Posted Jun 8 2022 | By Jo McCafferty

Planning granted for ultra-low energy, social housing in Haringey

We are pleased to announce that we have secured planning permission for Cranwood House, an ultra-low energy housing scheme for the London Borough of Haringey where nearly 80% of the new homes will be for social rent. The project will provide 41 new homes with a mix of one to three bedroom apartments, houses and maisonettes.

The project has been designed to be ultra-low energy, using Passivhaus principles, and strives for the highest levels of energy efficiency and reduces energy costs for residents. Triple glazed windows, photovoltaic panels on the roofs and additional insulation are just some of the measures that have been integrated into the design of the project. All the homes are either dual or triple aspect.

The scheme is located on a complex and sensitive site set within Muswell Hill in the London Borough of Haringey. The site, which used to be a Victorian railway station, before being replaced by a care home, is adjacent to the ancient woodland of Highgate Wood and the popular Parkland Walk. The architectural approach uses the ‘red brick bay’ of the local area vernacular to create new balconies, galleries and generous social spaces within the proposals, with thresholds and boundaries between homes carefully designed to foster neighbourliness.

The landscape design draws upon the adjacent woodland setting in its approach to biodiversity, habitat and natural play features. At the centre of the proposals, a laneway leads to a new landscaped communal courtyard garden, which provides amenity and children’s play space for residents to socialise close to their homes.

Our proposals for the Cranwood site have been designed to maximise the quality of all new homes, creating resilient, well-crafted buildings which respond to their specific setting in Muswell Hill, whilst minimising energy usage and excelling in environmental performance. This project sets a new quality benchmark for Haringey’s housing delivery programme and shows what is possible with an ambitious commissioning client and an engaged, informed design team.

The project is set to start on site in early 2023. Watch this space!