The Avenue in Saffron Waldon, Essex was presented at the AT Awards live finals on 7 November 2022 at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health to a jury comprising, Marion Baeli, Sarah Allan, Deyan Sudjic, Roger Harrabin, Ben Derbyshire, and Chair Catherine Burd. Read about how the project has stood the test of time, below.
Each cluster of homes has its own distinctive character, designed in response to the immediate context. Credit Tim Crocker
The character and planning of this 76-home development in Saffron Walden, Essex reflects an early decision to retain and restore an existing avenue of lime trees, and to retain as many as possible of the 150 mature trees on the site.
Social diversity is achieved through the mix of tenures – private sale, shared ownership and affordable rentals – and the inclusion of homes for over-55s. With its mix of housing types, from one-bedroom flats to five-bedroom family homes, the scheme provides for a range of households, ages and abilities, reflecting the population of the traditional market town.
The character and layout reflect an early decision to retain an existing avenue of lime trees. Credit: Tim Crocker
Principal rooms have a southerly orientation, with buildings grouped to provide natural windbreaks. Simple pitched roofs allow mounting of solar thermal/photovoltaics. Homes include super-insulation and airtight construction, as well as low-water usage fittings, low-energy lighting and A+ rated appliances. Facilities include space for drying clothes outside, cycle and waste/ recyclable storage. The affordable homes also include integrated solar hot water collectors, and photovoltaic panels. It is anticipated that 10 per cent of predicted energy requirements will be via integrated solar hot water collectors and photovoltaic panels.
A main spine, parallel with the avenue, links a series of character areas that respond to their immediate context. The avenue itself has become a popular public route to the town centre for local residents.
