Wildlife rich green spaces must be at the heart of all new development for the benefit of the natural environment and people's health and wellbeing. This was the key message from Dr Helen Phillips, Chief Executive of Natural England, as 20 new Growth Points around the country are announced by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Dr Phillips outlined five green points against which all new developments should be measured. She said:
"“All new developments must pass a simple green test. Developers would never contemplate leaving out grey infrastructure, such as sewers and mains water from developments, so why should it be acceptable to leave out green infrastructure when it's proven to improve people's health and quality of life?"
Natural England wants to see networks of parks, open spaces and wild areas in all areas of significant growth and regeneration. To set developers on the right path, Natural England set out its 'Green Test' for all new developments.
All new developments should feature a green infrastructure which:
Dr Phillips, continued:
Since 2006, Natural England has supported partnerships to deliver 72 green infrastructure projects in growth areas, and provided direct funding to 10 site based projects and advised 33 partners on site preparation and management.
Upside down houses in Salford and light weight homes in Milton Keynes were just two of the winning designs recognised for providing high quality homes that will last, at this year's Housing Design Awards.
Now in its Diamond Jubilee, the awards demonstrate how strong designs can successfully reinvigorate and regenerate neighbourhoods and provide high quality homes to the highest environmental standards.
Judges viewed designs in relation to their surroundings, constraints of site, layout and landscaping, planning of roads and pathways, attention to safety, security and accessibility, design of garages and car parking, sustainability, workmanship, and external appearance and internal planning.
Winners were:
Overall Winner - Chimney Pot Park, Langworthy, Salford.
Four hundred two-up two-downs in the Salford Housing Market Renewal area were transformed when Urban Splash, began refurbishing 347 properties in a new version of back-to-back blocks. The brickwork facade has been retained, the layout switched so bedrooms are on the ground floor and living accommodation on the first floor, and the back alley transformed into first floor terraced gardens with parking beneath.
Large Housebuilder Winner . Oxley Woods, Milton Keynes.
This scheme of 78 homes brings together the country's largest housebuilder, Taylor Wimpey, and leading architectural firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, the firm of leading international architect Richard Rogers.
The development contains 30% affordable housing and is being constructed using light weight closed timber-frame panels that are built on site in the back of an articulated lorry. The development has a strong focus on waste and cost reduction.
Energy efficiency is helped with an 'ecohat' - a cowl on the roof with a solar heating panel and recovery system that recycles heat out of stale air.
Housing Corporation Winner - Rostron Brow, Stockport.
This scheme of eight shared ownership homes by Northern Counties Housing Association has rescued a key site in the heart of Stockport's Hillgate conservation area.
Architects TADW designed a development that converted a tobacco warehouse into four homes, with a new-build block sat over a string of retail units housing another four homes.
Winner - Adelaide Wharf, Hackney, London.
A large scheme of 147 flats - including social rent and key worker shared ownership - in a 'tenure blind' scheme developed by English Partnerships with Tower Homes.
Alford Hall Monaghan Morris designed homes that feature large rooms and 10sq m balconies, demonstrating that high density apartments can provide family homes. The flats were built by developer First Base to Lifetime Homes standards using modular construction.
Winner - Bourbon Lane, Shepherds Bush, London.
This RSL development designed by Cartwright Pickard provides 78 mixed tenure homes that provide secure family homes, all with private outside space.
Developers Octavia Housing and Care have created a scheme that has a combined heat and power source financed from savings arising from a fast module construction system.
