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Headland
Fowey
SUMMARY
A contemporary replacement dwelling on a prominent Cornish cliffside at the mouth of the Fowey Estuary. Redbay supported the project through Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment and landscape-led design input, helping the new home respond sensitively to its highly visible National Landscape setting.
LOCATION
Fowey
CLIENT
Private Client
PARTNERS
Atelier 3 Architects
SECTOR
Landscape Planning
COMPLETION:
Planning permission granted on first attempt. Awarded in 2021.
SERVICE TAGS
Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Planning support and appeals
Redbay was appointed to support the replacement of a failing bungalow with a contemporary modern residence in a highly sensitive coastal location. The project needed to respect the surrounding National Landscape, the estuary setting, historic viewpoints and long-distance views from Fowey, Readymoney Beach and the nearby artillery forts.
Redbay provided Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment and landscape-led design input alongside Atelier 3 Architects. The work included assessing visibility, topography, exposure and landscape sensitivity, then helping guide a design response that allowed the architecture and external spaces to sit more comfortably within the coastal setting.
The site was highly prominent and visible from the water, opposite coastlines and historic viewpoints. Any new development risked disrupting the rugged skyline of the Fowey Estuary, so the project needed careful consideration of ground levels, plant heights, material choices, coastal exposure, biodiversity and the transition between the built form and the wild coastal edge.
The project gained planning permission on the first attempt, with unanimous support from planners, heritage bodies and local residents. This was a strong result for such a sensitive and highly visible coastal site, where any new building needed to be carefully justified in landscape and visual terms.
Through detailed assessment, landscape-led design input and careful consideration of the site’s exposure, skyline and coastal character, the proposal showed that a contemporary home could sit confidently within a protected landscape without overwhelming its setting.
The completed project went on to win the 2021 Cornish Buildings Group Award and received a High Commendation at the South West LABC Building Excellence Awards, further recognising the balance achieved between bold architecture and landscape sensitivity.
