Luxury rural development in Glewstone, Herefordshire

Bespoke Construction Consultants has been appointed to support Westwood Developments with the delivery of two luxury family homes, each set within its own one-acre plot in the village of Glewstone near Ross-on-Wye.

The £1.4m development sits within a highly desirable rural location, but despite having inherited an existing planning consent, the scheme could not progress due to unresolved technical constraints relating to drainage, site levels and buildability.

Bespoke carried out a full review of the inherited planning approval and identified several critical issues that would prevent implementation. To enable the project to move forward efficiently,

Bespoke prepared and submitted a Section 73 application, allowing the approved scheme to be varied without the need for a full new planning application, saving the client considerable time and cost.

Our role

• Reviewing the inherited planning consent and identifying key design and technical flaws

• Preparing and submitting a Section 73 application to vary the existing permission

• Coordinating drainage, access, level and buildability assessments

• Managing inputs from architects, structural engineers and other consultants

• Providing planning, technical and project management support through the redesign process

  
  

Key features and achievements

• Resolved technical constraints: Addressed drainage requirements, site access, level changes and buildability issues to ensure the revised scheme was deliverable.

• Enhanced design quality: Improved layout, orientation and architectural detailing to reflect the rural setting and meet luxury market expectations.

• Added measurable value: The revised and fully implementable consent significantly increased the site’s value and market attractiveness.

• Efficient planning strategy: Delivering a Section 73 variation avoided the need for a new full application, reducing programme risk and simplifying delivery.

Sustainability and design

The scheme adopts a fabric-first construction approach to maximise energy performance, enhance comfort and reduce long-term running costs. Each home will incorporate low-carbon technologies including photovoltaic panels with battery storage and an air-source heat pump, supporting a sustainable and future-ready design.

With planning risks resolved and a clear technical pathway in place, the project is scheduled to progress to construction in December 2025. The result is a high-quality, technically robust and design-led development - one that reflects both the aspirations of our client and the landscape character of this highly sought-after rural location.