Balcombe Village, 2009 

Complete remodel with private carpark

Collaboration Ouse Valley Paving, Symes Tree Surgeon

The overgrown garden to this large Victorian house in the village was cramped and overwhelming. The patio doors were seldom opened. Just a meter from the doors, a rockery wall with conifers obscured the view of the garden so the children were unsafe outdoors. There was no off street parking and the car was repeatedly damaged. In poor weather, runoff flowed from the upper lawn to the house, flooding the basement. A major solution was needed to keep this family from moving house.

The initial challenge was to get planning permission for off-street parking. A Planning Consultant was engaged to work alongside me, and Ouse Valley Paving took on the extensive groundworks, soil retention and new drainage system installation needed.

The site clearing process revealed the generous dimensions of the plot, and pulled up lots of rock that was reused to edge an adventure play space, made complete with large throne seats cut from fallen local trees.

Now an inviting, bright garden offers entertainment space and storage for bikes, as well as loads of texture and colour, with oversight of the lawns and the adventure play area. Some of the original plants were reshaped, and others were added to match the clients’s favourite William Morris palette.

A new shed was placed at the far end with a space for laundry utility.

The car is safely off the road, with dedicated rear access to the house designed in via the patio. All the drainage issues were solved with low maintenance solutions.

Who knew there was all this lovely space!