Private Garden | Somerset

The arrival experience at this former Bishop’s Palace, now a private home, was ruined by the car park which occupied the sunniest and most sheltered areas by the front door.

Novell Tullett proposed rerouting cars off the long main approach to a new screened car park which freed up a large enclosed space directly adjoining the house for dining, entertaining and relaxing.

The arrival on foot now takes family and visitors through a contemporary garden with colourful perennial planting, a formal pool, and a sunken terrace with seating. Within the wider landscape, a new tennis court and pavilion were built within a former parterre.

The project had added complexity as the Grade II* listed building dates from the Middle Ages when it was the administrative centre for the episcopal estates of North Somerset. Subsequently the garden is on the English Heritage Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. It also lies within a conservation area.

Our remit included design and construction drawings, supporting documents for planning permission, and management of specialist consultants such as archaeologists and arboriculturalists.