Oakfield

 

Oakfield

Oakfield is a large 239-home residential development in Swindon where we acted as transport, structural and civil engineers up until the detailed design stage to help realise this 239-home residential development which provides 30% affordable housing (split 70% affordable rent and 30% shared ownership).

The development was Nationwide Building Society’s first housing scheme and provides 239 intergenerational homes with a mixture of tenures, for people at every stage of their life, from first time buyers, to families, to over 55s, wanting to live in flats, houses, or cottages. The design was developed with the local community to help identify local heritage, desired routes and uses desperately needed in the area. We worked closely with a full-time accredited, Community organiser to assist in meeting and listening to local people to inform understanding of the place and create a tailored brief. Over a dozen events were held and the community organiser knocked on 600+ doors, recording 300+ conversations.

At each design iteration, we returned to consult, listen, and refine. It also went through numerous design reviews, including with Swindon’s DRP, politicians, and local Parish. Planning permission was gained with no objections.

In 2021 the project won a Housing Design Award in the ‘Building for a Healthy Life’ category.

Client: Nationwide Building Society, Igloo Regeneration Ltd.

Architect: Metropolitan Workshop/PRP