HOUSING

Glebe Road, Stratford

Our Birmingham architects were appointed to redevelop an existing site of 38 Unity Houses built in 1947, set within an existing residential estate on the edge of Stratford Upon Avon.  Structural surveys and cost exercises established that due to corrosion within the precast concrete frames of the houses, refurbishment of the properties was no longer financially viable.

The existing wide frontage semis enjoyed large rear gardens and generous space provision within the properties. With a view to the existing residents returning to the redeveloped site on completion, Orbit and the design team worked with residents to accommodate their requirements for internal house arrangements, that matched or exceeded where practical their existing homes, together with garden areas. Various options have been created by reviewing residents' wish lists against the commercial requirements of the client, and to reflect current planning directives in terms of land use and development densities.

The £6.85m redevelopment of the site will see the demolition of the unity houses to be replaced with 57 new homes, comprising two, three and four bedroom accommodation, which includes bungalows with carports and creates a much wider choice of accommodation within the area to meet the needs of both returning and new residents. The chosen proposal mixes the desires of the residents, and ensures all 57 new dwellings are designed to Lifetime Homes Standards and Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4.

Working with the residents in order to accommodate their requirements for their return upon completion of the project options have been created reviewing wish lists against the commercial requirement of the client to reflect current planning directives. The chosen proposal mixes the desires of the residents by ensuring all dwellings are to lifetime homes standards and the development requirements of the client with a mixture of housing types including bungalows. calfordseaden will take a leading role in the planning process and residential involvement required to achieve this.

The proposals were submitted for planning approval early in 2010 with an anticipated start on site in November 2010.

Client: Orbit Group Ltd

Contract Period:

Value: £8m

Services: Architect