Leicester City Council grants planning permission for a new social housing development in Rushey Mead to alleviate pressures on the city’s social housing system
The Lanesborough Road social housing scheme will feature a total of 37 dwellings with a range of two – to four-bedroom family homes and one – to two-bedroom apartments. A further 24 properties are planned for a second phase of the development.
Leicester City Council is experiencing a near 6,000-person waiting list for social housing
The new social housing development is set to regenerate a 1.4 hectare area of the city suburb in keeping with the council’s Core Strategic Policy.
The designs, by CPMG Architects, have been drawn up with the city’s sustainability goals in mind to help the development significantly exceed the requirements of standard building regulations by more than 80%.
Fabric first approach optimises the thermal performance of the building envelope
The homes will feature:
- Air source heat pumps
- Solar panels
- Fabric first approach
They will also be provided with an electric vehicle charging point adjacent to their driveway or apartment parking space, and all gardens will contain a timber shed to allow for secure, covered storage for bicycles.
They have been designed to combine robustness and maintainability with a soft and pleasing contemporary aesthetic to create a desirable appearance to the development. A materials palette comprising natural materials have been selected to reflect and enhance the green setting beside Melton Brook, along with the choice of pale brickwork and contrasting timber finishes to provide a more organic feel.
The homes are designed for enhanced accessibility, with one bungalow featuring a design specifically tailored for residents who are wheelchair users.
All properties will have private front and rear gardens and numerous public open spaces have been incorporated throughout the designs of the development.
Real need for new social housing in the city of Leicester
Steve Milan, associate at CPMG Architects, said: “We’re delighted that this first phase of the Lanesborough Road scheme has been given planning permission. There is a real need for new social housing in the city of Leicester and its surrounding suburbs, so we’re particularly pleased to be able to not just deliver much needed homes, but also make use of land that has essentially been edgeland for several years.
“Making sure all dwellings are sustainable in design and operation, the fabric first approach optimises the thermal performance of the building envelope, making best use of natural daylighting and passive solar gain, whilst also avoiding overheating. These highly insulated and airtight homes with their low energy-use fittings will significantly reduce theenergy cost for residents.
“We’ve enjoyed working closely with Arcadis and Leicester City Council to develop a design that will delivers attractive, energy-efficient social housing for the people of the city, and we look forward to taking the project forward to successful completion.”
