Designing affordable homes with East Midlands Homes

PDP_Affordable Homes

Planning & Design Practice Ltd are delighted to be working with East Midlands Homes in designing 33 affordable homes in Old Coppice Side, Heanor, Derbyshire.

We obtained planning permission earlier in the summer for 33 one, two and three bedroom homes on land outside the Green Belt next to Shipley Country Park. You can read more about that as this link.

Siegfried Doering, a senior member of our Architectural team is now working with East Midlands Homes to provide detailed designs and specifications for the new homes which will be available to rent by local people in housing need.

This 100% affordable housing scheme will provide much needed housing in a sustainable location next to the park. The houses will be built to a high standard with gardens, parking for cars and private amenity space.

The site is within a short walking distance of Coppice Primary School and there are local shops on Roper Avenue. The site has good access to public transport and with its proximity to the county park future residents will benefit from the wide range out outdoor activities and amenities right on their doorstep.

The homes will be built over the next two years and will help to meet the shortfall in affordable housing in Amber Valley.

We work with developers of all sizes, from small companies working on one property at a time to large housebuilders and commercial organisations where multi-million pound schemes are the norm.

We believe in good architecture. Our approachable and experienced team comprises architects, architectural assistants, designers and technicians. We offer a comprehensive design service through all the RIBA work stages from concept through to completion.

Our core planning and architectural expertise is supported by specialists in Heritage and Urban Design. We always think innovatively, and a collaborative approach is at the heart of what we do.

For more information, or to discuss how we could help with a specific project or property please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Planning permission achieved for 33 homes in Heanor

PDP_New Homes at Heanor

Working with East Midlands Homes and Grevayne Properties, Planning & Design Practice Ltd has secured planning permission for 33 affordable homes on land on the boundary with Shipley Country Park, in Heanor, Derbyshire.

Old Coppice Side lies to the southwest of Heanor and the road benefits from pedestrian access into Shipley Country Park. The site itself extends behind roadside houses and will provide a mix of one, two and three-bedroom homes together with parking and landscaping.

The site proved challenging but in the end planning permission was forthcoming. We are pleased to have partnered both East Midlands Homes and Grevayne Properties and special mention should go to Andy Dudden from Grevayne whose dogged determination helped to push the approval through after long delays over viability and the S106 Agreement.

Developing brownfield sites is never easy but this site is very well located to provide a good residential environment with many facilities and amenities nearby. Whilst this is a 100% affordable housing scheme for rent, we still had to prove that the abnormal costs associated with the development of this site added to building costs to the extent that S106 off-site payments would not be required. The fact that the development was using public money did not prevent the council for asking for money towards schools, open space, and health services. One of the anomalies of the current system is that I can convert existing buildings into market housing under permitted development and not have to pay S106 costs. A clear overall of the system is required to exempt affordable housing from S106 payments. Lets see what the new white paper on planning does!

We work with developers of all sizes, from small companies working on one property at a time to large housebuilders and commercial organisations where multi-million pound schemes are the norm.

Our core planning and architectural expertise is supported by specialists in Heritage and Urban Design. We always think innovatively, and a collaborative approach is at the heart of what we do.

For more information, or to discuss how we could help with a specific project or property please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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