Horizons, Allerton Bywater
This award winning development of 151 2, 3 and 4 bedroom units was one of the Millennium competition sites promoted by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). Our Yorkshire West division worked closely with the HCA and the Local Community to design a scheme which complied with the stringent Millennium competition standards raising the bar for contemporary designed housing.
The impact of the development on the environment has been carefully monitored throughout the construction process to ensure strict standards are adhered to. The scheme has also been designed to meet Lifetime Homes standards and Secure By Design standards thus improving the overall security of the neighbourhood as well as the individual security of the properties. This includes careful design of properties to ensure open areas are supervised and overlooked, external lighting and provision of lockable gates and secure fences throughout. The homes are also built to Eco Excellent standards, which ensure that the properties have low energy requirements and are amongst the most economical properties to heat and light.
The design concept for the overall layout of the development is built around Home Zones which ensure that traffic speeds are reduced to 10 mph and that pedestrians take priority in all areas. The concept of play streets and giving the community ownership of the open areas within the site have lead to a real sense of community being created within the development. The process of ‘wall to wall adoption’ has been pioneered with Leeds City Council on this development giving the overall feel of the environment as being unique and a very special place to live. Careful design of landscaping within the streets and community areas enhance the quality feel that this site delivers.
This former colliery site is a first class example of how, by working with the key stakeholders from the outset of design and continually developing and improving the design an environment and vibrant community can be created.