We were commissioned by Legal & General Modular Homes (LGMH) to support a planning application for a new residential neighbourhood on a site already identified as suitable for housing in the 2020 Wiltshire Local Plan.
Our client’s vision for the development is a sustainable community that’s a desirable place to live. It will also be a step-change in the model of residential project delivery in the UK.
Our challenge was to design an attractive, characterful neighbourhood using just three of Legal & General’s factory-produced modular house types. The layout needed to respond to the constraints of the site including topography, drainage and biodiversity. It also needed to reflect the character of Warminster while showing sympathy to neighbouring residents.
Our design solution carefully considers the site’s constraints whilst making the most of the benefits of off-site manufacturing.
The masterplan includes 84 modular homes across a mix of house types, ranging from two-bedroom starter homes to three-bedroom family houses and town houses. It also includes car parking and landscaping.
The town’s history has played a role in the arrangement of the buildings in the plan and the materials we selected. To help shape the plan and to create a sense of place for the new neighbourhood, we also looked to the guiding principles in the Warminster Conservation Area Assessment.
As a result, we designed the layout around a hierarchy of green spaces and streetscape areas. These bring character and help with navigation. Newly-created open spaces include a village green and a car-free mews with wildflower planting and fruit trees. These assist with drainage and wildlife while also contributing to seating and play opportunities for the area.
By using innovative modular construction, the scheme will deliver affordable, high quality, low carbon homes which will be built more quickly than via traditional methods.
All of LGMH offer Net Zero Regulated Carbon homes which will be 73% cheaper to run than a standard new build home. This will help to significantly reduce future residents’ energy bills.
Gas boilers will not be used within the development, while high levels of insulation, ASHPs and solar panels will reduce the proposed development’s carbon footprint.
The Bore Hill project is an example how modular housing can be successfully integrated into a site whilst also having local context-based quality and character. At Bore Hill, this is combined with a placemaking approach to deliver efficient homes within an attractive and distinctive neighbourhood.
The application is currently under consideration by the Council.