52 Harborne Road, Edgbaston
Lapworth Architects secured planning and listed building consent for the sensitive extension and refurbishment of 52 Harborne Road, a Grade II listed 19th-century stucco villa in the Edgbaston Conservation Area. The property sits within the Calthorpe Estate and contributes to the character of this prominent residential avenue linking Edgbaston and central Birmingham.
The brief was to extend and adapt the existing family home to improve living space while maintaining the building’s architectural integrity. The design introduces two- and single-storey rear extensions, a new light well to the front, and selective internal alterations. Existing features such as the entrance, boundary walls and principal elevations were carefully retained and repaired. The proposed extensions replace a dated conservatory and are proportioned to remain subordinate to the main villa, using traditional materials and consistent detailing.
Key elements include reinstated boundary walls and gates, rooflights to the rear, and landscape improvements to the forecourt. The new rear additions are set against existing walls and step down to meet the garden’s natural slope, ensuring the original massing remains legible. Material samples and 1:10 architectural details are to be agreed with the local authority to ensure continuity of stucco finishes and joinery profiles. The Conservation Officer noted that the amended design sits more comfortably with the listed building and reflects the character of its pair and immediate neighbours.
Internally, the alterations are minimal and reversible, aligning with good conservation practice. The reinstatement of original doorways and the omission of intrusive elements such as a first-floor en-suite reduced potential loss of historic fabric. The planning officer’s report concluded that the proposals preserved the building’s special interest and met the principles of the Birmingham Design Guide SPD (2022) and Policy TP12 of the Birmingham Development Plan (2017).
All submission material was coordinated through UK Planning Gateway, ensuring council-ready documentation and clear version control between the planning and listed building consent applications.
For our readers looking for architects in Edgbaston or architects in Birmingham, this commission demonstrates Lapworth Architects’ long experience with listed buildings across the Calthorpe Estate. The scheme balances heritage sensitivity with practical design, continuing the practice’s record of delivering context-driven residential architecture across Birmingham and Harborne.
