Our
Places

Built in the late 1950’s using ‘no-fines’ construction methods, the estate’s 257 homes are situated on the banks of the River Lune and set in a green, leafy river-side belt close to the town’s centre. Whilst having been refurbished in the 1990’s, the buildings, surrounding environment and community itself are all showing the stresses and impacts of time and economic decline.  

The challenges the estate presents are many, but so too are the opportunities. To meet the ambitious net zero targets, as many of the existing buildings as possible will need to be retained and innovatively remodelled. Varying in typology, these building are no longer fit for modern family living. Ranging from two-storey maisonettes to multi-story tower-blocks these once sought-after homes are now cold, damp, cramped and functionally redundant.

Similarly, the physical environment and green spaces that surround the buildings have declined and serve no useful purpose. 

Through imaginative design, innovative building engineering and renewable energy technology, our plans will transform these tired buildings into desirable, low-cost energy efficient, spacious homes filled with natural light fit for the modern family. We will also be delivering much needed local amenity, community infrastructure and a proposed additional 200 low carbon homes on the estate’s former school site lifting the estate’s total housing provision to more than 450 homes. 

In addition to the new and refurbished homes, our plans include a wholesale review and repurposing of the physical environment. Extensive landscaping will create private and community gardens, communal courtyards, green pedestrian routes, and playable streets to promote biodiversity, well-being, and a healthy, happy community. 

Constructed in the 1950’s, Shadsworth was modelled on cottage suburb principles and remains a pleasant housing environment, where affordable homes are in high demand. But the open spaces are poor, the community infrastructure is limited, and the declining physical environment compounds the sense of hardship that many residents face. 

Following an extensive, near year-long engagement and consultation programme, our plan reinstates a sense of pride across the estate. Hedgerows are being re-planted, broken verges mended, unloved and underperforming open space is being given a new role. Homes are being modernised and a new community centre is being created. This is occurring alongside the creation of a significant number of new, zero carbon, affordable homes. This comprehensive place shaping plan is being delivered alongside a suite of softer measures aimed at tackling worklessness, health inequalities and levels of educational attainment amongst the young.

Whitebirk is an estate that has perhaps suffered more than most in recent years. Pandemic and cost-of-living crisis aside, residents have suffered pockets of persistent subsidence across the estate affecting many of the much-loved homes in this tight, neighbourly community. Add to this the decline of local amenity and green spaces and issues such as limited parking provision, poorly-lit, unsafe walkways, and unkept boundaries all born largely of the estate’s original, well-intentioned but now inappropriate design principles, and the result is a place and community in desperate need of renewal and reinvigoration. 

Central to our plans for Whitebirk is the reinstatement and optimisation of the central park at the heart of the estate. Largely unused, in a state of significant disrepair and a focus for anti-social behaviour, the park will once again take centre stage. It will feature a reconfigured and multi-generational neighbourhood park.

There is opportunity for future development, replacing properties affected by severe structural problems. Extensive streetscaping will address issues of parking, unmanageable boundaries, poor lighting and unsafe pedestrian walkways. Green spaces will be reanimated to provide children’s play areas, communal gardens and improved biodiversity across the estate.

Situated among the rolling hills of West Yorkshire, Brighouse is at a critical juncture. Impacted by a toxic mix of macro-economic factors, misguided policy and the inevitable residualisation that brings, these once thriving estates home to buoyant communities are now characterised by a declining and aging population, low demand and pockets of severe deprivation. 

The estates all share the same urban heart - Brighouse Town Centre, which is planned to receive significant investment. Our plans aim to seize upon this timely opportunity to reconnect the estates with a renewed, economically active town centre and attract a wider socioeconomic demographic to create more vibrant neighbourhoods and mixed income communities. Fundamental to this is creating attractive and welcoming estates and broadening the mix of property types across the estates which all currently have a disproportionate concentration of 1-bed homes. New, 2, 3, & 4 bedroom, zero carbon, affordable homes will be built along with the proposed remodelling and refurbishment of existing properties. All the estates will receive a variety place making interventions ranging from streetscape and public realm improvements, new community green spaces and play areas, renewed community infrastructure and additional amenity.

Built in 1892 by the GWR General Medical Society, Health Hydro is a Grade II* listed building recognised as the blueprint for the National Health Service. This locally, and nationally significant building houses the longest-surviving Turkish baths in the country and two Victorian swimming pools along a dispensary, doctor and dental surgeries and a host of well-being clinics. However, this magnificent, and culturally significant building is now underused and has fallen into a state of disrepair.

Our immediate priority was to produce the business case to secure £5m of Swindon’s Town Deal. With approval secured in May 2022, the design development has progressed at pace to meet the challenging funder-driven timetable. We are providing a full-service design team to develop a masterplan for the building and the Phase One design proposals. 

Subsequently, we have worked closely with the council to:

• develop and implement the procurement strategy
• thoroughly survey the building to reduce design and cost risk
• engage with the community and key stakeholders to inform and progress the design
• collaborated with Better leisure to develop a robust business plan and future phases funding strategy to secure the buildings long term sustainability