Architects in Solihull: Providence Lodge, Bakers Lane, Dorridge

Lapworth Architects support homeowners across Solihull and the wider West Midlands with redesigns of approved planning schemes. At Providence Lodge in Dorridge, we refined a consented extension package to improve frontage composition, daylight and circulation while staying within the approved parameters.

Lapworth Architects were appointed to review and develop proposals for Providence Lodge on Bakers Lane in Dorridge, within the wider Knowle and Solihull area. The house sits on a street of large detached homes close to the village centre. The owners already had planning permission for alterations and extensions and asked us to revisit the design so the appearance and layout better reflected how they wanted to live in the house.

The original householder application was prepared by Cross and Craig Associates Ltd, chartered architects based in Dorridge (ref: PL/2025/00956/MINFHO), and approved by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council in August 2025. The consent covers a two-storey front porch and stairwell extension, an extension to the front of the garage, alterations to fenestration, new stone cladding and changes to the kitchen roof.

Project at a glance

• Location: Bakers Lane, Dorridge, Solihull

• Planning status: existing approval (PL/2025/00956/MINFHO)

• Scope: elevation and layout refinement within the approved envelope

• Key elements: porch and stair core, garage frontage, fenestration, materials, kitchen roof

Design approach within the approved envelope

Our role is to work within that consented envelope and refine it. The revised scheme retains the approved volume but rebalances the main elevation so the porch, gable and garage read as a single composition. The entrance is expressed as a clear central bay with a simple pitched roof, flanked by regularised window openings.

Materials are simplified to a restrained palette of render above a brick plinth, with stone panels used selectively. The aim is a calmer frontage that relates well to neighbouring properties in Dorridge and Knowle, rather than a busier set of competing elements.

Internal layout and everyday usability

Internally, we adjust openings and circulation so the stair core, kitchen and family spaces connect more logically and make better use of garden views. The emphasis is on proportion, daylight and day-to-day usability.

We also tighten the relationship between the house, garage and forecourt so the approach, parking and entrance read as one ordered space rather than separate parts.

Planning strategy and delivery

The planning strategy uses the existing approval as a baseline. Any changes are tested against Solihull Local Plan requirements on design, character and residential amenity, with clear drawings and supporting information prepared in a way that makes the differences between the approved scheme and the revised proposals easy to understand.

Documents are managed through our normal digital workflow, including UK Planning Gateway, which helps maintain version control between iterations as the proposals progress with the local authority.

Architects in Solihull and architects in Dorridge

For homeowners searching for architects in Solihull or architects in Dorridge, Providence Lodge shows how we approach this type of commission: respecting an existing permission, refining the architecture and organising the house around practical family use, within a clear planning and technical framework.

FAQs:

Can you redesign a house after planning permission has been granted?
Yes. An existing approval provides a planning baseline. A redesign can focus on improving proportions, layout, materials and usability while staying within the approved parameters, subject to the scale of changes.

What was Lapworth Architects’ role at Providence Lodge?
We were appointed to refine the appearance and internal layout within an already approved envelope, improving the composition of the frontage and the day-to-day flow of the house.

What was approved under the planning application?
A two-storey front porch and stairwell extension, an extension to the front of the garage, alterations to fenestration, new stone cladding and changes to the kitchen roof.

How did the exterior design change?
We rebalanced the main elevation so the porch, gable and garage read as a single composition, with a clear central entrance bay and regularised window openings. Materials were simplified to render above a brick plinth with selective stone panels.

How did the internal layout improve?
Openings and circulation were adjusted so the stair core, kitchen and family spaces connect more logically, with stronger daylight and better use of garden views.

How do you keep revised proposals aligned with Solihull planning policy?
We use the existing approval as the baseline, test changes against local design, character and amenity requirements, and present drawings and documents so differences from the approved scheme are clear for review.