PJA were commissioned by Miller Homes to provide urban design and masterplanning services for the outline planning application process.

Located on the eastern settlement boundary of Great Glen village, this 8.4ha site proposed the development of up to 180 dwellings, including associated access, affordable housing, open space provision and drainage strategy.

As part of this process a full and in-depth study of the site and surrounding context was undertaken, bringing forward several complex issues. These included the relationship with the existing settlement boundary, the retention of the ridge and furrow heritage asset as well as flood and ecological management.

Solutions were sought in the form of a landscape and drainage feature incorporating a swale, attenuation pond and retention of the ridge and furrow feature in open space areas.

Two masterplan framework options were then developed in full and voluntarily taken through the design review process. Following this a preferred option was recognised and taken forward. An indicative layout was produced, taking input from highways, drainage, landscape and ecology.

To support the application PJA produced an accompanying design and access statement, detailing the site analysis, character appraisal, opportunity and constraints, key design principles as well as development quantities.