A Gloucester-based developer has submitted a planning application to build 46 new homes at the former Newark Farm in Hempsted, Gloucester

Newland Homes, which is based in Gloucester and has been a regular winner of the regional LABC Building Excellence Awards, together with a variety of town enhancement awards, is applying to build a broad mix of dwellings including one, two, three and four bedroom homes. The development will be low in density, and include attractively landscaped open space that will become accessible to the public.

The architect-designed development will comprise detached, semi-detached and terraced, with bungalows, drop-eaves cottages and two-storey homes, and offer the attraction of living in a unique village location but just over one mile from Gloucester city centre.

Jeremy Drew, Design Director of Newland Homes said that the company has consulted widely with residents living in Hempsted, as well as working closely with Gloucester City Council planning and urban design officers and local councillors, to produce a scheme that will be sympathetic to the surrounding area and meet local demand. “We have appreciated the way that neighbours have engaged with us in a constructive way throughout the process, looked at our initial plans and shared with us their concerns and any aspirations they may have,” said Jeremy.

“As a result, we’ve been able to respond innovatively to a range of issues, and create what we believe to be an even more attractive and appropriate development than we initially proposed. For example, following concerns voiced by residents whose houses front Hempsted Lane, and whose long gardens back on to the site, we have now included a broad landscape belt along this boundary. “In order to further minimise any potential impact, all the adjacent new homes are now single storey bungalows, rather than houses. This inclusion of eleven bungalows, almost one quarter of the total homes on the site, is also a response to early discussions we had with local residents, who told us that there was a local demand for bungalows which we are very happy to meet.”

The development will include over four acres of open space which will be accessible to the public, allowing residents and others to walk into the countryside and the nearby footpath network. At the moment, Hempsted Lane does not enjoy pedestrian links to the countryside beyond the site and the footpath network that accesses Lady’s Well on the village’s western fringe. The meadows in the open space will be planted with wildflower, new trees, re-instated hedgerows and will have informal mown pathways.

“As a company, Newland Homes is absolutely committed to taking a considerate and conscientious approach to crafting new homes, and we are proud that our nearby bespoke housing schemes, at Manor Farm Court and in the Conservation Area at Newark Barns, both of which have been hugely successful, have been highly praised for their quality of design,” said Jeremy Drew. “This application reflects our commitment to create beautiful dwellings in lovely locations, and we look forward to continue working with the Hempsted community as we build homes and streets that will be a pleasure to live in and to visit.”

The site is assessed in Gloucester City Council’s Strategic Assessment of Land Availability Jan 2015 (SALA) site Ref: SUB57 which, following its own analysis including a detailed landscape impact assessment, the Council says is deliverable in the next five years, with an indicative development density of 30 houses per hectare. The site area is 3.3 hectares, including 1.6 hectares of Open Space, having 46 homes on the balance of 1.7 hectares, at just 27 homes per hectare.

The site is currently unimproved pasture of low ecological value, associated with the former Newark Farm which has not operated for many years and now no longer exists. The proposals provide significant landscape and ecological enhancement, and all the homes will be built to the energy standards of Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4. Eighteen of the homes will be affordable, including rental, shared equity and starter homes.

For more information visit www.newlandhomes.co.uk