Igloo, Crown Estate unveil plans for £32m Knutsford demonstrator
With lofty sustainability ambitions, the 75-home neighbourhood could significantly reduce bills for its future residents.
Located west of Manchester Road in Knutsford, the £32m development is one of three innovation projects the Crown Estate is delivering nationally.
Others include 50 homes in Bedford and 80 more in Hemel Hempstead. GS8 and TOWN have been selected on those schemes respectively.
Designed by Tate & Co, the innovation projects aim to address housing needs and drive innovation by exploring new building materials, construction methods, technologies and development models, according to the Crown Estate.
Igloo Regeneration was selected for the Cheshire scheme in January and has been working up plans for the low carbon development for the last 12 months.
The project has been crafted to “foster a strong sense of community” and connections to nature, resulting in a sense of “long-term environmental and social wellbeing”, according to the project team.
The homes, which range from one-bed maisonettes to five-bed family homes, would be located within seven distinct neighbourhood zones.
The primary goal of the project is to develop homes that are low carbon, thus reducing bills for residents.
Some 30% of the homes will be classed as affordable and around 40% will be accessible or adaptable to help support a diverse community at all stages of life.
A planning application is expected next year. In the meantime, Igloo and the Crown Estate are seeking feedback on their plans.
A drop-in public consultation event will be held at the Curzon Cinema on Toft Road in Knutsford on Friday 12 December between 3pm and 7pm and Saturday 13 December from 12pm until 4pm.
The plans can also be viewed online from Friday at knutsford.commonplace.is.
Uter twoddle, used to try to justify the development of greenbelt land against the wishes of local residents.
By Anonymous
Drop in “consultation” over the busiest shopping weekend of the year. Is this an example of genuine community consultation, or perhaps a deliberate attempt to tick boxes whilst most normal folk are looking the other way ?
By Anonymous
It was supposed to be 60 homes
By Anonymous
Well, it isn’t against my local resident wishes. We need more houses but we also need more infrastructure. I would have preferred more affordable homes and will attend the “consultation” with interest.
By Anonymous
Knutsford is already over run
By Anonymous
Define “affordable”, please. £32,000,000 / 75 =£426,666.67
By David Simister