We were appointed by Bovis Homes to carry out a reserved matters application for 126 dwellings, ranging from cottages and bungalows to larger family houses; of which 40% are affordable.
The village of Minster Lovell falls within the West Oxfordshire District Council and is formed of two distinctive parts: Old Minster Lovell and Charterville. Old Minster Lovell was the original settlement site and is designated as a Conservation Area, with most houses dating from the 17th century or later and usually built of local limestone rubble in traditional vernacular style with many retaining thatched roofs.
Our design provides 76 market homes, comprising three-bedroom bungalows and three-, four- and five-bedroom houses, together with 50 affordable homes comprising one- and two-bedroom bungalows and two- and three-bedroom houses.
The masterplan evolved as a series of traditional perimeter blocks with homes facing outward across the street or public open spaces or backing onto existing and future developments. Within the site, dwellings are arranged to face the street network in the order of street hierarchy.
The main (Burford Road) frontage is arranged formally with dwellings located behind a green frontage. Bespoke bungalows aligned with Burford Road and set around a focal landscape feature define the entrance to the site. These dwellings are served by private drives. Those type of houses were also placed along the eastern edge, backing on to existing residential plots. Formal arrangement of dwellings in a configuration of terraced houses define the heart of the layout and the southern edge.
Using the local historical architectural style as reference, a simpler approach to detailing was proposed with the use of reconstructed stone facings on key frontages and traditional porches.
House type designs are based on traditional vernacular forms but benefit from clean lines and characterful architectural treatment with well-defined entrances and gable roof forms.
- Client:
- Bovis Homes
- Services Provided:
- Masterplanning & Urban Design
- Sector:
- Housing & Masterplanning
- Location:
- West Oxfordshire
- Period:
- 2018-2019
- Value:
- Confidential