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 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 sweeping curves to nestle the terraces into the greenbelt setting.

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 a woodland area with 250 new native trees, designed by Emily Haysom, Landscape Architect. 

The decision to keep the central green car-free has defined the character of the place. The subtle placement of natural play features has given licence to the younger residents, to play out.  The central green feels like a live-in play park, alive with activity. Children leave their bicycles and toys out and treat the space as their own. Chairs and tables have been moved into the front gardens, whilst the bench seating in the green is often occupied by the older residents chatting, watching the flow of the younger ones in, out, and through each other’s homes. 

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.