Project
Cornwater Fields
Project Information
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Overview
DSA brought together the design team for a relatively small but high specification housing site in Ravenshead. Multifunctional blue green infrastructure tackles ecological and tree ‘constraints’ (which include the presence of reptiles on this former heathland) accommodates not just water quality improvement but the capacity for children to play and
explore.
DSA were commissioned to support an application for 57 homes and associated works following outline planning consent from Gedling Borough Council in 2014. DSA brought together the design team of like-minded professionals including planning, urban design and civil engineering consultants to deliver a planning consent in a truly ‘landscape-led’ fashion for a relatively small but high specification housing site in the village of Ravenshead. ‘Building for Life 12’ was used as the design tool to focus efforts on effective place-making.
A key design objective for the 2.2-hectare site was “to create a memorable place that is strongly connected to landscape with a carefully arranged network of streets, spaces and pathways”.
Matthew Lane, the client, expressed a desire to reflect some aspects of his family history in buildings, particularly of his great grandfather William Ben Froggatt who owned the local forge. His grandfather, Dennis, acquired land and built homes in Ravenshead, with his building work eventually spreading across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. The family feel a strong sense of duty to build in a responsible way, ensuring a continued positive reputation.
The core design principles included framing a long view across the site to Trumpers Wood, integrating water management in a creative and playable way and connecting the site to the surrounding active travel network with new pedestrian and cycle connections.
