Cavendish Road, Bowdon, Altrincham

Private Client

The site relates to a parcel of land that forms the southern end of the long and very generously sized rear garden to Westway, 25 Albert Square. The site comprises of a disused garage along with adjacent hardstanding, grass and shrubs surround the garage; the site benefits for a number of mature trees. The southern boundary of the site is enclosed by an existing original stone wall with an existing wide opening suitable for vehicle access; there is an existing pavement crossing.

The proposal involved the demolition of an existing unused garage and its replacement with a small detached dwellinghouse on land to the rear of Westway; the land addresses Cavendish Road. The site is situated in the Bowdon Conservation Area.

The development comprised of a basement floor, ground floor and first floor within a compact volume. The ground floor comprises of an entrance porch and hall, a lounge, a kitchen dining room and stairs. The basement comprises of a TV room, a bedroom, a bathroom and stairs. The bedroom addresses a sunken courtyard that provides access to the rear garden via stairs. The first floor comprises of stairs plus two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The basic proposition was for a contemporary coach house that alluded to similar buildings in the immediate vicinity of the site. The new house adopts a traditional form, presenting a gable to Cavendish Road, with a north-south oriented ridge to the roof. The gabled form and scale of the building has some similarities to the existing house to the immediate west that projects forward almost to the front of the plot. A single-storey square bay adds interest and animates the front elevation, as well as assisting in reducing the apparent scale. The main entrance is set within a projecting enclosed porch to the western (side) elevation. This approach is characteristic of houses within the southern part of the Conservation Area. This porch would add further complexity and interest to the proposed building and contribute to the diversity of building forms within the Conservation Area.