English Partnerships competition winning entry to deliver a high density mixed use development in Central Milton Keynes.
A mixed use, predominantly residential, scheme creating a sustainable and inclusive residential community to progress the development of the Sustainable Residential Quarter in Central Milton Keynes, working within the CMK Masterplan and Design Codes. The scale and density of the scheme reflects the site’s high level of accessibility and central location and is founded upon strong principles of high quality urban design and architecture to provide an exemplar development, a New Garden City.
The scheme provides 650 new homes, including 195 affordable units for Shared Ownership and Affordable Rent in a variety of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom unit types, as well as large 3 and 4 bedroom family homes set in a vibrant series of spaces and building forms. Commercial and community accommodation is provided in the perimeter blocks and the landscape masterplan creates a hierarchy of high quality public and people-friendly streets as well as private spaces including habitable roofscape and central courtyard oasis.
HTA are working together with Alison Brooks Architects and Rick Mather Architects who are creating an urban boulevard and landmark corner to the site. HTA’s contemporary blocks include Blocks 5 to the southeast corner of the site and Block 7 provide a distinctively articulated facade to East Square. Block 7 steps down the site with a pattern of balconies and rooftop ‘houses in the air’. A break in the block provides a visual and ecological link as well as resident access to the private courtyard. The 3 and 4 storey townhouses of HTA’s Block 5 creates a more private and lower scale square of contemporary larger family homes, with a variety of projecting boxes and bays, all with roof terraces and private gardens.
An exciting and aspirational sustainability brief, and EU CONCERTO programme requirements, ensure cutting edge technologies are adopted and the development has high energy efficiencies and carbon reduction principles providing an innovative and cutting edge development setting a benchmark for other schemes in Milton Keynes. Technologies include community heating and power through CHP and domestic heat recovery systems, solar harvesting with PVs providing renewable energy on site, and ground source heat pumps for retail units. Set to achieve a BREEAM and Ecohomes ‘excellent’ rating, NHER 10, future proof levels of construction insulation and triple glazing, and airtightness levels 3 times better then the UK average. Environmentally friendly construction materials, heavy weight construction to moderate internal temperatures, waste minimisation and recycling, and a high percentage of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) all contribute to achieving a sustainable residential development that delivers long term sustainable lifestyles.
Location:
Central Milton Keynes
Client:
Places for People
Accommodation:
650 new homes
Tenure:
195 affordable homes and 455 private homes for sale
Associate Architects:
Alison Brooks Architects and Rick Mather Architects
Other Uses:
Commercial, Retail and Community
Completion Date:
2010
