Introduction
Sustainable design for homes and habitats
The retention and enhancement of key landscape features, as well as the creation of new ecological habitats such as the duck pond, will help to ensure the development is attractive and promotes healthy lifestyles while at least 10% net gain of biodiversity.
Features such as the proposed duck pond will serve as a haven for local wildlife while providing an attractive gateway feature into the new development and amenities at Manor Farm.
The new homes will be designed to achieve the emerging Future Homes Standard. This will include high levels of insulation, the installation of low carbon air source heat pumps and photovoltaic (PV) panels for heating and hot water provision as well as water efficient devices to minimise domestic water use. Furthermore, the new homes will be designed to adapt to a changed climate, with design features, such as street trees, to reduce overheating risk and minimise localised flooding during storm events.
Site location
Close to existing amenities and green space
The site is in a sustainable location to the south east of Buckingham, within close proximity to a range of existing amenities. This includes an existing café, farm shop and restaurant on site, which will remain open to the wider community.
This also includes existing open green space at Bourton Park, supermarkets and other retail outlets on London Road and several schools all within a 20-minute walk from the site, as well as sports and leisure facilities at Lace Hill Sports & Community Centre and Swan Pool & Leisure Centre. Delivering new cycle routes and crossings on the A413 will ensure active and sustainable travel is encouraged to access daily amenities and the Larder Café.
We have also been working closely with community bus operators in the area to explore options to increase connectivity across the wider area, reducing the need for private car use, which is both good for the environment and will help to mitigate any impact on local road congestion.
For those who do need to travel by car, the site is adjacent to the A421, providing good connections to Milton Keynes and other towns and villages across the wider area.
Facilities on site
Providing a new nursery, pre-school and play areas
The proposals include the provision of a new community building. While this is conceptually proposed as a new nursery and pre-school building for use by both the growing number of existing families in the area as well as those moving to the development, we remain open to further ideas around how the space could be best used to support the local community.
Over a third (4ha) of the site close to the homes will be retained as publicly accessible open green space for both new and existing residents to enjoy. The proposals also include the provision of play areas for children and formal green space for all ages.