Planning Approved: Garage Project in Dorset
- Rosenkelly Architectural Design
- Jun 26
- 2 min read
Micro Garage Project with Legacy Detailing in Dorset
Rosenkelly Architectural Design has secured planning approval for a compact, high-quality garage replacement project in Dorset. Though modest in size, this scheme reflects the values we bring to every build: contextual awareness, functional clarity, and legacy-minded detailing.
The proposal replaces a single-skin outbuilding with a new, purpose-built garage — designed not only to meet the client’s brief but also to respect the surrounding environment and constraints.
Built for Function. Designed for Flexibility.
Micro projects like this demand smart thinking. The plot included multiple site limitations:
Boundary proximity
Overlooking concerns
Historic scale of neighbouring buildings
Access and drainage routes
Despite these, the final design maximises usable space while remaining respectful to planners, neighbours, and long-term upkeep.
The building will provide:
A dedicated workshop zone
Secure household storage
Additional off-street parking
It connects physically to the main dwelling through a flat-roofed link, but remains separate internally, preserving the original home layout while expanding functionality.
Legacy in the Details: Materials & Form
While the proposal is new, the building’s design draws directly from the existing home. Rather than contrast or dominate, the garage enhances the site’s cohesion through subtle, meaningful detailing:
A half-hipped roof form, echoing the roofline of the main house
Flat roof link, recessed and visually subservient
Brickwork selected to match the existing elevation palette
Fenestration aligned to existing openings, preserving symmetry and flow
This approach ensures the garage feels like a natural extension of the property — not an afterthought.
Planning Strategy: Small-Scale, Big Thinking
We worked closely with Dorset planners to guide the application through early constraints. By proactively addressing visibility, massing, and materiality, the scheme was able to secure consent without objection or delay.
It’s another example of how Rosenkelly delivers clarity through planning — even on the most space-limited sites.
Our micro-scale design success here demonstrates:
That quality doesn't rely on size
That smart space use creates long-term value
That legacy buildings start with details, not budgets
Micro Architecture, Macro Impact
As Dorset faces increasing pressure on land and housing stock, small, strategic projects like this matter more than ever. They create:
Better-functioning family homes
More efficient land use
Resilient, flexible architecture that responds to changing needs
At Rosenkelly, our goal is to design beyond the brief — whether it’s a 200m² extension or a 20m² workshop.
This garage isn’t just a shed. It’s a long-term improvement to the way the property works, looks, and feels.
