A development of 40 houses in the village of Thorpe-le-Soken near the coast of Essex, including space for up to 20 allotments and 0.4 hectares of natural habitat open space.

The design is based upon the principles set out in the Essex Design Guide and aims to create a new village street following historic development patterns. Houses are wide fronted and sit close to the pavement, creating a well contained street. The buildings pull back in places to create small paved squares that break up the street.

Towards the north end of the site the character changes as the narrow street opens out onto a green space with larger houses arranged informally around its edges. The open space provides amenity for residents and is also designed as habitat for protected newts, with long grasses, a pond and a ‘newt highway’.

The development brings redundant land on the edge of the village back into use, provides useful community benefits and allows the settlement to grow in a way that enhances the village character and as a result the proposals were well received by the local community in consultations.