Following Outline Planning consent Saunders Boston Architects (SBA) were appointed to take this 115 dwelling market lead project forward to completion. We have developed the scheme working closely with our client Lovell Partnership Homes (LPH) to meet both their private sale needs and those of their affordable housing partner, Orbit Group.
The site is at the edge of the village Beck Row, (nr. Mildenhall), Suffolk and was vacant. The proposed mixed tenure development is made up of a mix of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom house types, 2 bedroom bungalows and a small number of apartments. 30% of the overall number of dwellings are for affordable tenure.
Private dwellings are a combination of LPH’s Standard National House-types and a few bespoke units, designed by SBA. All Affordable units have been bespoke designed by SBA to Orbit’s brief.
At Lovell Partnership’s request, SBA undertook a significant exercise to establish if the project could be delivered with Modular units. 80% of LPH’s standard house-types lent themselves well to a modular solution (less than 5m wide for transportation purposes) but the remaining units would require significant re-design. Ultimately there were not sufficient cost savings to make this a financially viable option.
SBA has been involved in discussions with the Local Planning Authority and other consultants to create a proposal that responds to the housing need and context whilst integrating the scheme with the existing community. The local area will be enhanced as a result.
Reserved Matters consent was achieved at the first attempt in the summer of 2017. (SBA acted as Planning Consultant as well as Architect).
A Non Material Amendment has also been successfully made subsequently.
The project started on site in the autumn of 2017 and the phased development is due for completion in late 2020.