A successful neighbourhood is about more than replacing buildings. It’s about creating homes that are warmer, healthier and better suited to the people who live there, while reshaping the wider environment to support a stronger sense of community for generations to come. These principles informed our proposals for two streets in Kingswood, where a housing estate is being transformed to create a better place.
We prepared detailed proposals to regenerate parts of Barrington Close and Fairford Close in Kingswood for Bromford Flagship LiveWest, securing unanimous planning approval from South Gloucestershire Council. The project will replace an ageing residential estate with 85 modern, affordable homes, creating a more sustainable neighbourhood while increasing both the quality and diversity of local housing.
The context
The existing development comprised 72 two-bedroom flats across 11 buildings that no longer met modern housing standards. The homes were energy inefficient, prone to damp and draughts, and increasingly expensive to heat, resulting in poor living conditions and high energy costs for residents.
The site’s steeply sloping topography presented significant design constraints, requiring a carefully considered layout that worked with the landscape and existing underground drainage, while maintaining accessibility and creating attractive streets and spaces. The regeneration also needed to improve safety, integrate parking and pedestrian routes, enhance wildlife habitat and provide a wider range of homes, all while responding to the needs and aspirations of the existing community.
Our approach
The approved proposals replace the existing flats with 85 affordable one to four bedroom houses and apartments designed to modern environmental standards. The layout responds to the site’s natural gradients, with many of the new homes adopting split-level designs that make effective use of the changing levels. Buildings are positioned to overlook streets, parking areas and green spaces, improving natural surveillance and creating a safer neighbourhood.
The proposals incorporate renewable energy technologies alongside high levels of energy efficiency to reduce running costs and help tackle fuel poverty. A more biodiverse landscape enhances habitats for wildlife, while most new homes now have their own private gardens and amenity spaces following feedback from residents during the consultation process.
Community engagement
The design evolved through an extensive engagement programme with existing residents and leaseholders. Feedback on emerging proposals helped shape the final masterplan, influencing the housing mix, landscape design and public spaces.
The outcome
The unanimously approved scheme will transform an outdated and inefficient housing estate into a high-quality, sustainable neighbourhood. By replacing ageing flats with affordable homes offering a broader mix of house types, the project will create a more resilient community for Kingswood.