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Leading by design


Tara de Linde and Angie Pool of Atelier de Linde Ltd architects and Stephen Donnelly of SJD Projects Ltd tell Eileen Leahy all about their pioneering collaboration which offers both residential and commercial clients a seamless turnkey service to help them achieve a successful and stress-free development…

Anyone who has ever undertaken a self-build, a property conversion or tried to source the perfect plot on which to develop, will know the path to achieving one’s dream vision is often fraught with frustration. Tricky planning consent issues, ecological criteria to consider, escalating budgets and a few more unexpected curve balls are what you’re likely to come across if you venture down this particular route.

But the good news is thanks to a clever collaboration between two local businesses your journey to development success – whether that’s residential or commercial – can now be relatively stress-free and highly successful.

The award-winning RIBA-chartered architectural practice Atelier de Linde (AdeL) and land and development specialists SJD Projects (SJD), both of whom are based in Tunbridge Wells, joined forces a year ago to offer clients a truly comprehensive service – and peace of mind – so you can achieve the perfect build or development for your specific needs.

So how did the partnership between SJD and AdeL come about?

“It all started with the three of us discussing how best to achieve suitable planning permissions on our sites,” explains SJD’s Stephen Donnelly who founded his company more than two decades ago and has over 35 years’ experience in the property industry. 

According to the company’s website, SJD delivers a bespoke, discretionary and all-encompassing land and development service where the team uses its extensive experience and contacts to help maximise clients’ assets. 

“The focus of our endeavours is to provide an effective service where clients are united with their ideal development opportunity; whether it be multi-unit housing schemes, rural self builds or commercial and investment opportunities,” Stephen tells me.

“I have known Tara and Angie for a while and after many discussions we came to the conclusion that between us we could offer a comprehensive service that would provide all the key elements needed to create outstanding developments.”

Tara de Linde co-established AdeL with Angie Pool in 2022. The boutique firm specialises in bespoke residential, commercial, educational and sustainable developments of all sizes – with a strong focus on exceptional design and sustainability. 

She says that collaborating with SJD is something that’s fairly unique in their respective fields.

“I don’t know of anyone else who is working in this way but there is real synergy to what we can offer by teaming up. Our USP is Stephen’s knowledge of land and cost of development combined with our experience in planning and great designs.”

We are chatting after a busy photo shoot at Quantum on The Pantiles where our photographer John has been taking pictures of Tara, Angie and Stephen alongside their two teams who all appear to get along incredibly well. Clearly the synergy Tara speaks of is far reaching…

Tara tells me there’s a very nice office culture that has developed since the two companies decided to share an office in St John’s Road.

“We all have high standards in what we do and if you consider our collective years’ experience that actually counts for a lot,” she says. 

Tara has worked as an architect for years, on private and corporate projects both here in the UK as well as Europe, while Angie has also worked extensively here and in Europe as well as in her native South Africa. Tara also occasionally lectures at Cambridge University and both women are regularly asked to judge industry awards and speak at specialist events.

It’s therefore no surprise to learn that since AdeL launched it has achieved a seriously impressive 97% success rate in planning applications and has been awarded various prestigious architectural accolades. 

Stephen meanwhile has grown his business extensively over the past twenty years to include services for both commercial and residential property development, as well as providing affordable housing sites throughout the South East and the Midlands. His business is co-run with land brokerage experts Samuel Donnelly and Chloe Newell and supported by SJD’s office manager Chloe Binckes-Williams. 

Within his property business Stephen has other ventures including a self-build sourcing service called the plot register and also Sited. The latter offers unrivalled access to development opportunities that are not usually available on the open market. 

“Sited is aimed at individuals searching for land to build and create their dream home,” he states. “If you can visualise it, we can deliver it and bring your vision to life. We will manage the whole process from site sourcing to design and planning, to interior design and construction. We will source suitable plots that meet your requirements.”

Stephen adds that sourced plots are carefully assessed for their financial viability as well as planning potential in order to ensure that clients are paying the right price and not taking an expensive planning risk. And this is one of the area’s where AdeL’s expertise comes in – especially if a planning application is rather complicated.

“We understand what is required to get planning permission and we work diligently with our wider team to ensure that all our applications stand the best chance of success,” explains Angie.

“We have dealt with pretty much every local council in Kent, Surrey and Sussex over the past few years so we have detailed experience of what is expected. It’s about building up relationships: getting to know them and how they work.”

AdeL recently completed an impressive development of boarding accommodation at a school in Battle and was awarded a coveted BUILD Architecture Award for its work on Great Hall Bayhall Barn near Pembury.

But the firm is not just expert at gaining planning, the team brings a high level of design to whatever it does states Tara.

“I think that’s quite critical as you are selling an idea, a dream, a vision and planning and images really sell that. Considered design that really works for the client is at the heart of everything we do.”

She says that the partnership with SJD is a two-way street as AdeL also passes on work to Stephen and his team: “We often get approached by clients who have an estate and are working on one part of it but they also want some advice on development and that’s when we will put them in contact with Stephen. So it’s a mutually beneficial setup.”

Angie agrees, saying that what both companies offer is a seamless turnkey service – meaning that they can help clients realise their property goals from start to finish. 

“We now have a very cohesive system thanks to being able to pool our mutual resources which has resulted in a very prescriptive offering. We will put together a wider professional team with Stephen to work on a variety of projects and because we have such a diverse range of clients we know which suppliers, contractors and structural engineers and so forth will work best for each one. And we will always use as many local businesses as possible.”

These, Angie tells me include engineers and surveyors CALtech, KLW planning consultants and Quantity Surveyor Josh Stockwell from Stockwell Developments, all of whom are based in or around Tunbridge Wells.

Having such experienced teams putting together cohesive designs makes the end project of any conversion, new build or development opportunities much more saleable adds Stephen.

“If a client wants to discuss development opportunities for their plot or barns, or simply enhance the value of their existing land or home we can give advice on the best way forward. Jointly we can provide comprehensive feasibility that will include pricing, planning potential and strategy and outline what can be achieved to maximise the value of any potential project. 

“This means that we can assist the client in establishing what the potential profitability will be for their land or development project. We can also advise on timescales, planning and development costs. Having all the expertise needed in one team means that the client does not need to approach various companies to review their assets potential.”

Angie states that working in this way is more efficient and saves time and money in the long run. 

“We believe that by giving our clients the benefit of access to our entire professional team of specialists means the advice ultimately given through our feasibility service at the outset will have a significantly positive impact on the planning strategy.”

“We have all worked tirelessly to ensure the client’s wishes are always met,” says Tara. “Remember that planning is constantly changing. And now with a new government comes more changes – but also opportunities.”

“The new legislation around farmers and inheritance tax will have an impact on many rural assets and SJD can utilise their experience in estate management to assist in realising the potential of their assets,” adds Stephen.

And it is this particular example which Stephen says perfectly proves why the AdeL and the SJD/Sited collab works. 

“We draw on each company’s expertise, looking at where each one can add value,” he states.

Both work with private and commercial clients throughout the South East, London and further afield. These range from schools, private homes, barns and hotels to pubs, petrol stations, nursing homes, doctors’ surgeries and former churches.

“Some of these may find it quite challenging in terms of their financial situation but we can work with them in order to optimise the value of their land and property in a way others might not do,” continues Tara.

“We currently have four independent schools on our books and because of the proposed 20% VAT coming into force by the Labour government that’s exactly why we are advising on the development of their assets.”

She goes on to say that AdeL were commissioned to develop boarding quarters at the aforementioned school in Battle which, in turn, positively impacted on their financial fluidity of the school and improved their revenue moving forward. 

“We are now able to include the successful application and approval for a new eco home outside of settlement boundary,” continues Tara. “The site lying within the AONB and designated greenbelt was given a limited chance of approval at face value, but with the faithful support of SJD’s client the team managed to get it across the line and achieved a successful planning approval for a sensitive and sustainable home in an outlying village near Tunbridge Wells.”

When reflecting on this job, which took 18 months, Tara says the more complex the project, the more rewarding the outcome for all of us. 

“Dynamic design is what we are always striving for. It is all about achieving a high standard. There are so many sites that are refused planning because they have bad designs or inadequate information. But if you have something that has a clear design intention, supporting surveys and reports and a robust design statement then the chances of getting planning approval is increased.”

Angie says the site they are currently working on was refused planning prior to Adel’s appointment. 

“Our team has joint forces to turn a negative decision into a positive outcome, and SJD have further been asked to consult on the costs and return on investment for the client.”

“Where required we endeavour to push the boundaries of local policies to maximise our clients’ project potential, in order to get the best possible outcome for them. We take them on a journey with us,” smiles Tara who tends to oversee the planning while Angie concentrates on the internal specifications, details and delivery.

As well as putting innovative design and exceptional personalised service at the heart of what they do, both women ensure that the environment is also one of their business’s key hallmarks.

“You have to always have the ecological impact at the heart of any design you are working on,” advises Tara.

“I was recently talking to Jo da Silva, who is the global director of sustainable development at Arup which is a worldwide collective of designers, engineers and technical experts. She made the very valid point that everyone talks about the cost of development per square metre. But how many of us are talking about the cost of carbon footprint per square metre? Well for us those discussions are very much at the forefront of what we do.”

The duo says this is because they work on a mix of both new builds and period properties. With the former they can ensure the property works efficiently from the get-go but with conversions of older houses which leak energy they have to think of clever, cost-effective ways to ensure they don’t haemorrhage money and continue to damage the environment.

Before I leave, I ask Stephen, Tara and Angie whether they can reveal any more of their plans for 2025.

“To take over the world,” laughs Angie before adding on a more serious note that they all agree they would like to grow their respective teams.

Stephen tells me that he is adding a new home sales division to his business.

“If we sell a plot then once it’s been built our clients can then use us to sell it for them rather than going to an estate agent. The majority of what we do is done with discretion and is off-market as a lot of people who are selling or buying don’t necessarily want everyone else to know. It’s nice to know that you have dome degree of exclusivity on what you choose to spend your money on.”

Given their impressive track record after just one year doing business together I have every faith that all of these goals and more will easily achieved by this formidable team.

SJD PROJECTS LTD

78 St John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 9PH UK

01892 579937

Website: www.sjd-projects.co.uk

Email: steve@sjd-projects.com

ATELIER DE LINDE LTD

78 St John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 9PH UK

07973 628 095 / 07427490122

Website: www.atelierdelinde.co.uk

Email: hello@atelierdelinde.com

Eileen Leahy
Author: Eileen Leahy

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