November 2022

WEA Planning secured planning permission to demolish an existing house and erect a new Baufritz self-build dwelling within the Metropolitan Green Belt in Totteridge Common, within the London Borough of Barnet. Baufritz homes use off-site prefabrication to allow for a rapid construction on site.

The construction of new buildings in the Green Belt is generally considered inappropriate, save for various exceptions listed in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). In this case, WEA Planning put forward the successful argument that the proposed development would not constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt as it was the replacement of a building, for which the new building is in the same use and not materially larger than the one it replaces.

In arguing that the replacement building was not materially larger, reference was made to case law which points to various indicators: floorspace, footprint, built volume, height, width and bulk. We demonstrated that the new building was not materially larger and would not impact on the openness of the Green Belt, following similar proportions to the existing dwelling and improving the openness of the site through its high quality design.

We were also able to demonstrate the benefits of the new, more sustainable house to Barnet Council. Baufritz houses use Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), using off-site prefabricated closed wall and roof panels, which mean that Baufritz houses can be erected in around 5 days.

A Baufritz house is more sustainable than standard construction. Due to the off-site construction, the houses achieve higher levels of airtightness, requiring less energy to heat the house. The Baufritz house also acts as a carbon store, residents can inhabit the house for approximately 78 years without any net emissions of carbon dioxide.

The first Baufritz house in the UK (assembled 2007) was awarded Best Timber Frame House in the Daily Telegraph and Home Building and Renovating magazine’s annual awards.

Baufritz houses have won various awards including the 2021 ‘Build It Awards’ for “Best Off-Site Manufactured Home”, and in 2020 Baufritz was presented with the accolade of “Architectural Design Company of the Year” by the Cambridgeshire Prestige Awards.

WEA Planning continue to advise Baufritz including on another project in the London Borough of Barnet for which designs are currently being progressed.