Knowle Park, Cranleigh, UK

Project type:	New Neighbourhood
Client:	A2Dominion
Stage:	Outline Planning Consent

A landscape-led neighbourhood forming a new edge to the countryside

Covering a total of 38 hectares and located to the south-west of Cranleigh in Surrey, Knowle Park will deliver a unique place that is part of the rural landscape and provides 265 new homes.

The buildings are designed to respond sensitively to their surroundings, forming a new edge to the village. The homes will reflect the rich local character, with contemporary interpretation of architectural forms and features evident in Cranleigh including barns, bays and balconies. The result is a high-quality neighbourhood which sits appropriately within its surroundings and provides an opportunity to create a new rural community, while reinforcing a distinct sense of Cranleigh.

A linear park forms the main open space, and meanders through the new neighbourhood, providing a landscaped corridor connecting the site to a country park along the eastern edge via footpaths and cycle routes. The homes will face onto the park to reinforce the connection to the countryside and provide framed views across the landscape.

“

We have welcomed the engagement of local residents and stakeholders in the design process and are naturally delighted to achieve approval for the first phase of this landscape-led new neighbourhood.

Ian Fenn, Partner at JTP

Project Delivery

– 265 homes in a variety of house types, sizes and tenures including affordable homes across the neighbourhood to support a socially sustainable community and aspirations of people at different stages of their lives.

– The houses are contemporary in design and harmonise with the rural architectural character and material palette of Cranleigh, taking full advantage of the views with lots of glazing to create an indoor-outdoor connection.

– Key features which typify Cranleigh’s vernacular, including traditional roof pitches and proportions, gables fronting primary aspects and multiple facing materials.

– A rural edge along the south of the site responds to the nature of the existing countryside and embeds the neighbourhood within, comprising lower density buildings and a softer palette of materials.

– Material palette is based on the local vernacular for Cranleigh, consisting primarily of red bricks, clay tiles and black boarding to add greater variety to the street scene and create focal points.

– A balanced community that promotes healthy, outdoor living for all, with a variety of places and spaces for social interaction or quiet contemplation.