Lower Farm, Holiday Cottages

The proposals were for the development of 25 chalets on a sustainable urban fringe location between Newbury and Thatcham in Berkshire.

The proposed development looked to create a sustainable form of development focused on analysing and responding to the surrounding natural context

The design looked to provide much needed high quality tourist accommodation; retain important landscape features and views; protect of existing footpaths; utilise existing ‘natural capital’ by orientating development towards the conservation lake; utilise innovative low carbon technologies; incorporate measures to enhance levels of biodiversity; and create an organic form of development that forms a welcome part of the landscape rather than an intrusive addition.

The organic form of development meant whilst each chalet followed a regular but loose arrangement in each cluster, the clusters had differing orientations and alignments to create a flowing development focused towards the conservation lake. The arrangement of buildings was complemented by a comprehensive scheme of landscaping to emphasis the separation between each cluster. The result being an unobtrusive, low density form of development that will provide a ‘feathered edge’ to the established urban environment to the north and west, where people come to relax and unwind in an attractive and natural environment with significant ecological value.

The chalets were heavily glazed to maximize levels of passive solar gain, including a partially covered outdoor raised decking area to enable visitors to easily and comfortably enjoy the natural surroundings. They featured a varied and innovative palette of materials including a wildflower roof.

Pro Vision managed the scheme through to a successful planning approval. The scheme is now complete.

Next Case Study

Hadlow – Residential development in the Metropolitan Green Belt

This scheme was a development of 101 houses and flats on a site in Hadlow, Kent.