Padnall Lake

The architecture at Padnall Lake is shaped by context, efficiency and clarity. Homes range from three-bedroom townhouses to one-, two- and three-bedroom flats. Townhouses are arranged with parapet roofs for a reduced carbon footprint and easier installation of photovoltaic panels, while apartments are designed with dual-aspect layouts and active frontages. Material choices were rationalised to simplify construction, reduce maintenance and improve longevity, with brick replacing more vulnerable finishes. Block 1 includes a corner community space and overlooks the newly enhanced lake. A bespoke energy centre, replacing a consented residential block, now sits at the gateway into the park. Its playful facade, brick chimney and climbing walls create a recognisable marker that celebrates the sustainability of the homes it powers.

HTA’s masterplan for Padnall Lake provides a framework for 300 new homes across two phases, designed to stitch new development into its surroundings. The site layout responds to topography, views and existing access routes, with homes and blocks arranged to define streets and maximise outlook across the park. The repositioned energy centre acts as a central anchor and gateway marker, creating a new civic moment where residents arrive from the A12 underpass. Each typology and block is considered within a coherent spatial strategy that supports legibility, walkability and a clear sense of place.

The landscape strategy for Padnall Lake transforms a fragmented site into a continuous linear park that strengthens pedestrian connections and provides moments of play, nature and rest. Improvements to the lake and careful retention of key trees enhance biodiversity and offer spaces for community gatherings. The central park integrates new planting, defensible space, and playful features like climbing holds and informal seating that invite interaction with the adjacent energy centre. Access to the A12 underpass is improved, with new landscaping enhancing the arrival experience and reinforcing a sense of place. Planting choices respond to community input and the need for resilience, including climbing species and roses along key frontages.

Sustainability is embedded throughout the scheme’s architecture, layout and energy strategy. Relocating the energy centre to the middle of the site shortens pipe runs, reduces energy loss and improves maintenance access. This move also enabled a more generous and active public realm. Housing typologies have been redesigned to minimise embodied carbon, parapet roofs support more efficient PV arrays, while internal layouts reduce material waste and improve thermal performance. Natural ventilation strategies, dual-aspect flats and high-performance materials support low operational energy use. These measures help maintain affordability without compromising quality.

Engagement was central to shaping Padnall Lake, informing key decisions around materiality, landscape and public space. Early discussions with planning officers, the GLA and local stakeholders helped evolve the energy centre design to balance its functional needs with playful features that reflect community identity. Public input also influenced planting choices and frontage treatments. Through pre-application discussions and consultation sessions, the team ensured the proposals remained grounded in local context and aspirations, helping to secure planning support and community buy-in.