Design for the future

Countryside Properties is an industry leader in design quality and place making, and holds more CABE Building for Life Standards than any other private developer. We recognise that high quality design is critically important in achieving sustainable development. Moreover, investment in good design can generate economic, social and environmental value.

PPS 1 states that, “Good design ensures attractive, usable, durable and adaptable places and is a key element in achieving sustainable development. Good design is indivisible from good planning.”

Improving Quality of Life

We consider the impact of design throughout the lifetime of the buildings we develop, on the places in which they are located and on all the stakeholders involved. We recognise that good design can substantially improve people’s quality of life. It can increase a sense of civic pride, improve safety and security and help enable the development of community groups, thereby generating a feeling of belonging.

Indeed, our skills and experience enables us to 'front end' our planning applications with more detailed information being provided at an earlier stage as the Planning White Paper stipulates. This facilitates the reduction of risk and helps to create visionary masterplans with a strong sense of place and identity.

Proven Track Record

Countryside Properties has a proven track record in producing high quality places to live and work. Our team has the commitment and experience to see quality design delivered at our developments. Every home, commercial space, park, community facility, street and footpath is carefully planned and designed with attention to detail. We work with leading consultants, as well as our experienced in-house planning and design teams, to deliver imaginative design solutions for every development.

We believe affordable homes should not be recognisable by their built form or appearance and that there should be seamless integration of mixed-tenures within a sustainable community.

Responsible Design

By creating better places to work the Group is also demonstrating that well located and designed workplaces are good for employees, businesses and the wider environment.

We believe we must react positively to the consequences associated with climate change, rising sea levels and the associated risk of flooding. The impacts can be mitigated by responsible design and planning. Where necessary, our masterplans include low lying, green spaces to absorb flooding with minimal damage, as well as serving as leisure and bio-diversity areas. In addition, we are promoting innovative architectural design that is flexible for changing needs.

Countryside Properties recognises that the principles of good urban design, orientation and the provision of comfortable microclimates for residents, requires sensitive and careful consideration of the many different functions that make a new community sustainable.

Recognition

Our approach to design quality is widely recognised by our stakeholders. Since 2001 we have received more than 100 awards for design quality. During this reporting period awards received include:

• Building For Life Silver Standard for Waterstone Park, Greenhithe which was described by the judging panel as, ‘very brave and bold…a really interesting out of town development.’ This is our seventh Building for Life Standard for design and place making excellence which is more than any other private developer.
• Civic Trust Award for Accordia, Cambridge. The judges commented, “An exemplary new residential scheme, which shows that it is possible for a volume house-builder to support high quality architecture.”
• In the What House? Awards 2007, Cliveden Village, Taplow received a silver award in the 'Best Sustainable Development' category and a bronze for 'Best Luxury Development'. Countryside Properties was awarded Joint Bronze in the 'Best Large Housebuilder' category.
• 'Regeneration' award for New Broughton, Salford in the Manchester Evening News Awards 2007. In the foremost category of the awards the Group received the 'Volume Builder' award.
• In the Mail On Sunday British Homes Awards, Accordia, Cambridge was a finalist in the 'Development of the Year' category.
• In the Building Sustainability Awards the Group was a runner-up in the 'Best Housebuilder of the Year' category.

Mann Island, Liverpool