Project Overview
ONE’s architects and landscape architects designed a highly attractive new residential development of 132 dwellings in Brierley Hill, West Midlands which maximises communal green, open spaces.
This is a site with many challenges, however, ONE has provided many options to overcome these: the site is heavily constrained with the River Stour running through it, parts of the site are in Flood Zones 2 and 3, there are several mineshafts on the site as well as ecological considerations due to parts of it being a Site of Local Importance to Nature Conservation (SLINC) and Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). There are substantial differences in levels across the site and earthworks have been additional considerations but all potential issues have been overcome to find the best possible solutions.
The house types are traditional with a twist, as they follow traditional principles, however, incorporate a contemporary look and feel. Visual interest is provided with projecting brickwork details for striking features and gable fronted house types creating attractive street scenes and a sense of place. A mix of brick colours has been incorporated – reds, blues and buff, to reflect those made locally historically and are used within the region. The site’s name, ‘Brickworks’, and the house types being named after local brickmakers provides further nods to important historical references.
Whilst Biodiversity Net Gain is not yet mandatory, the design team still worked towards a 10% improvement in the condition and distinctiveness of the habitats within the site. Working closely with the ecologists the biodiversity net gain for the site was maximised with the creation of new recreational open spaces, the retention of existing areas of trees and scrub, and the removal of invasive species. This was further enhanced with planting and over-seeding retained open spaces to further improve biodiversity across the site. Selection of trees and planting across the site has been guided by this principle, as has the design and planting of a wildlife pond and attenuation pond.
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We are delighted with the final architectural and landscape designs provided by ONE that meets our brief of creating a landscape and ecological led development. The scheme will result in the regeneration of a constrained brownfield site, providing quality new homes for the build to rent market.
Nick Burton, Managing Director / Ruskin Properties
