Reflections on the Individual Country Homes Roundtable

With speculation that we may see tax changes in the 2025 Autumn Budget that will have implications for the prime residential market, it’s a good time to reflect on the insights shared at our annual Individual Country Homes (ICH) Roundtable. This working group of professionals is committed to raising standards, sharing expertise, and shaping the future of exceptional country houses in the UK.

Now in its third year, the roundtable has grown into a powerful collaboration of the country house sector’s top professionals – from architects, planners, and quantity surveyors, to agents, designers, and legal experts. Brought together by shared values and common challenges, we’ve created a trusted network, dedicated to the evolving and increasingly complex needs of those building or restoring significant country homes.

Why we came together

The ICH Roundtable was born out of a simple observation; as individuals, we were constantly crossing paths on projects - on-site, in meetings, or advising clients - yet we rarely took the time to step back and reflect as a group to work more collaboratively. In an industry that is often project-driven and fast-paced, this felt like a missed opportunity. It has created a space for honest discussion, shared learning, and professional development, to look beyond individual roles and explore the full lifecycle of country house projects.

Highlights from 2025

This year’s meeting captured the breadth of expertise across our group. The session opened with a perspective on the importance of high service standards and how we can collectively deliver an exceptional client experience. A particularly valuable conversation focused on what truly drives client satisfaction. It isn’t just the quality of the build, but helping clients enjoy the journey, and use their homes in ways that align with their lifestyles and values.

Sustainability featured prominently with a compelling session on embodied carbon and the importance of simplifying this often-daunting concept for clients. There was also a thought-provoking contribution from an independent property consultant on the challenges of managing large country houses and estates - an area often overlooked by new purchasers who tend to focus on design and build.

We also explored the changing international market, noting a growing influence from American buyers and a lingering post-COVID preference for space, privacy, and connection to the land.

Spotlight on policy

A key focus this year, particularly for us at Rural Solutions, has been the potential of Paragraph 139 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF); a lesser-known planning policy route for the delivery of new country houses. While Paragraph 84(e) remains a key route to secure permission for isolated country homes of truly outstanding design, Paragraph 139 is offering a more accessible alternative. Read more about one of our Paragraph 139 projects, here.

What’s next?

As we plan our next meeting for 2026, there is a rich list of topics to focus on. We’re keen to explore client motivation and values, especially in relation to climate and the natural environment, and trends like naturalistic leisure facilities – such as swimming ponds instead of formal pools. Heritage considerations and navigating planning policy will remain high priorities, as will the continued exploration of how to translate exceptional architectural design into rural settings.

A sector defined by collaboration

At its core, the country house roundtable is about collaboration, creating a network of trusted professionals who offer clients not just skill, but strategic foresight and experience in realising their vision for an exceptional country home. Together, the group is committed to raising the bar for country house development.

Contact us

If you’re planning a new country home, or considering what’s possible, we invite you to talk to us. There are more routes to securing permission than you might think, and Paragraph 139 is just one.

Duncan Hartley is a Director in the Planning team at Rural Solutions

Image credits (c) FPCR Environment and Design, Plus Visuals and Yiangou Architects