Fuller Long worked closely with award-winning national homebuilder CALA Homes on the site of a former police station in Camberley Town Centre in Surrey. Surrey Heath Planning Committee voted unanimously to grant planning permission for 35 new dwellings on the site, and the development has now been completed.
The successful planning application justified the need for high-quality family sized homes set against a local policy in favour of smaller units. With an influx of residential developments in the town centre primarily focused on providing smaller apartments for younger residents, the development sought to address and rebalance the local housing mix. The mix of housing units comprises: 3 x 1 bed apartments; 6 x 2 bed apartments; 6 x 3 bed family houses; 5 x 4 bed family houses; and, 15 x 5 bed family houses.
The National Planning Policy Framework seeks to promote good design and states that the Government attaches great importance to the design of the built environment which should contribute positively to improving the surrounding area for local people. The development considered the main facets of this approach and sought to ensure functionality and to add to the overall quality of the area as well as to establish a strong sense of place. The aim was to optimise the potential of the site to accommodate development, create and sustain an appropriate mix of units whilst responding to the local character and history, reflecting the identity of the local surroundings and materials.
The development was also designed with environmental considerations in mind. An energy report was included in the submission which set out the sustainable principles that were to be adopted as part of the scheme.
Works have now been completed and the dwellings have all been reserved. Whilst discussing the application process, our consultant stated that the development “brings to fruition a long pre-application process with key officers of the Council in which the scheme has evolved to more closely meet the Council’s objectives for this key town centre site. The final scheme replaces the concrete building and reintroduces a significant number of family homes in a high quality setting, bringing new life to the centre of Camberley.”
The development has seen the removal of an unloved and inefficient concrete office building replaced with high quality modern housing which enlivens the street scene and delivers new family housing to the town centre. The redevelopment of the site has provided an attractive residential development that has kick started the regeneration of this town centre area.
Should you work for a house builder or local authority housing association, Fuller Long have over 200 years of experience of helping deliver housing, retail and commercial schemes. Call 0808 164 1288 or email hello@fullerlong.com to speak with one of our Consultants today.
