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Developer Residential

Reimagined Hertfordshire Farmstead

Set within the Hertfordshire countryside just outside the village of Puttenham, Old Rectory Farm has been transformed by Laxton Properties and W Lamb Ltd, from a redundant collection of agricultural buildings into a carefully considered arrangement of seven new homes, each with expansive views of the surrounding farmlands.

With a sensitive backdrop, the scheme required a strategic and carefully considered planning approach, initially to establish the principle of multiple residential uses through Class Q permitted development rights, before securing planning approval for a comprehensive residential redevelopment.

Taking its cues from the character and arrangement of the former farmstead, the design re-establishes a traditional hierarchy on site, with a farmhouse form at the heart of the composition flanked by a series of barn-style linear buildings arranged around a central shared courtyard. While an unsightly concrete portal-frame shed was removed, an existing brick barn of historic merit was retained and converted, informing both the architectural language and material palette of the new dwellings.

With sustainability at the core of the design process, each dwelling incorporates solar panels, air-source heat pumps, woodburning stoves, and EV charging points, while large expanses of carefully positioned glazing help to control solar gain and maximise views across the surrounding countryside.

This blend of old and new – rooted in the site’s agricultural past yet expressed with contemporary detailing – establishes a strong sense of place. Subtle variations in form, proportion, and material treatment ensure each home feels connected to the rural setting while remaining distinct within the overall composition.