The proposed layout of the site has been designed with place-making at its core, with a view to promoting a sense of community between existing and new residents of the village, as well as encouraging a sense of belonging through a safe, social and friendly shared environment.

One of the key aspirations for the design is to maximise the existing natural surrounding landscape, therefore, it is proposed that the central green heart of the scheme brings in some of the site’s heritage and includes a shared planting area for residents. The plan also adapts sensitively to the orientation of the sun, with south-east facing private gardens and ensures framed vistas to the surrounding rural setting

With the site being located within designated greenbelt, it posed a challenge to demonstrate to the Local Authority that the new scheme will not be of any substantial harm to the character and openness of the village.

To achieve this, the scheme presents itself as a series of agricultural out-building like structures, which reference some of the built fabric and landscape of the surrounding farms and small holdings dotted around the village.

Each individual house-type responds to the rural massing concept, taking on simple clean gable forms that emulate the scale and proportions of traditional farm structures. The use of detached garages helps add to this rural feel and stepping in scale.

The design of the houses is authentic to the traditional building forms of the area, reflecting a distinct and contemporary expression of local identity rather than a suburban townhouse pastiche. Instead, the elevations take influence from studies into traditional barn fenestration, which have informed the minimal yet playful aesthetic.