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17 November 2008
Countryside Properties has received two further Building for Life standards for design and place making excellence, and consequently the Group now holds nine standards which is more than any other private developer. Cliveden Village, in the grounds of the Cliveden Estate, in Buckinghamshire and the regeneration of the Coopers Road estate, part of the Southwark Estates Initiative, are Countryside’s latest schemes to be recognised by Building for Life which is the national standard for well-designed homes and neighbourhoods.
Alan Cherry CBE DL, Chairman, Countryside Properties comments, “Coming so soon after our Accordia development, in Cambridge, became the first residential development ever to win the highly prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize for architecture, these Building for Life standards are further tremendous recognition for all that we strive to achieve as responsible developers.”
Wayne Hemingway, chair of Building for Life for five years, presented the awards. He said: "This is almost certainly the most challenging economic climate that developers have ever had to face, but I think this year’s winners point to a positive future for the home buyer - and might just point to a new paradigm in housing delivery.”
Cliveden Village
In conjunction with The National Trust, Countryside Properties has, with the receipt of a Building for Life Gold standard, added another major accolade to its growing tally of awards for its Cliveden Village development.
The Building for Life judges commented that Cliveden Village has been “designed with exceptional sensitivity and attention to detail.”
Chris Crook, Subsidiary Managing Director of Countryside Properties, comments: “We are extremely proud to have received such high acclaim for our Cliveden Village development. As a company we invest a huge amount of time, effort and money in ensuring that the quality and design of our developments is the very best. To have our work recognised by the government as well as the house building industry is high praise indeed and the continued success of Cliveden Village is testament to the talent of the entire team that has worked so hard on this once-in-a-lifetime development.”
Cliveden Village comprises 135 spacious, contemporary houses and apartments surrounded by mature woodland in the grounds of the 376 acre National Trust owned Cliveden Estate. The iconic architectural design of the properties at Cliveden Village incorporates extensive glazing, staggered roofing and stylish, sleek finishes. Exteriors include renders in warm, earthy colours and use of materials such as oak, copper parapets and edging, timber shingles and natural slate roof tiles. The apartments have been clad with English sandstone and balconies and terraces overlook the woodland.
The age exclusive development is well suited to the young 55 year old and over. Internally, the properties have been designed with open plan living spaces and sleek, stylish fixtures and fittings. Secure underground parking is available and residents have access to Cliveden’s magnificent National Trust Estate during its normal opening hours.
Wherever possible, the properties at Cliveden Village are built using materials that are renewable, sustainable or recyclable. Solar hot water installations provide renewable energy to the majority of properties. Homes are equipped with low energy external lighting, dual flush toilets and bicycle storage, and houses have water butts. Prices for current availability start from £325,000. For further information visit www.clivedenvillage.net
Coopers Road, Southwark
Peabody, working with its partner, Countryside Properties, has been recognised by CABE with a Building for Life Silver Standard for the £19m regeneration of the Coopers Road estate, part of the Southwark Estates Initiative. The project involves the phased replacement of four 1960's blocks with 154 new flats and houses.
Describing the Coopers Road project, CABE stated: “Coopers Road is a mix of apartments and terraced housing centred around a communal courtyard, cleverly laid out to create a contemporary take on the traditional street-fronted block.”
The new homes, which include those for rent and shared ownership, have been designed with the extensive involvement of residents. The homes are environmentally friendly; with high levels of energy efficiency, reduced water consumption and make use of renewable and recycled building materials. Each phase has been designed with a landscaped internal communal courtyard with play area to ensure a safe sustainable environment for the residents.
A Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant has been installed which provides hot water and heating to all the residents on demand, saving 90 per cent of the waste heat that would normally be lost to the atmosphere if the power had been generated by a conventional power station. As a by-product of the heating system the power created is used to power the street lighting on the development.
Countryside’s work at Coopers Road has been recognised before with a commendation in the Civic Trust awards in 2006. Consultants are: Architects: ECD Architects; Employers Agent: BPP Construction Consultants and Structural Engineers: Price Myers and Brand Leonard.
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Note for editors:
Peabody is one of London's largest and oldest social housing associations, as well as being a charity and community regeneration agency. Founded by George Peabody, an American philanthropist, in 1862, the Peabody Group now owns or manages 20,000 properties across 27 London boroughs, housing nearly 50,000 people.
Peabody makes London a city of opportunity for all by ensuring as many people as possible have a good home, a real sense of purpose and a strong feeling of belonging. www.peabody.org.uk
Building for Life promotes design excellence and celebrates best practice in the house building industry. The 20 Building for Life criteria embody our vision of functional, attractive and sustainable housing. New housing developments are scored against the criteria to assess the quality of their design. Building for Life standards are given annually to new housing projects that demonstrate a commitment to high design standards and good place making.
Building for Life is a joint initiative between CABE and the Home Builders Federation, supported by the Civic Trust, Design for Homes, English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation. Developments are judged on four main criteria which are character; roads, parking and pedestrianisation; design and construction and environment and community. Visit www.buildingforlife.org for more info.
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Information correct as at 17/11/2008