A planning application to create more affordable homes in Letchworth Garden City has been jointly submitted to North Herts District Council by the Heritage Foundation and First Garden Cities Homes. The proposed development of 57 new homes could see one and two-bedroom apartments being built at a site on Icknield Way, where the former offices of the Foundation were located until 2019. The scheme, designed by architects Kyle Smart Associates, will include 15 homes for affordable rent, 26 for shared ownership and 16 for private sale.
David Ames, Executive Director of Stewardship and Development at the Foundation, said: “This is our first project to address local housing need in partnership with the newly formed First Garden Cities Homes. We have worked together to bring forward this brownfield site as a mixed housing development, which is one of several brownfield sites earmarked for new homes as part of our housing strategy.
“We are particularly pleased with the carefully considered design for this scheme. A great deal of time was given to getting the design elements right and working these through with the District Council, taking on board feedback from the community.”
The apartments are arranged in distinct three-storey blocks, each with its own entrance. The design is in keeping with the visual appearance of the neighbouring residential areas, in line with the design principles on which Letchworth Garden City was founded.
Features include:
- An open frontage onto Icknield Way
- Landscaped planting
- Buildings arranged around a series of formal landscaped areas
- An informal communal area for residents at the rear of the development, set against existing mature trees
If approved, building is expected to get underway in January 2021, with completion in 2022.
Further information on the proposal will be published on www.fgch.co.uk as it becomes available.
Notes:
- First Garden Cities Homes was created following the amalgamation of Howard Cottage Housing Association and Welwyn Garden City Housing Association on 1 March 2020. It is a not-for-profit organisation that uses its surplus income to maintain its 2,000+ properties in Hertfordshire and Central Bedfordshire, carry out major repairs programmes, deliver resident services and develop new homes for local people
- Pictures are artist’s impressions and are courtesy of Kyle Smart Associates.
