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Garden at Ashdown Forest, a Para 80, energy efficient passive house. Another grand design by Hawkes Architecture.

Paragraph 84 (Para 80)

Ashdown Forest

Draped across the treeline of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this timber-clad new build optimises sweeping views of the Ashdown Forest.

New Build

Designing in woodland

Blending into the treeline, this contemporary single-storey building is discreet within the historic landscape of the High Weald AONB. The home sits just outside the Ashdown Forest 400m Special Protection Area (SPA) exclusion zone, on a previously developed part of the 50-acre site. Tucked away from the roadside, a carefully choreographed entrance sequence introduces this Paragraph 84 (Para 80) dwelling with a careful sense of privacy. As the home opens to the rear, sprawling views are unravelled for beautiful viewpoints from the open plan living rooms. Its form stretches outward along the ridgeline as it embraces the forested horizon.

This new dwelling is set within a registered Park & Garden, forming part of a historic landscape originally designed by the renowned landscape designer Humphry Repton. After a detailed planning process, Wealden District Council granted approval for the project on 2nd November 2021, following the successful completion of a Section 106 agreement—marking a significant milestone in bringing this sensitive and ambitious vision to life.

The Ashdown Forest

At Home Among The Trees

Set within a historic 50-acre site—96% of which lies inside the Ashdown Forest 400m Special Protection Area (SPA) exclusion zone—this project responds with care, restraint, and a deep respect for its surroundings.


An existing access point and a small cluster of outbuildings located just outside the exclusion zone offered a rare opportunity: to create a new, isolated dwelling that could both celebrate the landscape and contribute to the restoration of Humphry Repton’s original design vision for the site.

The broader setting is defined by a dramatic ridge and valley terrain, carved by ancient stream corridors and flanked by linear belts of ancient woodland. These natural contours offer long, uninterrupted views from higher ground—vistas the design embraces fully. The new home is carefully positioned and oriented to maximise these sweeping views across the open landscape and toward the forest beyond.

The building plan presents two distinct characters: a modest, discreet face on arrival that blends gently into its surroundings, and a more open, expansive side that unfurls toward the panoramic views. The architecture mirrors the land’s natural slope, stepping down the hillside and appearing almost draped across the topography. This grounded, sculptural form allows the building to merge seamlessly with its context—minimising its visual impact while enhancing its connection to the landscape.

Aerial view for the proposed site for Ashdown Forest, a Para 80 energy efficient passive house. Another grand design by Hawkes Architecture.

Set within a historic 50-acre site—96% of which lies inside the Ashdown Forest 400m Special Protection Area (SPA) exclusion zone—this project responds with care, restraint, and a deep respect for its surroundings.


An existing access point and a small cluster of outbuildings located just outside the exclusion zone offered a rare opportunity: to create a new, isolated dwelling that could both celebrate the landscape and contribute to the restoration of Humphry Repton’s original design vision for the site.

The broader setting is defined by a dramatic ridge and valley terrain, carved by ancient stream corridors and flanked by linear belts of ancient woodland. These natural contours offer long, uninterrupted views from higher ground—vistas the design embraces fully. The new home is carefully positioned and oriented to maximise these sweeping views across the open landscape and toward the forest beyond.

The building plan presents two distinct characters: a modest, discreet face on arrival that blends gently into its surroundings, and a more open, expansive side that unfurls toward the panoramic views. The architecture mirrors the land’s natural slope, stepping down the hillside and appearing almost draped across the topography. This grounded, sculptural form allows the building to merge seamlessly with its context—minimising its visual impact while enhancing its connection to the landscape.

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The aim should be to design buildings which are energy efficient, pleasant to live in and aesthetically pleasing.

Wealden Design Guide

Historical Inspiration

Kidbrooke Park

The site forms part of Kidbrooke Park, a Grade II listed landscape included on Historic England’s Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. Historical records indicate that the park was designed by the eminent 18th-century landscape designer Humphry Repton, whose influence remains an important aspect of the site’s heritage and character.

Plan

Modest Entry, Grand Outlook

A plan presenting two different sides; modesty on arrival, grandure facing the open landscape.

Floor plan for Ashdown Forest, a Para 80 energy efficient passive house. Another grand design by Hawkes Architecture.