Work will start on site in January 2011, with the first units due for delivery in late spring.
The company said that this underlines its plans to build on the strength of its land bank, and will see the company stepping up its commitment to buying and developing key strategic land opportunities over the next 12 months.
The Mitcham site was previously the location of the Rowan High School, but has been redundant for a number of years. Crest Nicholson will be bringing the land back into use with the delivery of 217 houses and apartments, including 27 units in the refurbished 1930’s school building, alongside a 2.6 hectare landscaped public park. The detailed consent also allows for the provision of a Scout Hut and community facility as well as a medical centre, which will sit at the heart of the new community.
This is the last of the sites allocated under the Government’s Design for Manufacture competition, organised by English Partnerships, and will be developed using the principles of high quality, energy efficient design led construction.
All of the homes will be developed using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), where key structural elements are designed off-site to guarantee greater levels of efficiency and waste minimisation. Carbon reduction will be achieved through the building fabric alone, using a passive design that minimises energy consumption and maximises the benefit of the natural environment.
In a design that has already proved popular at Crest Nicholson’s Avante development, in Coxheath, near Maidstone, roof lanterns will be incorporated to provide solar heat gain and maximise internal daylighting, while allowing effective ventilation.
The units will also feature photovoltaic panels, ensuring that part of the development’s total energy requirements can be generated by onsite renewables. The development also features a sustainable urban drainage strategy (SUDS), with a network of swales and reed beds to combat surface water run-off and create a habitat for native species. In line with Crest Nicholson’s commitment to supporting community provision, this will incorporate a viewing platform for educational use.
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