Working with Metropolitan Thames Valley we transformed a former scrap yard into community focused housing, providing a mix of shared ownership and affordable rent accommodation.
The scheme provides 37 dwellings through a terrace of 7 three storey four bedroom town houses, a three storey block of 29 two and three bedroom apartments and signal two storey end of terrace house, formed around a shared social space.
The site and location presented a number of challenges, due to the proximity of the busy North Circular road, high levels of sound reduction were necessary on the building facades orientated that way. The design also had to consider the potential of flooding from the River Roding, which runs close to the site, ensuring we accounted for historic flood levels and safe emergency egress route provided to higher ground. The solution was to construct the terrace of town houses on a raised plinth and the block of flats were constructed over a parking area undercroft, raising inhabited areas above the flood risk level. Our design was also influenced by London Housing Design Guide, Lifetime Homes, BREAAM and Code of Practice for Sustainable Homes. This drove forward the maximising of environmental initiative and community focus.