Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire

Linmere

Bellway Homes

McBains has secured planning approval, on behalf of Bellway Homes (Northern Home Counties division), for parcel 1 and parcel 3 within Phase 1 of the Linmere development in Houghton Regis; a new, mixed use, sustainable urban extension comprising up to 5,100 dwellings, three new schools, a mixed-use neighbourhood centre, a health centre and multi-functional green infrastructure.

The approved designs, for a total of 307 dwellings, comprise a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, together with two-, three- and four-bedroom houses.

Services

Housing & Masterplanning

Sectors

Residential

A continuous frontage - with consistent height, set back and alignment - is provided along the Main Street across the two parcels. Buildings on both sides of the street have been sensitively designed to respond to the Design Code requirements whilst also working together in terms of massing and design approach. Focal buildings are located to address the forthcoming Local Centre and to define a Gateway at the main entrance of the Phase 1 development to the east. Variation of roof types and orientation combined with the use of secondary materials helped to create interest in the streetscape.

The Landmark building “the Beak” will act, alongside the approved 4-storey building in Parcel 2, as a Gateway composition. The whole area is designed from a multifocal point of view to address each vista and frontage of this very prominent location. Soft landscaping to complement the architectural elements includes a signature shade tree to create a focal distinctive place.

In consultation with Central Bedfordshire Council and the master developers, a contemporary approach has been applied to the whole site, with clean and simple lines as the distinctive feature for this new development. Red and blue bricks will be used as the primary materials. The brick treatment will also be varied, including banding and decorative patterns to add interest. Balconies will also be included on the apartment blocks to provide supplemental amenity space.