Estate Housing

A considerable number of clients have appointed the practice to prepare housing layouts. In most cases, the sites are located within an existing settlement and whilst a client may have a specific brief in terms of the number and type of dwellings to be built guidance is often required ensure that the new homes pay proper respect to any noteworthy features on the site and merge seamlessly with their surroundings.

The practice has also gained a reputation for the effective use of land utilising its skills for maximising the amount of development that can be obtained on a site having regard to local planning authority policies and standards.


Projects

Cook's Shipyard, Wivenhoe
The practice was appointed by Taylor Wimpey to prepare a Reserved Matter application for the site which consisted of the third and final Phase of the redevelopment of the former shipyard. It comprised the erection of 32 dwellings and 11 office units with associated garages, parking spaces, road and drainage infrastructure and an area of public open space set out as an attractive greenspace.

The site commands a pleasant position close to the waterfront and on the edge of the Wivenhoe Conservation Area.

The principles on which the layout was based were:-
•   the desire to perpetuate the organic street and block pattern of the area
    within the old part of Wivenhoe close to the water's edge;
•   continuation of the 'wall' of frontage development alongside the river;
•   the creation of additional urban spaces as incidents of townscape
    interest;
•   the need to facilitate pedestrian permeability in an east - west direction;
•   a lower density of housing on the settlement boundary.

The architectural treatment of the proposed housing stemmed from both the medieval and Victorian buildings in the centre of Wivenhoe whereas the office building reflected the industrial heritage of the site with its connections to shipbuilding on the River Colne.

Aikens Village, Stepaside
Dublin Road, Kilminchy
Weald Road, Brentwood
Harpers Lane, Portlaoise
The Crescent, Portmarnock
Knock Rushen, Castletown
Cambridge Close, Stock
Great Berry, Laindon