Epping, Essex
Residential
The Site is situated in a village of Thornwood north of Epping with good connections to the M11, M25 and London (by road, rail and underground). Working closely with Epping Forest District Council and their Quality Review Panel (QRP), the initial concept of ‘ Village grouped around a green’ was revisited over eight iterations to reach the final design (adjacent image) which has a much more compact and dense urban form than the original scheme.
The The challenge was to balance the requirements of the Essex Design Guide, specifically how analysis of the surrounding settlement influences the layout, with the requirements of the Council and its QRP.
Part of the site is allocated for development but the number of homes and the associated open space, surface water drainage, access and retention of trees was not achievable within the boundary of the allocation. Part of the proposed layout sits outside that boundary.
The site will deliver 62 new homes, of which 40% will be affordable. The gross area of the site is 4.2 hectares. The open space, including detention basin is 1.9 hectares. The site was sold by the land owner to Weston Homes with the benefit of outline planning consent.
Client
Haynes New Homes
Task
Prepare an Outline Planning Application for 62 homes and associated infrastructure
Role
Architect