Ram’s Cottage is a Grade II listed building located near Dunsfold in Surrey. The original cottage had a single storey side extension which was constructed during the early 1970s. The building is timber-framed with brick and render infill and a clay-tiled roof. The site was within the Green Belt and also an Area of Great Landscape Value and therefore no proposal could increase the floor area by more than 40%. The original cottage was extremely small and the new owners needed a larger kitchen and family area and a new master bedroom on the first floor.

The proposal included a new two storey extension and the partial demolition of the existing 1970s side extension. The additional space was required so that the property could be used as a small family dwelling. The footprint of the new extension was no greater than the previous one but living space was much increased by adding the extra storey. Also by improving the existing internal layout more usable space was created.



The new extension was designed to sit comfortably with the old listed cottage with the use of traditional materials such as oak frames for the windows, clay tiles for the roof and rendered walls which blended in well with the existing painted brickwork of the original listed cottage.



A new large kitchen and family area was located on the ground floor of the new extension, along with a small utility room.



The first floor is occupied by a new master bedroom with an open vaulted ceiling and an en suite bathroom.



A new staircase had to be constructed to provide access to both the first floor of the original cottage and the new extension. It also had to be designed so that an original historic beam could remain undisturbed.



The internal layout of the original cottage was altered and generally up-graded with new electrics, plumbing, re-plastering and damp proofing. Folding double doors from the kitchen area helped to provide the much-needed modern living spaces, along with a Juliet balcony to the master bedroom, while retaining the character and integrity of this listed building.