The Green, Throop

Development of a 5.7 hectare (14.1 acre) site for largely family housing in the conservation village of Throop for Taylor Woodrow

Outline planning consent for 47 houses was granted prior to the emergence of PPG3 by the local planning authority who extended the Conservation Area boundary to give some additional control to the quality of development.  The project included the design of four house plan types, one type for each of the 3, 4, 5 and 6 bedroom house sizes which were used throughout.  Each type has been designed with a wide variety of elevational treatments using a limited palette of materials.  Storey and eaves heights, rooflines, window types and sizes and detailing have all been varied to reflect the traditional appearance of Throop village.

The housing is designed around a simple pattern of roads and footpaths encouraging permeability through the site and enabling dwellings to front proposed and existing roads. There is a high proportion of public open space of varying rural character within the site including the Green at the heart of the new housing.

Established Greens of similar organic character in neighbouring Conservation Villages such as Holdenhurst East and Wick were a cue for the design and detailing of that at Throop.

This project was the embryo for a new range of house plans we designed for Taylor Woodrow to be capable of being elevated to reflect different regional vernacular contexts, anticipating the aspirations and requirements of the emerging Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 (PPG3).

The project was shortlisted for The Housing Design Awards in 1998.