The project brief included challenges that related to protected trees, as well as the relationship to other adjacent or nearby outline planning consents - for much larger residential developments. Root protection zones for retained trees sterilised the development potential of the entire plot, however by retaining and incorporating these into the layout they helped ensure that the tree-lined character of Goffs Lane was preserved for future generations and the landscape surrounding the new homes would feel mature and established from the beginning.

A good relationship had developed between the client, consultant team and Broxbourne District Council during the promotion and subsequent outline consent for the adjacent, much larger site. This provided a confident and positive dialogue early in the design process at the Wheelwrights, ensuring that the masterplan scheme integrated satisfactorily with the adjacent Tina Nursery consent and the wider Hertfordshire suburban context. It also supported Broxbourne Council’s vision of placing great importance on the character of the community created and delivery of sustainable development.

The design establishes a keen sense of place, using streetscape and buildings to create an attractive and comfortably familiar place within which to live. Plus optimising the potential of a redundant site by including a sustainable mix of contemporary brick houses that allow generous natural lighting in through large windows, with crisp feature brick detailing and ensure usable green amenity space is included.

The design was conceived at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, which placed new and significantly different requirements on the accommodation within family housing. The garages in the scheme were designed with the option of accommodating or converting to a home office. Each house was designed with a fabric first approach in mind, solar aspect orientation, the inclusion of air-source heat pump technology and on-plot charging for electric vehicles – making a positive effort to reduce energy costs for future residents.