We are responsible for the masterplanning of a new neighbourhood of approximately 6,000 inhabitants at Newhall, Harlow in Essex. The first phase, which is nearing completion, was originally planned as 440 dwellings and a local centre. Phase 2 will form the remainder of the neighbourhood and include some 2,300 dwellings, a primary school and nursery, parkland and recreation, employment and a district centre to serve the everyday needs of this sustainable community.
Our masterplanning approach has been to maximise development potential both in terms of capacity and creating attractive and desirable locations. We aimed to create a true neighbourhood with a vibrant centre easily accessible by all inhabitants. We focussed on the way in which streets, square and parkland, along with land use and human activity, are combined to create a legible public realm. We sought to accentuate the uniqueness of the location by reflecting the underlying topography in the street pattern and orientation of buildings and by retaining some 42% of the land as green landscape. Thus not only providing potential for wildlife corridors but also helping to establish a ‘genius loci’ that makes the neighbourhood unique. Newhall has won numerous planning and architectural awards and is extensively cited in Government best practice advice.
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