New Road

The timber frame and timber cladding will be constructed and clad from sustainable sources, dramatically reducing its embodied carbon. The material selection, as far as possible, is environmentally friendly with responsibly specified and robust choices that; make reference to their industrial heritage, are contextually suitable, and offer potential for future repair and reuse.

The pitched asymmetric roofs tier down to respond to the undulating site and culminate with a brick collar, which traditionally would have been the chimney stack but has been reinterpreted as a contemporary roof light. The feature provides an abundance of natural daylight and ventilation to circulation cores and top floor apartments. Internally, the upper floors utilise the roof geometry to create unique and distinct double-height spaces whilst lower floors are sunken to further embed within the natural site topography.

The proposal adopts a fabric-first approach and will be super-insulated and airtight to provide high thermal performance. Following passive principles – the form, orientation, and fenestration are carefully considered minimising thermal bridging, optimise solar gain and mitigate overheating in line with the new Part O regulations. The villa has been designed to incorporate zero-carbon technologies from the outset with on-site renewable energy to deliver sustainable homes that are affordable to live in. In addition, the layout of the internals and structural components of the homes will allow for longevity, flexibility, and future adaptability.

Working collaboratively with Cornus Landscape Planning and Design to preserve the landscape – the approved proposal retains all large existing trees and protects shrubbery and wildflower areas that promote healthy ecological habitats. The proposal increases biodiversity by 17% through the introduction of additional landscaped plots for wellbeing, planting, allotments, and vegetation. The uplift supports a rich biodiverse environment that will deliver high quality and step-free communal amenity space for all residents to enjoy, connect, and play within.