Repurposing of an underused garage site to provide a new social housing scheme comprising eight two-storey, terraced homes.
The three-bedroom dwellings will be arranged in two rows of terraced houses, with a landscaped central area that creates a link to allotment gardens located to the rear of the site.
The scheme will be constructed using modern methods of construction targeting PassivHaus standards and net zero carbon in use.
Forming part of Harlow Council’s land and garages redevelopment programme, which focuses on the regeneration of redundant garages, brownfield land and open development sites, the Arkwrights Terraces scheme will deliver much-needed social housing, whilst also improving the street scene and creating opportunities for social interaction which are consistent with Harlow’s place-making and amenity area policies.
Our designs for Arkwrights Terraces were informed by the local and national sustainability agenda, with the objective of providing a new social housing scheme with low operational costs that will benefit residents directly from the offset. The team gave careful consideration to the buildings’ volume, orientation and access to natural light and ventilation.
The proposals have been developed following Passivhaus principles to deliver a project with very low space heating and primary energy demands, optimum thermal comfort and air quality levels, high degrees of airtightness, and renewable energy production to offset energy demands.
The c. 2,000 square metre site is largely surrounded by residential housing with good links to Harlow’s town centre and various amenities. There are several public green spaces surrounding the site, including allotments, community gardens, a play area and sports ground.
The eight terraced houses are arranged over two storeys with an open plan living arrangement on the ground floor level and the bedrooms on the upper level. Rear gardens are accessible via double doors from the kitchen area. One of the units is fully accessible including the provision of a domestic lift.
- Client:
- Harlow Council
- Services Provided:
- Architecture
Building Services Engineering
Civil & Structural Engineering
Project Management
Quantity Surveying
Sustainability & ESG - Sector:
- Social Housing
- Location:
- Harlow, Essex
- Period:
- 2021-Ongoing