The approval came through without the usual death by a thousand conditions. No "we like it but..." No requests to make it more traditional, less visible, or more beige. Just recognition that contemporary architecture can enhance a neighbourhood when it's done well.

The fact that South Derbyshire District Council still employs someone specifically to scrutinise design quality made this even sweeter. They don't just rubber-stamp applications—they actually care whether buildings are any good. And they decided Brooklands was very good indeed.