Extensions, Renovations and New Builds in Henley-on-Thames

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Designing Homes around Henley

Philip Wadge Architecture is a small, family-run architectural design studio working with homeowners in Henley-on-Thames and nearby villages, from Shiplake and Harpsden in South Oxfordshire to Wargrave and Remenham in Berkshire. The town's characterful homes include Georgian facades, Victorian and Edwardian villas on the rising ground, and riverside houses with lawns leading down to the Thames. The studio designs extensions, renovations, and new builds that showcase these unique features, with a focus on light, space, and gardens.

Henley cornerless bifold extension interior

Walk Through Your Vision

Founder Philip Wadge begins each project by reading the house, its plot and surroundings, then listening to your daily routines. Our team can create 3D models you can explore on-screen or via a virtual reality headset, allowing you to walk through rooms while adjustments are still simple. The model serves a dual purpose: it helps planning officers visualise how the proposal fits within its street or garden setting and guides builders once construction begins.

Henley contemporary traditional extension

Reimagine the Way You Live

Call 01635 736440

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Between the River and the Chiltern Hills

Henley is surrounded by wooded hills along the Thames, which winds through Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. Beech woodlands rise above the Fair Mile, while chalk valleys thread north towards Fawley and the Assendons. Harpsden, Rotherfield Greys and Binfield Heath lie in the folds to the south and west. The river links them, flowing past Marsh Lock towards Shiplake and Wargrave. Gardens extend close to the water or climb terraced slopes above the town.

Henley bankside rear extension contemporary

Living Spaces That Flow into the Garden

Our primary aim is to create a spacious, open-plan living area that integrates cooking, dining and family activities while keeping the garden in view. We modify layouts, open rear elevations and strategically position glazing to allow daylight travels further into the house, making the lawn, terrace or river frontage part of daily life.

Planning Permission Around Henley

We have secured over 500 planning approvals across 24 local authorities. Henley, Shiplake and Harpsden fall under South Oxfordshire District Council, while Wargrave and Remenham on the Berkshire side fall under Wokingham Borough Council. Working on both sides of the Thames, we know both councils' policies. The neighbourhood planning policies for Henley and Harpsden, updated in December 2022, carry full weight in decision-making, so proposals are evaluated against them from the start.

Henley 2d planning permission elevation drawings

Design in the Chilterns National Landscape

Much of the countryside around Henley is within the Chilterns National Landscape, where new work is assessed against the area's character: local brick, flint and clay tiles, and valley views. The town centre is largely within a conservation area, with listed buildings on Hart Street, New Street and the riverside, and further conservation areas in surrounding villages. Riverside sites require particular care, from flood risk to water views. Careful early design addresses these factors, which we emphasise in our process.

Discover What Your Home Could Become

Contact our studio

Projects Near Henley:

It Starts with A Home Visit

Each project starts with a 90-minute home consultation, during which Philip walks through your house and garden to assess the light, structure, and potential. He discusses recommendations, providing practical advice and a clear plan.

The studio then guides you through stages such as concept design, digital survey, drawings, planning applications, construction drawings, tendering, and on-site support. Discover our approach.

Meet the team philip wadge architecture designers henley

I would recommend Philip 100%. He has been a joy to work with. He’s always been very committed to our project and to us. He’s always been there for us, as well as challenging us with what we want to do and being superb at the detail. I can’t recommend him enough.

Sue

Watlington

The planning process was seamless with Philip, who gets you the result you want. We are so pleased we went ahead with the transformation, it's such a hub for family life, we didn’t have that before. Philip designed for us a space that is completely unique and shows off parts of our characters as people.

Claire

Woolton Hill

I couldn’t have been more delighted. Every day I walk in and think wow, this is where I live! Thank you very much for coming up with the idea, because quite frankly I would not have got here without you.

Penny

Hungerford