HOUSING BS
Hudson Hirsel Joint partnership developing Leet Haugh
August saw planning consent granted for Phase II of Hudson Hirsel’s Leet Haugh development located on the edge of the strategic Borders town of Coldstream – currently celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Flodden. It is period design that inspires this unique development in the Scottish Borders – the most recent planning consent being for 16 houses situated around a village green of almost one acre along with a further four dwellings consented as part of the original scheme. The homes around the village green are bespoke with no two dwellings being the same. Each is finished to a very high specification throughout – including oak doors and luxury appliances. The high build quality provides energy efficient new homes that are complimented externally by natural oak bollards, generous landscaping and natural stone walls. The development recognises the importance of good place making in providing ‘conservation areas of tomorrow’. A developer led standardised solution was abandoned in favour of a more appropriate contextual approach, which adopted a layout and buildings that work with the site, the landform and the established settlement form. Through the use of spatial and architectural typologies, the proposals sought to create a place that is recognisable to local people and newcomers alike as being a Borders Village rather than a village or suburban sprawl in any other part of the country. The estate structure provides a range of
accommodation from the gate lodges at residents moved in last month. the site entrance to the main house, farm Hudson Hirsel is also seeing success house and factors houses arranged around in the first phase of the development, the traditional village green, the stables with more than half of the homes in the mews, mill buildings and workers cottages. courtyard already sold or reserved. Multiples of these building groups It is the attention to traditional features such have been planned to provide a as weathervanes, bronze finials and features natural hierarchical structure to the such as home grown Hirsel oak that led overall development, thereby creating residents to comment: “The houses really distinct zones within the scheme and speak for themselves in their design, quality allowing new landscaping and structure and content, with great emphasis on superb planning to help contain the houses. layouts, storage and choice of fittings. Vernacular village greens, courtyards and “I would recommend Leet Haugh terraces create places of local distinctiveness to anyone considering a move.” while the use of contrasting estate The partnership between Hudson Homes colours provides a clear sense of character and Hirsel Estate has been established in and identity within the development order to deliver a unique development that will be valued and cared for. of homes to reflect the quality and An estate approach was considered importance of the site situated on the valid and was very much in keeping edge of the historic Hirsel Estate. with the local tradition. Hudson Hirsel combines the balance and Jamie Hudson, who is the Managing Director experience of a sensitively designed new of Hudson Hirsel, said: “The masterplan for residential development and the sustainable Leet Haugh was always for the development management provided by the Home to be in harmony with the adjacent Hirsel family who have been guardians of the Estate and the town of Coldstream as well Hirsel Estate for the last four centuries. as creating a development with a sense of The Architect at Leet Haugh is community where people will aspire to live.” Aitken Turnbull Architects. Despite the sluggish housing market, more than 50% of the houses around the village green had already been reserved by August, which gave Hudson Hirsel Our aim is to provide innovative, efficient design confidence to start solutions whilst respecting the traditional values of a professional service with close client consultation and a Phase II. The first strong emphasis on the management of a project.
We pride ourselves in quality of design and fitness for purpose. Galashiels: 9 Bridge Street, Galashiels TD1 1SN Tel: 01896 752 760
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