DCa were appointed by our clients, High Street Homes, to submit a Reserved Matters Planning Application for a residential development on this site in the village of Great Horwood, Buckinghamshire. Approval was received in May 2020. The site lies to the east of the village, just outside the Conservation Area, located between existing properties to the west and open countryside to the east and north. The outline planning approval established the principle of the development of 15 dwellings on 0.5 ha of land, with 0.4 ha allocated as a public park to serve the new development and the existing community.

The scheme has been designed with careful reference and respect for the context, including the market and social needs and planning policy, with a clear acknowledgement of contemporary requirements.

Key factors influencing the form, layout and scale of the development have included:

● A need to relate to the edge of the village context and the creation of an attractive and sustainable development with an integrated design and landscape strategy. The landscaping design complements and enhances the village, whilst contributing positively to the wider context of the surrounding open countryside. The new park and public open space is a key feature, adding valuable recreation space and improved biodiversity to the village.

● Local housing needs and delivery with an appropriate and balanced mix of dwelling sizes that meet the need for the efficient use of land. The scheme is a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes, of which five are affordable and one is fully wheelchair accessible, compliant with Building Regulations Part M4 (Category3).

● The context of the site, its topography, and the effect of the scheme on neighbours, traffic and pedestrian movement.

● Responding appropriately to the character of the village and ensuring the development enhances and improves the setting of the village. Within the village there is a rich mixture of materials and architectural styles, from the 12th century to the present day, with several listed buildings along the High Street. The new development complements the existing character without creating a direct imitation.

The design has been developed very carefully to ensure that it successfully respects the Council’s design guidance, the adopted Great Horwood Parish Neighbourhood Plan, the Great Horwood Conservation Area document and the associated design guides.

Overall, the scheme creates a sympathetic development with attractive street and landscaped frontages, enriching Great Horwood with a variety of dwellings that will be both sustainable, attractive and sympathetic to the local vernacular.


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