This site is part of an established village that is a pioneering model of 19th century social and architectural philanthropy. The design is for 76 new houses on a 12 acre site and aims to conserve and enhance the historic village setting and provide a sympathetic new housing development with community facilities.

In order to meet the sensitive development criteria, Robert Adam Architects were commissioned to prepare a masterplan to provide a framework and design brief bringing all the various factors into play. This strategic plan places emphasis on enhancing the historic village setting whilst providing a sympathetic new housing development with community facilities by creating identifiable open spaces linked by houses, integrating the new with the old.

The pivotal point of the scheme is a crescent of new houses at the end of the existing village street incorporating the existing public house. The crescent encloses a new village green, creating a focus for community activities. A pair of fine red brick houses with Dutch gables mark the centre point of the crescent and the route to The Square and a children’s play area. Great care has been taken to preserve the environment and an ancient hedgerow that marks a historic field boundary has been incorporated into the scheme.

This masterplan is an excellent example of what can be achieved by a cohesive team of interested landowner, talented architects, a sympathetic local planning authority and a responsible developer.