Newtimber Close

Our expertise makes all the difference

Our input at planning stage lays the foundation for the south east’s best new affordable housing development.

 

The Challenge

When Crawley Borough Council found themselves with a challenge on their hands, they they came to us.

We’d worked with them before on projects including Gales Place, Crawley’s first ever Passivhaus-certified social housing. Now they needed to build 44 affordable homes in a sought after area near the centre of a popular park.

The new homes would have to stand comparison with the best available for sale in the area. They had to be energy efficient without using renewables. They had to blend seamlessly with the landscape. Above all, they had to be great places to live.

The Solution

Our work on the flat plans and the planning application transformed the project. Taking residents’ needs into account, we laid out plans for real homes, with spacious rooms, future-proofed against a changing climate. As the client expected, our attention to detail at this stage would make a huge difference to peoples’ lives.

Many of the houses have dual aspect living rooms, facing both front and rear gardens. Kitchens in the flats are designed so busy parents can supervise kids playing in the adjacent living room. These are kitchens where families can eat together too.

We were also able to optimize Passivhaus features such as window positions that allow summer cooling and places for heat recovery ventilation where it’s most efficient.

Newtimber Close in 2019

Newtimber Close is a unique project – a council housing scheme of very high quality that befits its location and provides new affordable housing in the heart of the community near to schools and recreation facilities.

So we’re proud to have been involved. And the award is nice. But what we love about this project is the way it enhances the community and the area, giving more people the chance to build a future here.


Winner
Best Social or Affordable New Housing Development
LABC South East Building Excellence Awards 2020

Project team

Peter Ranken

Director of Sustainability & Passivhaus Designer

Keith Everitt

Consultant

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