[Daryl Adams]

While I haven't built any projects in the UK, as an architect, this thread caught my eye. It sounds like the permit agency is just making an effort to be sure that some level of design thought is being expended on the project. If you just describe the project and show that you have considered vehicular access (especially as regards service vehicles and fire/emergency equipment access) and that you are respecting the character of the immediate surroundings, you should be fine.

Consider this...I live in a rural area of horse farms where there are essentially no design restrictions at all, beyond the most basic of life safety requirements. Up until now the cost of land and the quality of existing homes has pretty much assured that all new homes have been built to a similar standard. Recently, though, a lottery winner bought a farm down the road from me and designed for himself one of the most horrific architectural disasters imaginable. A real dogs breakfast that spoils the view of all his neighbors. I've even taken to altering my drive home so as not to have to look at this thing. While I don't believe you can legislate good taste, making people at least think a bit before they build is not a bad thing.