North Cornwall · EX23
Design, planning and build for Coombe Valley renovation
Cornish housing stock is brilliant and infuriating in equal measure. We renovate cottages, farmhouses, mid-century homes and post-war estates — opening up layouts, fixing damp, adding light and bringing the property up to a standard worth living in. A EX23 site visit comes before a Coombe Valley sketch, every time — Coombe Valley is a small rural hamlet in the EX23 area, with scattered homes, lanes and a deliberately quiet settlement pattern, with a building stock that leans toward cottages and small infill homes.
Coombe Valley sits in North Cornwall — covering EX23 from Bude, Stratton, Poughill outward.
- Rural / open-countryside policy area
- ✓ 30+ years of Cornwall Council approvals
- ✓ Plain-English feasibility before any drawings
- ✓ One studio — design, planning and build under one roof
- ✓ Local to North Cornwall — not a national franchise
Local proof — Our North Cornwall workload means a Coombe Valley renovation project never has to wait for an out-of-county team to drive down.
Get a free feasibility viewLocal context
Why Coombe Valley is its own job.
Cornwall Council's lens on Coombe Valley is consistent: the main planning test is usually whether the proposal remains subordinate, locally detailed and acceptable on access, drainage and neighbour amenity. For renovation specifically, Cornwall Council's Local Plan applies tighter tests to isolated rural dwellings here, so design rationale and policy fit need to be set out clearly from the outset. That's why we treat every Coombe Valley project as a EX23-area job first — not a generic Cornwall job with a postcode bolted on. The cottages that dominate Coombe Valley (and continue out toward Poughill) set the tone for any renovation scheme here.
Planning note
Most Cornish renovations don't need planning — but listed status, curtilage listing, Conservation Area designation and material changes can all change that picture.
What we focus on
Renovations considerations specific to Coombe Valley.
01
Asbestos surveys are standard for anything pre-2000 — we factor a survey into the programme before stripping out begins.
02
Listed and curtilage-listed properties need Listed Building Consent for many internal alterations that wouldn't normally need approval.
03
Original fireplaces, slate floors, beams and joinery are often worth rescuing; the design conversation should start with what stays, not what goes.
04
Damp in Cornish cottages is usually a moisture management problem, not a chemical injection problem — fixing the cause is cheaper long term than treating the symptom.
Our process
How a Coombe Valley renovation project runs.
Step 1
Survey
Measured survey, condition assessment, services check and listed status review.
Step 2
Design
Layout options, material strategy and a clear list of what stays and what changes.
Step 3
Approvals
Listed Building Consent and building regulations as needed.
Step 4
Strip-out and works
Carefully sequenced demolition, structural works and rebuild.
Step 5
Finish and handover
Joinery, decoration, snagging and documentation pack.
Whole-house renovations typically run six to fourteen months on site; partial remodels two to four months.
Local fabric
Choosing a renovation team that actually knows EX23.
Building stock
Across Coombe Valley (EX23) we work on cottages, farmhouses, converted barns, bungalows, small infill homes. Each stock type drives a different renovation response — cottages in particular needs careful detailing here.
Parish & policy
Coombe Valley sits in the parish of Coombe Valley, which matters for how parish-level consultation lands on a renovation application.
Coverage
We cover EX23 from our studio, with regular renovation jobs also running in Bude, Stratton, Poughill. Most Coombe Valley site visits get booked within the same week.
How quickly can you visit a Coombe Valley site?
Usually within the same week. Coombe Valley (EX23) is on our regular North Cornwall run, alongside Bude, Stratton, Poughill. First visits are free and you'll get an honest feasibility view inside seven days.
Request a free visitFAQs
Coombe Valley Renovations — local questions answered.
- How much does a full renovation cost in Coombe Valley?
- A whole-house renovation typically lands between £1,800 and £3,000 per square metre depending on condition, listed status and finish level. We survey before quoting and don't price by guesswork. In Coombe Valley specifically, we'd start by checking the latest parish-level planning history before committing to a direction.
- Can you renovate and extend at the same time?
- Yes, and often it's the right call — the planning, regs and disruption all happen once instead of twice. We design and price it as a single project.
- Do I need planning permission to renovate internally?
- Usually no — except on listed buildings, where Listed Building Consent is needed for many internal alterations. We confirm the position before any wall comes down.
- What about damp and old walls?
- We assess the cause first — usually rising damp myths, blocked vents, hard cement renders trapping moisture, or roofs needing attention. A breathable repair strategy fixes most of it without chemical intervention.
- How long does a renovation take?
- Single rooms in weeks, kitchens in two to three months, whole-house renovations in six to fourteen months depending on size and listed status.
Coombe Valley is part of Bude
Coombe Valley sits inside the Bude catchment — we cover both as one renovation territory.
See Renovations in Bude →Other services in Coombe Valley
Nearby places we cover
Most Coombe Valley renovation enquiries start with one honest conversation about what's actually allowed — and that conversation costs nothing.