney feature: Extraction housed in a traditional chimney-style structure
• National Park compliance: Design approved by the New Forest National Park Authority

The Result

This extension proves that even in the most sensitive planning environments, well-designed additions can enhance rather than diminish a property's character. The country kitchen has become the warm, welcoming heart of this Lyndhurst home — a room where traditional craft and modern comfort coexist perfectly. Visitors often assume the kitchen has always been part of the cottage, which is perhaps the highest compliment any extension can receive.

Cost and Package Guidance

For a 30m² country kitchen extension in Lyndhurst, the biggest budget variables are usually structural steelwork, glazing specification, drainage changes, foundation conditions and final kitchen, bathroom or joinery choices. Hampshire Build's fixed-fee design packages give homeowners clear design-cost certainty before construction begins, with Design Package, Design & Contractor Package and Complete Project Support Package depending on how much technical documentation and contractor support is needed. The design fee is separate from builder costs, planning fees, Building Control fees and any third-party specialist reports, so clients can make informed decisions without confusing design work with the wider construction budget.

Local Context and Practical Considerations

Projects in Lyndhurst benefit from early attention to neighbouring amenity, overlooking, daylight, access for builders and material choices that sit comfortably with the existing street scene. On this project, the drawings needed to communicate not only the look of the extension but also how it would work technically: roof drainage, insulation build-ups, structural openings, floor levels and practical circulation through the home. That level of detail helps planning officers, Building Control and builders understand the proposal clearly, reducing avoidable questions and giving the homeowner a stronger basis for the next stage of their extension journey.

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