Spire View
Defined by larger detached dwellings, most of which will be two storey, the Spire View properties will be a single-sided development that overlooks the public and open spaces. It will be characterised by timber boarding with clay orange roof tile, and have an irregular layout and informal landscaping.
The Avenue
As the widest street in the development, the Avenue will be lined by landscaped verges with a more formal tree planting. It will include both detached and semi-detached dwellings, most of which will be two storey. The Avenue will be laid out more formally, consistently set back from the street with front gardens enclosed by hedges and railings. It will be characterised by pastel rendered dwellings, and include Tudor boarding and Tile hanging.
Village Streets
The Village Streets will be primarily semi-detached and terrace homes, with a mixture of on and off street parking. It will be characterised by light grey cladding, with a variety of hipped and pitched roof forms. It will also include pockets of informal shrub and hedge planting.
Green Lanes
Located towards the edge of the residential development, the Green Lanes will include larger detached dwellings – most of which will be 2 storey. It will have an irregular layout, and overlook the public and open spaces. It will have the most variety in materials out of all the character areas, creating the feel of a village built over time.
In order to support this, there will be several character areas to the development:
Creating a community
The Land West of Garnetts will be sensitively designed and laid out, ensuring that this development represents an organic addition to the village of Takeley. Drawing on the local architecture around Takeley, Bellway will ensure that this is both a distinctive development with a character of its own – but also one that does not conflict with the local area. Recognising the importance of the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Land West of Garnetts has been laid out to frame views towards the church.
Retained Agricultural Space
Public Open Space
Bellway will be providing around four hectares of retained agricultural land and public open space on-site, ensuring that both new and existing residents will have access to green spaces on site and the rural nature of the area is maintained. As part of the development, there will be specific provision for dog walking – with a new 1.74km route (in addition to existing public rights of way), an off-lead area, and dog bins.
This public space will contribute to the site’s ecology and biodiversity, with new trees and thicket planting.
It will be overlooked by the nearby residential development, with the neighbouring houses specifically designed to provide strong levels of natural surveillance. This will ensure that the public open space is safe and secure for all to use, and will work to prevent antisocial behaviour in the area.
Alongside this, Bellway will also be delivering a natural children’s play space (of around 0.04ha).
Bellway are committed to protecting the setting of the Church of The Holy Trinity, a Grade 1 Listed Building in close proximity to the site, and this has been a primary factor in the placement of the development.
In order to preserve the sense of isolation around the church, 3.7 hectares of land in the western part of the site will be undeveloped and retained in agricultural use as a fenced-off wildflower meadow (with the exception of a single footpath along the western boundary, to provide a clear network of recreational routes through the site). This land will not be a part of the public open space, and its continued maintenance and management will be agreed with the council. Beyond the agricultural space, there will be public open space that will include a play area and proposed new trees. As a result, the new homes will be located at a similar distance from the church as existing buildings are to the north and east.
Furthermore, some of the key views towards the Church will be protected. This will be accomplished by ensuring that the homes that overlook the public open space in the western part of the site will be no taller than two storeys, as well as careful layout of the public open space.
