More's Meadow Almshouses
Five years into the planning, Great Shelford’s £4.4M almshouse development is now complete and has welcomed its first residents. The 21 new homes, a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units, are grouped in three curved terraces surrounding a central green. Equipped with air source heat pumps, mechanically ventilated heat recovery systems, triple glazing and high levels of insulation, the homes are designed to minimise energy consumption and keep residents’ running costs low.
2022 Almshouse Association Inspirational Housing Awards
2023 Eastern Echo Award for Best Residential Development
The site comprises two vacant fields and an area of allotments on the edge of the village of Great Shelford, which lies within the greenbelt south of Cambridge. Working with the Charity and Parish Council, and through many public consultations, HWM were able to assist the Charity in gaining strong local support for the principle of developing 21 new almshouses on a portion of the land.
Through this community engagement and consultation process we were able to establish the need for housing, the appropriateness of this site above other potential locations, and support for the design concept which proposed three wings of terraced houses beneath undulating green roofs, arranged in three sweeping curves around a car free central courtyard.
The architecture was integral to the overall landscape design for the wider site, which included relocated allotments, a wildflower meadow, an orchard, community garden, hedgerows and wooded spaces, designed by Emily Haysom, Landscape Architect. The homes have very low energy use and include air source heat pumps, mechanically ventilated heat recovery, triple glazing, and high levels of insulation and airtightness. Analysis has shown that the homes will perform equivalent to Passivhaus standards.
Photos by Richard Fraser