{"id":680434,"date":"2026-07-08T13:29:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T13:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/680434\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T13:29:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T13:29:12","slug":"mclean-quinlan-wins-approval-to-extend-19th-century-south-downs-pub","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/680434\/","title":{"rendered":"McLean Quinlan wins approval to extend 19th-century South Downs pub"},"content":{"rendered":"

The scheme will restore and comprehensively refurbish the Woodcote pub, which is set in a 6.7ha woodland site near the village of Graffham, West Sussex. The extension will replace two modern brick and flint buildings at the rear of the pub, currently used as bed and breakfast units.<\/p>\n

London and Winchester-based practice McLean Quinlan<\/a> worked with heritage planning consultancy Whaleback<\/a>, overcoming objections from conservation bodies and significant local pushback, which centred on the impact on the surrounding area\u2019s character and infrastructure.<\/p>\n

The scheme is residential-focused McLean Quinlan\u2019s first step into hospitality and hotel-led design. It said the extension\u2019s design had been inspired by traditional barns and agricultural buildings in the area.<\/p>\n

Following the submission of more than 100 public objections as well as concerns raised from local environmental groups, the practice redesigned the scheme to \u2018strengthen the rural character of the site\u2019, adopting a lighter approach to development and a \u2018more sensitive arrangement\u2019 of the new buildings.<\/p>\n

Despite this, conservation organisation Friends of the South Downs maintained its objection to the scale and mass of the proposals, arguing that the layout of buildings would still result in a \u2018greater visual intrusion\u2019\u2019 than the current site, and that the development was \u2018unsustainable\u2019 and contrary to the local plan.<\/p>\n

Letters from residents also argued that the scale of the plans was too large for the area, causing unsustainable traffic and competition for other local businesses and services.<\/p>\n

But planning officers, recommending the scheme for approval, argued that while the application would add a significant mass of new buildings, when viewed at ground level they appeared as a collection of smaller buildings that \u2018sit fairly quietly in the landscape\u2019.<\/p>\n

Members of the South Downs National Park Authority voted to approve the application, with only one vote against and one abstention.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

McLean Quinlan\u2019s consented proposal for the refurbishment and extension of the Woodcote pub<\/p>\n

Source: McLean Quinlan<\/p>\n

Defending the scheme, McLean Quinlan said: \u2018The refinements created a modest cluster of buildings set behind the pub, closely reflecting the dispersed rural form typical of the South Downs.<\/p>\n

\u2018Alongside these design refinements, the proposal continued to deliver a number of environmental, social and economic benefits, including biodiversity enhancement, improved public access, support for local producers and the creation of permanent local employment.\u2019<\/p>\n

A focus on sustainable, locally sourced materials has influenced both the \u2018hyper-seasonal\u2019 menu, which offers \u2018farm-to-fork\u2019 dining, and the design of the new buildings, which has taken cues from traditional rural and farmyard structures to \u2018celebrate the natural beauty and built character of the landscape\u2019. The project targets a BREEAM NC Excellent rating.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Practice director Kate Quinlan said: \u2018The Woodcote is a natural step for our practice, carrying the same care for place, craft and detail that guides our residential work into the world of hospitality.<\/p>\n

\u2018The aim is to create somewhere rooted in its setting, where the buildings and landscape feel in conversation, and guests can slow down and reconnect with nature. It\u2019s a chance to shape a destination that honours local heritage, puts sustainability at its heart, and celebrates the simple pleasures of good food and warm hospitality.\u2019<\/p>\n

Jamie Lumsden, managing director of Ledmore Capital which owns The Woodcote, added: \u2018By focusing on material integrity and sensitive proportions, they have designed a destination that sits naturally within its environment while offering a truly refined guest experience.\u2019<\/p>\n

The project aims to start on site next year with completion targeted for 2029, though this is dependent on the pub securing funding.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Woodcote as it currently stands, credit The Woodcote Photography by Chris Wharton<\/p>\n

Source: The Woodcote Photography by Chris Wharton<\/p>\n

Project data<\/p>\n

Location Graffham, United Kingdom
Local authority South Downs National Park Authority
Type of project Hospitality (extension and remodelling of an existing pub to create a new restaurant and 16 bespoke rooms)
Client The Woodcote
Architect McLean Quinlan
Interior designer McLean Quinlan
Landscape consultant Studio Engleback
Planning and heritage consultant Whaleback
Quantity surveyor Client\u2019s in-house QS
Principal designer McLean Quinlan
Funding Private
Tender date To be confirmed
Start on site date estimated 2027
Completion date 2029
Contract duration 18 months
Gross internal floor area 1,500m\u00b2
Form of contract and\/or procurement TBC
Annual CO\u2082 emissions Targeting BREEAM NC Excellent
Total cost Undisclosed
Visuals \u00a9 McLean Quinlan
Planning application reference SDNP\/25\/01323\/FUL<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The scheme will restore and comprehensively refurbish the Woodcote pub, which is set in a 6.7ha woodland site…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":680435,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[6225,6485,6486,1120,96,156059,38984,227139,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-680434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-mclean-quinlan","tag-pub","tag-south-downs-national-park","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/680434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=680434"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/680434\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/680435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=680434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=680434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=680434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}