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23 August 2000
By excelling in all areas of planning, design and construction of a new development, Countryside Residential has won another highly acclaimed award. Thorley Lane, which comprises 'Regents Square' and 'The Village' at St Michaels Mead, Bishop's Stortford, was one of only four housing schemes to be honoured at the 2000 Housing Design Awards ceremony, sponsored by DoE, NHBC, RIBA and RTPI. The award follows the receipt of a Housing Design project award in 1998 prior to construction commencing on site.
The judges also nominated Regents Square and The Village as the best example of a scheme on a previously undeveloped site. They described it as, "a convincing piece of urban design with a proper sense of place. It is an exceptional scheme - with valuable messages for the future." They added that it, "gives the lie to some developers' claims that the public will not buy into housing of the forms and densities indicated in current planning guidance."
Chris Crook, Managing Director of Countryside Residential (North Thames Ltd.) commented, "Receiving one of only four housing design awards is an honour which recognises the exceptional effort and attention to detail we have applied at every stage of the development. Indeed, Regents Square and The Village have been very popular with homebuyers due to the sheer conviction of their design, detailing and landscaping. We're very proud of having created a development of undoubted lasting value."
Regents Square demonstrates the splendour of elegant, Regency style homes with traditional colour rendering, stock brickwork and timber boarding, set around a carefully landscaped formal square. The three storey houses are laid out over three floors, with attention given to separating informal family living rooms at the back of the house from more formal entertaining rooms at the front of the house.
Regents Square is successfully combined with country-style houses built at The Village where the houses have been designed so that they appear to have evolved over time. All of the houses at this extraordinary development are built in the local architectural style to reflect the traditional character and individuality found in a typical Hertfordshire village. No less than 21 unique house designs have been ingeniously put together in this carefully created village setting, ranging from two bedroom almshouse style cottages to five bedroom detached 'manor' houses.
Architectural detailing follows strict vernacular guidelines to ensure the atmosphere of a traditional village is retained, including natural brickwork, feature pargetting and render in a variety of traditional Hertfordshire colours. Other features include clock and bell towers, ornate chimneys, dormer windows and garages built to the rear of the houses through covered areas, which are reminiscent of old coaching arches. The interiors of the houses combine a traditional feel with authentic features such as brick fireplaces and feature windows, with modern, high specification fixtures and fittings.
Houses are available at Butlers Tye, St Michaels Mead, priced from £425,000 to £675,000. For sales enquiries telephone: 01279 657 381. For further information visit: www.countryside-residential.co.uk or email nt@cpplc.com
For further information contact:
Guy Lambert, Countryside Properties Plc: 01277 690 588
Julia Arnold, Sky Communications Ltd: 020 7731 6999
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Information correct as at 23/08/2000