The Town Planning of the Utopians is dead. The concept of any kind of new towns is a distant distraction. Eco towns with sustainable futures are a far fetched fantasy. We will not solve our urgent housing crisis by planning large new towns in the countryside. Worse, it is the fantasy of deluded social engineering and state control; of simple solutions to complex problems. Today the green vision of eco towns is stuck in a ‘Brown’ legacy of environmental red-tape and regulation.
We have come to distrust enterprise and innovation. We have conflated aspiration and avarice. Yet, where these qualities have emerged in less regulated industries like I.T., they have been transformational. We have witnessed growth on an exponential scale. We know that change comes from the belief of individuals unfettered by state control and unafraid to fail and we have seen the power of an idea that’s time has come.
The opportunity for housing to improve the lives of our people is huge but we must be prepared to tear up red tape and regulation that inhibits progress. We must be prepared to trust the professionals in the house building industry to deploy their innovation and enterprise, to secure the wide range of housing that we need and of course we will build new homes to sustainable building codes. A blend of creative design and renewable energy sources - that defines the sustainable homes of the future.
Defra introduced an initiative in March that scraps or improves many of the environmental regulations that inhibit progress. This is one step forward. So too does the National Planning Policy Framework that calls for a positive approach to sustainable development generally, which is a statement of intent as to how proposals for much-needed developments are to be received and an exhortation for us all to seek opportunities to enhance our built environment. The Green deal promotes improvements in existing housing and incentivizes efforts to bring our housing stock to a sustainable future.
We can still drastically reduce the regulation imposed by local planning authorities; free a wider amount of development of the need for planning permission. We could allocate specific residential land uses where values would not need to compete with alternative uses. How about a policy of higher residential building, offering the opportunity for more efficient land use?
We must abandon the goal of zero carbon homes by 2016 and settle on a workable code level, allowing market forces to drive any increase.
We should free development of obsolete legal restrictions by removing Freehold Restrictive Covenants over 50 years old from titles.
Let us now make new homes a priority by freeing development of the restrictions and regulation and build new homes in the communities where people want to live.
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Pinecroft Press ReleaseMarch 2012
Commitment to excellence at Pine Croft by DBS
From the grand design to the smallest detail, pine Croft by DBS, a stunning 5 bedroom detached home in the attractive village of woldingham in Surrey, conveys a commitment to excellence throughout.
DBS has a dedication to detail which is unsurpassed, seen in the quality of its fixtures and fittings, architectural design and standards of finish and Pine Croft is no exception.
This exclusive and superior home offers so much, with five double bedrooms, each with ensuites and many with dressing rooms, a grand entrance hall, family room, kitchen, dining room, drawing room, study and triple bay garage.
Sitting within its own landscaped and mature private gardens, the exterior of the property is completed in a welcoming, Tudor-style, reclaimed timber, brick and render finish. A large feature chimney adorns the east wing of the property, giving a traditional elegance to the overall design, which blends perfectly with the surrounding properties of the area.
Yet despite its external Old-english charm, the incorporation of large paned windows, open-plan living areas and the very best in modern conveniences internally, make for a contemporary, light and stylish home, which exudes luxury and sophistication.
In the bespoke designer kitchen this commitment to excellence continues, with an extremely high specification, where modern units, finished with chic glass doors mix with sleek polished stone worktops. There is also a wealth of appliances, including two Siemens stainless steel convection ovens, an induction hob, microwave, dishwasher, cooker hood, warming drawer, two Siemens fridges, a Siemens freezer and a Bosch glass-fronted wine cooler.
This meticulous attention to detail is also demonstrated in the opulent bathrooms, which offer luxury white sanitaryware and pressurised thermostatically controlled overhead showers. extensive use of water fed under-floor heating provides a fully programmable and energy efficient system with individual room thermostatic controls.
Not only is the property itself a model of excellence, but so is the location, being close to the local shops and St paul's church, which is at the heart of the friendly community of woldingham. The popular woodlea School is also within easy walking distance, while woldingham Station nearby provides services to London victoria and London Bridge.
To make an appointment to view this aspirational property, where excellence is at the heart of the design, please call the selling agents Fine & Country on 01883 653000. prices are upon application.
Old School House conversion in Hythe given top marks by Housing Association
An inspired project by DBS Homes to convert what was once a Victorian School House in Hythe into a stunning collection of apartments and town houses, has been given top marks by Housing Association, Town & Country who commissioned the scheme.
In a class of its own, the project situated in St Leonard's Road in this popular coastal town, has seen the conversion of the existing single-storey victorian school building to residential use and the building of new homes in the former playground. There are 33 new homes in total; including 12 maisonettes, 11 town houses and 10 apartments, all of which are available for the local community through Town & Country Housing.
Kent and London based Architectural practice, guy Hollaway Architects, designed a scheme that blends seamlessly with the local area, combining striking modern architecture with the stone victorian elevations of the old school house , the character of which has been meticulously preserved.
Matt Whitby of Guy Hollaway comments: "This was a fantastic scheme to be involved with, as the original historic school building, which has been successfully converted, also provided the inspiration for the design of the new dwellings. We are very pleased with the completed scheme which complements the surrounding vernacular."
Denis Minns, Managing Director of DBS is delighted with the outcome of the scheme and the positive light with which it has been received: "Regardless of whether a scheme is built for a Housing Association or not, our level of commitment to build quality and excellence remains high and this has been acknowledged by Housing Association schemes time after time. Not only are we providing much-needed homes for the community in this particular scheme, but we have also preserved the character of the school house to be enjoyed for generations to come. We have enjoyed working with the professionals at Town & Country Housing on this project and welcome additional opportunities to do so in the future."
All enquiries regarding availability and allocation of accommodation should be directed to Monson Homes, High Weald House, Monson Way, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1LQ.
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Today, the green vision of Eco towns is stuck in the 'Brown' legacy of environmental red tape and regulation. 8th of May 2012 Denis Minns, Managing Director of DBS is 'Keen to be green' 7th of May 2012
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