Land at 51 St. John’s Road Buxton
“Serpentine Court”
Design Statement
Aims:
To demonstrate how sustainability can be seamlessly incorporated into
new, small-scale developments within an historic town where housing
development must have high regard for conservation and preservation.
To create a small mixed group of well designed homes: 4 privately
owned and 2 available for renting, 2 and 3 bedrooms, one specially
adapted to improve mobility.
To build efficient, environmentally aware, high performance homes,
suited to modern living and working from home.
Design Goals
• A solution that maintains the unique character and setting of
this beautiful site, the vernacular traditions of the High Peak and
the neighbouring Conservation Area.
• A new structure where mass, fenestration and orientation reflect
current thinking on energy efficiency, acknowledging local
character without being a pastiche.
• A building that fits within the existing mature trees to maintain
the scale and maturity of the site.
• To create a balanced composition whose form, scale, siting,
massing, density and height will compliment the landscape and
neighbouring development.
• To respect privacy and general amenity: providing a
development which neither reduces daylight, nor encroaches
on, the neighbouring property.
• To provide a safe and secure environment and minimise
opportunities for crime.
• To exceed current standards for building ecologically
considerate, sustainable homes.
“Serpentine Court” Design Statement Page 1
Land at 51 St. John’s Road Buxton
“Serpentine Court”
Site Location and Context
The development site lies on a main approach road to
Buxton at the point where a ribbon development of
mixed age and scale housing meets the perimeter of
the town’s conservation area. A marked change takes
place in the style and quality of buildings as this
threshold is crossed.
Although outside the conservation area any
development must respect this context and seek to
preserve its essential nature: maturity of landscape;
quality and scale of development.
Residential buildings along St.
John’s Road, further into the
conservation area and approaching
town, tend to be large, tall, mostly
converted and sub-divided on the
northern side, a mixture of ages and
styles to the south, typically well
maintained, with a level of quality
that presents a coherent approach
into the main town.
Approaching Town
“Serpentine Court” Design Statement Page 2
Land at 51 St. John’s Road Buxton
“Serpentine Court”
At the conservation area’s
closest point is an informal exit
from landscaped public
gardens, which follow the
meandering “Serpentine”,
breaking up the residential strip
along St. John’s Road, and
culminating in an area of large,
densely screening, mature
trees, within 15 metres of the
plot’s northern boundary.
To the east of the plot is the
Lismore Fields development of
modern detached and semi-
Leaving Town detached family estate housing.
To the southeast is an un-developed open field, likely to remain. The gable end of one
neighbouring family “pre-war” house borders the south/south west side. Across the street the
conservation area continues unbroken, out of town, with large, mainly residential housing with
some infill.
View From South East
It is difficult to identify another, previously developed site, so close to the town centre, within
walking distance of most amenities, shops and public transport links, primary, secondary and
tertiary/higher education, yet so relatively private and concealed.
“Serpentine Court” Design Statement Page 3
Land at 51 St. John’s Road Buxton
“Serpentine Court”
Scale of Development
The government sustainable target density (30 – 50 homes/hectare) for this plot size of 0.14
hectares is between 4.2 and 7 dwellings, where 4.2 would be considered “inefficient use of
land” (PPG3 57, 58). The best way of achieving this target is by way of a single, or close
linked building, to maintain the existing urban grain. To achieve the target the building should
be sub-divided into apartment dwellings.
The proposal is for a low-rise development of 3, closely linked blocks of 2 apartments. This
meets the government density target halfway (42 homes/hectare), as is appropriate for the
current urban grain.
Mass and Silhouette
By utilising 3 closely linked blocks the design uses 1/3rd of the building to form a consistent
street elevation. The two remaining blocks diminish away from the street, are orientated to
take advantage of solar gain, provide a discrete courtyard and fit neatly between existing
mature trees. They screen modern aspects from the street. This orientation provides
improved privacy and security, and maintains a good separation distance (13 metres).
Height, proportions and rooflines are consistent with the remainder of the street whilst
detailing is predominately “arts and crafts” influenced, to fit the historic architectural context.
“Serpentine Court” Design Statement Page 4
Land at 51 St. John’s Road Buxton
“Serpentine Court”
Materials
Materials reclaimed from the previous building will add maturity on the street side of the
development and reduce demand on quarries and transport: a slight reduction, but an
important principle. Good quality dressed and aged walling stone, lintels, cills, and excellent
“scalloped” Staffordshire tiles will help uphold the traditional features of the town architecture
and integrate the new building.
Landscaping
A covenanted maintenance scheme will ensure the health and quality of the development’s
gardens, designed to lead into the backdrop provided by the conservation area. Traditional
stone walling and wooden fencing will bound shrubbery and additional tree planting.
Parking
Being close to amenities, shops, schools and good public transport links, parking provision
should not exceed 1.5 places per dwelling (PPG3 62). Nine are distributed into two areas to
the sides of the building. Immediate street parking is unrestricted, but should not be
encouraged. Provision will be made on-site for secure covered cycle storage. Each home
will include high-speed data network cabling, linked to the Internet, to facilitate home working
and help reduce transport needs.
“Serpentine Court” Design Statement Page 5
Land at 51 St. John’s Road Buxton
“Serpentine Court”
Building Efficiency
The building will be insulated, glazed, and heated in a manner to achieve a “very good” to
“excellent” rating as measured using the Building Research Establishment EcoHomes
assessment criteria. For information on how this will be achieved please see appendix a.
Waste recycling
Covered areas will be provided to allow the separation and storage of paper, plastic, metal,
glass and organic materials for LA collection and garden use. This will be linked to internal
provision for waste separation. The ambition is to facilitate a household recycle rate of 50%
Water use
Site water run-off and domestic grey water will be separately managed and re used for
garden watering and appropriate domestic use. The aim is to demonstrate less than 40 m3
per bed space, per year.
Solar energy
A system of photovoltaic roofing panels will be incorporated into the roof design at the south-
facing rear elevation. The design will aim for 20% contribution to net electrical consumption,
with periodic excess supplied to the grid. No application is made at this stage for any
contribution from wind generation; though such technology is becoming improved, it is not yet
small or efficient enough to make a contribution within the context of Serpentine Court.
Conclusion
Serpentine Court reconciles the needs of development just outside a conservation area, with
energy efficiency and environmental awareness. These sensitivities should inform the design
of all contemporary products.
The cost of this project is high: “Green”, in this setting, is not cheap. Our solution relies upon
sharing the high costs amongst the group of 6 dwellings, as proposed, in order to achieve the
ambitious goals outlined in this proposal.
“Serpentine Court” Design Statement Page 6
Recycled Staffordshire tiles Staffordshire tiles
Recycled Dressed and coursed grit stone Dressed stone
Front Elevation
Please note: Refer to Oldfield Design Drawings No. 04120-08 Not to scale.
“Serpentine Court” Design Statement Page 7
Solar Photo-Voltaic Roof Slates
Cedar Wood cladding
Dressed Stone Dressed Stone
Dressed Stone
Rear Elevation
Please note: Refer to Oldfield Design Drawings No. 04120-08 Not to scale.
“Serpentine Court” Design Statement Page 8
Recycled dressed coursed grit stone
Side Elevation 1
Please note: Refer to Oldfield Design Drawings No. 04120-08 Not to scale.
“Serpentine Court” Design Statement Page 9
Side Elevation 2
Please note: Refer to Oldfield Design Drawings No. 04120-08 Not to scale.
“Serpentine Court” Design Statement Page 10
Dressed stone
Cedar Wood Cladding
Side Elevation 3
Please note: Refer to Oldfield Design Drawings No. 04120-08 Not to scale.
“Serpentine Court” Design Statement Page 11
Side Elevation 4
Please note: Refer to Oldfield Design Drawings No. 04120-08 Not to scale.
“Serpentine Court” Design Statement Page 12
Plan View
Please note: Refer to Oldfield Design Drawings No. 04120-08 Not to scale.
“Serpentine Court” Design Statement Page 13