Green Light for Next Phase of Newhall

Published on 25 September 2013

Unanimous approval was granted by Harlow Council's planning committee for a detailed Reserved Matters application covering the next phase of the award winning development Newhall.

The design for 328 homes - prepared on behalf of Linden Homes by John Thompson & Partners (JTP) - reflects the established Newhall character of rich variety and distinct character areas with a consistently contemporary design ethos.

Newhall is a significant urban extension to the town of Harlow in Essex. Harlow as a settlement was founded on Frank Gibberd's pioneering principles of distinct neighbourhoods set in a framework of landscape and local centres, promoting community identity. Newhall is seen as the latest of these neighbourhoods.

The development, including the most recent phase ‘Be' - also constructed by Linden Homes - has received multiple awards in recognition of its innovative, high-quality and contemporary design approach and realisation. Newhall will eventually include some 2,300 homes, alongside employment, education and other mixed-uses.

The first parcel of Phase 2 is to date the largest at Newhall, and directly adjoins the site for the first primary school, alongside a Local Centre that will feature healthcare, community and nursery facilities. The mix of housing has been carefully designed to complement the higher density accommodation already built at Newhall, providing a range of family dwellings in generously sized plots - as well as 2- and 3-bed homes on more compact plots featuring innovative solutions to the provision of amenity space.

A large extent of the site boundary meets the dense, mature trees of Barnsley Wood. These existing natural qualities, along with notable southward slopes, have strongly informed the design - influencing a less urban character of development in this area, which is in contrast to much of Newhall - as built to date. Landscape is integral to the masterplan, with green swathes and SUDS features running from a central ‘village green' at the heart of this phase of the development.

The result is a layout that makes highly efficient use of the land through configuration and design of bespoke housetypes and the sophisticated integration of public and private amenity space, ensuring the basis of a sustainable, family-friendly residential environment.

JTP worked in close collaboration with Newhall Projects, Studio REAL, the Local Authority and Linden's construction team throughout the design process. Construction of Phase 2 aims to commence later this year.

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