New community rooted with landscape at its heart secures planning approval
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New community rooted with landscape at its heart secures planning approval

Published on 12 April 2023

JTP is delighted that on behalf of our client, Dandara, our project at Shenley Wood, Milton Keynes has secured a resolution to grant planning permission for a new community of up to 322 new homes, 31% affordable, including 144 Build-to-Rent homes and extensive open space.

Located in the Shenley Church End district of Milton Keynes, the landscape-led neighbourhood will feature a range of homes from one bedroom apartments to more spacious three bedroom dwellings. Clusters of dwellings will be arranged across four key groupings that address the differing edge conditions around the site. The layout of the apartment buildings has been developed to achieve 100% dual-aspect homes, maximising the outlook onto existing hedgerows and associated green space. This design approach has provided homes with generous window openings, as well as private external amenity space through balconies.

The remnants of an historic field boundary will be retained as part of the proposals and will form the foundation for a north-south green corridor, creating an immediate landscape setting for the public open space strategy. This corridor will be connected with newly landscaped areas including a naturalised linear park which provides informal recreation opportunities, as well as habitat creation and SUDS features. Retained vegetation will be enhanced by new native tree and shrub planting that will extend the green links through the site, providing nesting and foraging opportunities for wildlife.

A new area of public realm will be established, positioned to connect the new neighbourhood with the existing Milton Keynes redway system and footbridge adjacent to Fulmer Street. An area for rental scooters and bicycles will be incorporated providing a hub for residents to access these sustainable transport options.

The architecture draws inspiration from the neighbouring Shenley Church End Conservation Area through considered analysis of built form, materials and detailing including varied roofscapes, brick and timber paneling in varied patterns and layouts to create interest and detail to homes. The proposals were further enriched by the charm and simplicity of a 1980s Scandinavian designed family home a short distance from the site. Staggered frontages vary the building lines to bring interest and variety to the streetscape by pushing key buildings towards the street to create gateways and inform changes in character.

JTP is now appointed to produce the Reserved Matters Application for Phase 2 of the project and the team are also appointed as Design Guardians to review the construction drawings for Phase 1 to ensure the retention of quality.

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Our landscape-led approach at Shenley Wood has focused on retaining and enhancing the existing natural features and creating an architectural response distinctive to the local area. We are very proud of our collaborative team effort with Dandara to secure planning approval and we look forward to bringing the design forward in the near future.
Rebecca Taylor, Partner at JTP