About this home:

What was once a scar in the landscape has been transformed into an incredible nature reserve with acres of orchards, bees, nesting boxes and native woodland. 12 creative microbusinesses are based on site, ranging from stone masons to recording studios to distilleries to blacksmith forges. All the workshops and 'temporary' dwellings use recycled materials: including scaffolding poles, sheet metal and recycled windows. Agricultural work is exchanged for rent. Rob buys the materials and pays their labour as a rent holiday - this is a verbal agreement that filters out people who can't inherently trust. This community-focused development challenges traditional restrictions, supports rural creatives and demonstrates sustainable a live/work model.

Planning Insights:

48 months at planning

They relinquished the quarrying rights in exchange for industrial use of the land, for creative workshops. After receiving enforcement notices, they built a case highlighting sustainability, community benefit, biodiversity gain and policy compliance. People live in 'temporary structures'. Through persistent appeals, legal challenges, and presenting a strong socio-economic case, they eventually won planning permission, transforming the site into a unique live-work community and nature reserve.