Melfield Gardens

Melfield Gardens

Project

Winner

Planning Application Link View map

Number/street name:
1 Melfield Gardens

Address line 2:

City:
London

Postcode:
SE6 3AH

Architect:
Levitt Bernstein

Architect contact number:
020 7275 7676


Developer:
Phoenix Community Housing.

Planning Authority:
London Borough of Lewisham

Planning Reference:
DC/20/115908

Date of Completion:
12/2024

Schedule of Accommodation:
30 x 1 bed-plus flats; 2 x 4 bed flats

Tenure Mix:
100% affordable rent

Total number of homes:


Site size (hectares):
0.34

Net Density (homes per hectare):
94

Size of principal unit (sq m):
59

Smallest Unit (sq m):
58

Largest unit (sq m):
119

No of parking spaces:
8

Scheme PDF Download



Planning History

Levitt Bernstein and Phoenix Community Housing were committed to community engagement and communication to support the transformation of Melfield Gardens. An initial consultation event was held for adjacent residents in March 2019, followed by a wider consultation event in July 2019, with a final public event in January 2020. Feedback helped shape proposals, such as revealing the need for an accessible pedestrian route through the site. The extensive consultation also meant neighbours felt heard and reduced the number of objections to the scheme (only three). Two pre-application meetings were also held with the planning authority alongside engagement with the DRP.

The Design Process

Melfield Gardens is a highly sustainable, intergenerational housing scheme on a constrained infill site in the London Borough of Lewisham. It will provide 30 flexible and affordable homes for residents aged 55 and above, and two, four-bedroom homes for eight postgraduate students from Goldsmiths, University of London. In return for being ‘good neighbours’, the students will be charged a lower rent. Each will spend a number of hours assisting older residents, offering company or participating in recreational activities in the communal spaces.
As well as learning from this innovative social pilot, the client is keen to achieve a fully-certified Passivhaus building as the first step towards a zero carbon future. The east-west orientation of the site is less ideal for Passivhaus (north-south is preferable), so it was essential to optimise the ‘form factor’ by keeping the massing simple. The size and placement of the triple-glazed windows were carefully considered in relation to orientation, and shutters will reduce overheating on the west-facing façades. Alongside a fabric-first approach, Passivhaus-certified products will help to achieve desired U-values, airtightness and reduce carbon emissions.
The scheme is split into two subtly cranked buildings that partially enclose a pedestrian-prioritised central green space which retains public routes through the site to Beckenham Hill Station. The new residents will access their homes from this space, increasing the sense of community. A shared ‘garden room’ sits at the foot of the western building, wrapping around the protected garden for residents and their visitors.
To make the new Category 2 and 3 homes as attractive as possible, a dual aspect and flexible ‘one-bedroom-plus’ model has been adopted. This incorporates an additional ‘study/hobby room’ with a pocket door, providing residents with greater flexibility to tailor their homes to their own requirements as they age in place, in line with HAPPI principles.

Key Features

Melfield Gardens is a highly sustainable, affordable housing scheme on a constrained site in Lewisham. It is designed to Passivhaus as the first step towards zero carbon. Most of the new homes are for people aged over 55 years, with some accommodation allocated for postgraduate students from Goldsmiths to bring the benefits of intergenerational housing. In return for spending a few hours each week with older residents, the students will be charged a lower rent. The homes are highly flexible and dual aspect.

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Scheme Information

Type

  • Cohousing
  • Multi-Aspect Apartments
  • Innovative House Types
  • Mansion Block

Size

  • Medium density

Cost/ownership

  • Affordable

Planning

  • Estate Regeneration
  • Community Consultation
  • Infill
  • Suburban

Construction/Design

  • Brickwork
  • Contemporary Design
  • New London Vernacular

Sustainability

  • Low embodied carbon construction
  • Low Energy in Use

Outdoor areas

  • Private Terraces
  • Biodiversity
  • Garden

Surrounding Area

  • Healthy Streets
  • Landscape
  • Communal Spaces
  • Play Spaces
  • POS
  • Public open space

Specialised

  • Over 55s
  • Senior
  • Wheelchair
  • Community

Sustainability

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