Barrow Hall Road, Great Wakering

We were selected by Sanctuary Housing Association’s development arm Sanctuary Homes to design and construct 120 mixed tenure, one, two, three and four bedroom properties on the former Greenfield site in Great Wakering, Essex, England. The tenure split on this development includes 78 private sale, 10 shared ownership and 32 affordable rented properties.

The residential development has been designed by Chaplin Farrant Architects with Michael Dyson Associates acting as the Employer’s Agent. The development was designed with the local area in mind, properties include dark roofs with brick and occasional rendered walls, formal and informal landscaping provides a variety of differing ‘character’ areas, including formal squares and a boulevard along the primary highway. The design fully complies with Rochford DC Housing Design SPD Jan 2007 and The Essex Design Guide.

The development comprises of 111 new houses and 9 apartments, together with detached garages, external play areas and publicly accessible open space, along with a new pedestrian and cycleway linking Barrow Hall Road with Southend Road.

Ecology and sustainability were a key focus for Sanctuary Homes the development includes hedgerows, which are important for wildlife species, ‘ecological corridors’ formed from new planting within the site and beyond. Open swales, ponds, and basins form part of the sustainable drainage system while a large wet feature within the public open space will serve as an attenuation pond to encourage diverse wildlife.

Our Social Value Team have been working in collaboration with the South Essex Construction Training Academy over the past few months delivering training as part of our social value offering. We have delivered training to over 40 candidates, including CSCS course and other construction related training.

Sarah Brind, Sanctuary’s head of development – South, added: “We’re delighted to be working with Higgins to deliver these much-needed new homes and strengthen our commitment to boosting the local housing market. “The development will help address local housing needs, with a variety of homes available for affordable rent, shared ownership and outright sale.”