Strategic land promoter and NaCSBA member Lansdown has submitted an outline planning application for 31 homes on its 6.7ha site on Cross Lane in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, including 19 serviced plots for self builders.
These serviced plots include a range of sizes to appeal to a variety of custom and self build budgets, with 12 conventional shared ownership homes completing the site.
Lansdown’s ambition is to create a pioneering development of custom and self-build homes built to the highest standards of design, sustainability and energy efficiency while creating a beautiful and enjoyable place to live that enhances the site and surrounding area.
Design Code
The outline planning application is supported by a detailed Design Code produced in collaboration with ImaginePlaces. This sets the framework and ‘rules’ which the design of all homes at the site will need to follow.
The Design Code aims to deliver exceptional design quality while at the same time allowing flexibility of design and specification for individuals to design and build their own bespoke home.
The document explores farmstead typologies, more utilitarian agricultural building characteristics and 21st century pioneering low carbon design, construction and living for a domestic context.
All homes are proposed to be designed and constructed to Certified Passivhaus Standard and landscape proposals will target Building with Nature accreditation. The scheme incorporates generous areas of new public open space including a community orchard and open green space with an incidental ‘play on the way’ area.
A new network of footpaths and bridleways is also proposed providing a choice of routes across the site and connecting the development into the surrounding area.
Affordable provision
Pre-application discussions with St Albans District Council directed Lansdown away from their proposed discount market model for affordable self build homes to conventional affordable housing delivery.
The application follows extensive community and stakeholder engagement which has directly informed and shaped the proposals. This included a full day public engagement Design Day early in the design process led by Angela Koch of ImaginePlaces and her team.
Between 1 April 2016 and 30 October 2021 there have been a total of 658 registrations on St Albans District Council’s register. During that time the Council has granted just 92 custom and self build permissions, all of which have been replacement dwellings rather than through the delivery of serviced self build plots.
The planning application can be viewed on St Albans District Council’s website using reference 5/2023/0317
