A new retirement village in a landscaped setting

Park Rise is the regeneration of an existing sheltered housing estate in Hornchurch which was no longer fit for purpose. The project is part of a larger 12-estate regeneration programme being delivered by a joint venture between London Borough of Havering Council and Wates Residential.

JTP’s proposals create a sustainable new retirement community on the edge of a Green Flag country park, which benefits from lakes, reservoirs and other natural features. The 178 new dwellings for over-55s include council rented homes, shared ownership homes and properties for sale. Focussed around five new buildings and a central landscaped courtyard, a campus-style layout draws in the character of Harrow Lodge Park to deliver new homes set within the landscape.

Buildings increase in height, from a sensitive low-rise edge adjacent to the existing dwellings, to taller buildings to the west with excellent views to Harrow Lodge Park, creating a frontage to Sunrise Avenue.

A range of communal facilities are provided including a flexible and adaptable community room available for groups and classes, a treatment room for a visiting medical practitioner and a guest room available for hire. A large external hard landscaped area is also provided to allow the communal spaces to open out into the landscape. A central landscaped space shared by all is included in the design with good sunlight access and a creative range of spaces made unique by the level changes across the site.

Generous space standards are provided across all dwellings to enable them to become wheelchair adaptable in the future if required and assist residents with limited mobility.

The architectural approach draws on the sunrise theme with tonal brick colours subtly changing across the façades, and bursts of red and orange cladding to frame the communal entrances.