Sneak peek inside new homes at Herefordshire's Parks Farm

Located in beautiful rural settings, many of these properties are being turned into sustainable new homes.

One example of a successful conversion and retrofit is Parks Farm at Canon Pyon in Herefordshire. Here 15th and 16th century buildings once used for a dairy unit have been converted into eight new homes. 

Architects at Stolon Studio have come up with designs that put wellbeing and sustainability at the heart of the conversion, seamlessly blending old and new to create very individual homes with private gardens and access to a private meadow and wonderful views across open countryside.

The private developer behind the project asked Stolon to come up with a design that balanced privacy and openness, providing a connection to nature.

The homes vary in size from three to five bedrooms and are arranged around the original farmyard, which lies just off a country lane but within easy reach of Hereford.

The spatial layout of each property seeks to accommodate a range of housing needs, from families to downsizers and the elderly.

Historic features at each of the homes have been repaired and celebrated, with new steel plates and special steel ties to brace the old elm and oak beams.

Old fireplaces have been uncovered and restored and, where appropriate, brick and stone walls have been exposed, with some being straightened and reset, rather than being rebuilt.

A few buildings on the site were demolished to create the courtyard and shared spaces, with historical timber, stone and bricks being salvaged by a highly skilled site team.

Any new materials needed to complete the project are in keeping with the traditions of the Herefordshire countryside, with a combination of red brick, tile and terracotta reflecting the reddish-pink gravel of the river valley and rich red clay soil.

Robust metal roofing reflects the agricultural heritage of the buildings, while interiors are finished in raw, untreated early tones and breathable clay paints.

All of the properties at Parks Farm have been refurbished for modern living, with the best quality insulation, fibre broadband and EV charging.

Each is fitted with air-source heat pumps and underfloor heating to create homes with low operational costs, both environmentally and financially.

Local craftspeople were used to carry out the restoration and refurbishment work, with the private developer regarding the project as an opportunity to contribute to the local economy.

Along with the buildings, landscape architects came up with a scheme for the area surrounding The Parks, using delicate hedgerows and native species such as cow parsley to contrast with the reddish buildings.

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A wildflower meadow, bat habitats, new tree planting and a pond enhance and contribute habitats for wildlife and biodiversity.

Among those working on the project at Stolon Studio is architect Jessica Barker, who is based in London but originally hails from Hereford, where she grew up and later attended the city’s art college, returning recently to be one of its ‘creatives in residence’.

She’s really proud of the transformation of the farm buildings, which are close to where her family lives.

“We have painstakingly converted the buildings there – there are no new builds, it’s all restoration,” she said.

“We’ve created eight very individual, architectural and sustainable homes.

“We have fully restored the buildings and landscape, using a sustainable and ethical approach throughout. All materials were re-used where possible, and all new systems are low energy and fossil fuel-free.

“We hope that we have created new homes, with individual character for new residents who wish to live a more sustainable and healthy life.

“Parks Farm exemplifies our approach to retrofitting: it encompasses new technology and building systems and beautifully illustrates neighbourhood activist Jane Jacobs’ observation that “new ideas often need old buildings.”

The Parks is not the only project Stolon Studio has worked on in Herefordshire. Recently it saw the completion of Barn House near Leominster, now a modern family home and the winner of three RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Awards. The work on the property was documented by Channel 4’s Grand Designs programme.

Stolon describes its approach as a “powerful combination of idealism and pragmatism, using design to address bigger societal challenges and deliver social and environmental resilience.

“We work closely with clients to understand the real human needs that sit at a project’s heart and create simple yet transformational projects that support the way that people want to live and work,” said Jessica.

The Parks is being marketed by The Modern House: www.themodernhouse.com