South Shropshire Housing Association are a key provider for affordable housing across south and mid-Shropshire, with whom we have a long standing working relationship. This relationship led to us being approached to ‘rescue’ a proposal for 10 affordable houses on a sloping site, whose original design was no longer fit for purpose. We worked closely with the development team to ensure the final designs met or exceeded all requirements, and achieved Code for Sustainable Homes level 3.

The site had a large fall from front to back, with a railway embankment to the rear, making levels the major concern for the project. By working with maximum Lifetime Homes gradients, the retaining walls to the rear were able to be reduced in size, in some cases omitted entirely, to provide more usable space.  Existing planning approvals required many of the original design features to be retained, therefore they were refined and the insides totally redesigned to accommodate the brief.  The designs incorporated materials and features prevalent in the local architecture, such as bay windows and catslide dormers. The redesign of the houses also allowed better advantage to be taken of passive solar designs.

etc Design Ltd were appointed as Architects and Code for Sustainable Homes Assessors, to take the Building Regulations designs back to concept stage, develop concept design options for alternatives, entering discussions with planning, developing designs in 2D & 3D, submitting a planning application, obtaining Building Regulations approvals based on site and plot technical designs, and forming part of the tender review panel.  Following this etc Design were novated to the Main Contractor to complete the full architectural package of working drawings, and as built-drawings.