Paragraph 84: Why Early Landscape Design Makes All the Difference

With insights from our work at Scarp House

Building a home in the countryside is both an opportunity and a responsibility. Across much of England, planning policy is clear: new housing in open rural landscapes should generally be avoided. The intention is to protect the countryside’s character, beauty, ecology, and sense of place.

There is, however, one carefully defined exception. Paragraph 84 of the National

Planning Policy Framework allows for the possibility of an isolated home in the

countryside, but only where design quality is demonstrably exceptional.

What Paragraph 84 Really Means

Paragraph 84 is not a loophole. It is a deliberately demanding policy designed to

raise standards in rural design. Consent may be granted only where a proposed

home:

● Is of truly exceptional architectural quality

● Significantly enhances its immediate setting

● Is sensitive to the defining characteristics of the local area

In practice, this sets a very high bar. The majority of proposals fall short because they treat the countryside as a backdrop rather than something to be actively shaped, enhanced, and respected. Successful Paragraph 84 schemes are rare precisely because they require a depth of thinking, collaboration, and design integration that goes beyond conventional approaches.

Scarp House: A Landscape-Led Approach

Scarp House offers a clear example of how this process can work when landscape is embedded from the outset. Working closely with Atelier De Linde and our client SJD Projects, the project has been framed from the beginning as a landscape-led family home, shaped by the topography, ecology, and long-distance views of its South Downs setting.

Before planning permission is secured, the landscape strategy is already playing a central role in defining the project’s narrative. Outdoor spaces are being considered as integral parts of the architecture, not as ancillary elements to be resolved later.

This early work is critical, because it directly informs how the planning authority will assess the quality, sensitivity, and justification of the proposal.

Why Landscape Must Be Integral, Not Optional

For most planning applications, landscape design is important. For Paragraph 84

projects, it is fundamental. The policy’s emphasis on enhancement, sensitivity, and context means that landscape design is one of the primary tools through which design quality is assessed.

1. Landscape Defines Context

Paragraph 84 asks whether a proposed home would enhance its immediate setting and respond to local character. A house cannot simply sit within the landscape; it must work with it and improve it. A robust landscape strategy demonstrates a detailed understanding of landform, views, ecology, access, and patterns of use — all of which help establish that the proposal is grounded in its place.

2. Planning Decisions Rely on Narrative

Paragraph 84 proposals are inherently discretionary. Planning officers and

committee members are not only assessing compliance, but also weighing

judgement. They look for a clear and convincing story about a home and how its

landscape contributes positively to the rural environment. A strong, well-articulated landscape narrative often becomes the thread that holds this story together.

3. Early Collaboration Reduces Risk

Embedding landscape design early in the process brings strategic, technical, and

financial benefits. Late-stage landscape input often leads to redesigns, delayed

responses, and increased costs. Early collaboration allows landscape considerations to influence site orientation, access, drainage, biodiversity enhancement, and environmental performance — all of which strengthen the planning case and reduce uncertainty.

Design Review Panels in the South Downs

Within the South Downs National Park, engagement with a Design Review Panel

(DRP) is an important part of the Paragraph 84 process. The National Park places

particular emphasis on landscape character, scenic quality, and environmental

stewardship, and independent design review is a recognised way of demonstrating that these priorities are being taken seriously.

South Downs DRPs assess proposals holistically. Architecture is considered alongsideblandscape structure, topography, views, access, and ecological strategy. For Paragraph 84 homes, panels are typically less concerned with architectural expression in isolation and more focused on whether the overall composition enhances the landscape and responds sensitively to the Park’s defining characteristics.

Early engagement is key. When a DRP is involved while the design is still evolving,

landscape strategy can meaningfully shape the discussion rather than being

retrofitted in response to feedback. A clear, landscape-led concept helps reviewers understand the proposal as an integrated response to place.

Constructive DRP feedback can then be used to refine the scheme and support the planning submission, demonstrating to the South Downs National Park Authority that the proposal has been independently tested against Paragraph 84’s core principles of quality, enhancement, and landscape sensitivity.

4. Sustainability and Biodiversity as Design Drivers

Environmental stewardship is central to contemporary planning decisions. Paragraph 84 schemes that succeed tend to show how sustainability is embedded into the character of the home and its setting — from planting strategies and habitat creation to water management and long-term land stewardship. Early landscape planning allows these principles to be integrated naturally rather than added as mitigation.

5. A Coherent Vision Delivers Better Outcomes

Perhaps most importantly, early landscape involvement ensures that architecture and landscape form a single, coherent vision. House and garden speak the same design language, reinforcing one another. For Paragraph 84 proposals, this cohesion is often what demonstrates that a development enhances the countryside rather than simply occupying it.

What This Means for Clients and Architects

For anyone considering a Paragraph 84 project, the message is clear: landscape

design should never be an afterthought. It must be part of the conversation from the first site visit and earliest sketches. This approach leads to stronger planning

submissions, smoother design processes, and ultimately more grounded and

meaningful places to live.

At Scarp House, our role from the outset has been to shape the landscape structure and ecological strategy alongside the architecture. Together, these elements form a clear narrative of value, quality, and sensitivity — one that reflects the intent of Paragraph 84 and responds carefully to its South Downs setting.

In Summary

● Paragraph 84 is a design-led exception to the general restriction on isolated

homes in the countryside

● It requires proposals to demonstrate exceptional quality and genuine

landscape enhancement

● Early, integrated landscape design strengthens planning submissions and

reduces risk

● Collaboration between architects, landscape designers, and design review

panels leads to better outcomes for clients and for the land itself

Whether you’re planning a rural home, a countryside retreat, or a project requiring sensitive planning considerations, we would be pleased to explore how landscape design could support your ambitions. Start the conversation with us, and take a look at our portfolio for inspiration from past projects.