Commendation for Best Large Housing Development of the Year
COMPASS POINT
South at Didsbury Point, Princess Parkway, Didsbury, Manchester M20
One would never guess from its name that Didsbury Point is the redevelopment of a 30-acre brownfield site known to thousands as Withington Hospital, which merged with Wythenshawe Hospital in 2001. The site was bought from NHS Estates by Countryside Strategic Projects PLC for a reported £20 million and the worldwide urban planning and landscape consultancy EDAW, which has offices in Manchester, was appointed as master planners, working in conjunction with Altrincham architects Calder Peel.
The site is being redeveloped by Countryside Residential (NW) as a mixed-use urban village with more than 400 new homes, a landscaped business park of 275,000 sq ft, and a 150-bedroom hotel and restaurant complex. There will be four phases to the development, which is planned to be completed in 2006. Phase 1, which was completed in April this year, consisted of 51 houses and apartments for sale at prices from £149,950 to £664,950. As there is sufficient affordable housing in the area, there is no planning requirement for social housing.
Calder Peel have produced some innovative housing designs, but the American influence of EDAW shows in the marketing names chosen by Countryside for their housing types, which include Haight, Ashbury, Soho, Boho, Greenwich, Condamine and Chelsea. One cannot fault the designs, however, which create apartments with clean lines and contemporary styling, including large open-plan living areas and internal and external amenity spaces, while the three- and four-bedroom houses enjoy balconies, terraces and gardens.
Phase 1 is only the beginning, but the judges thought it was worthy of a commendation this year. CABE went further and gave it a Building for Life award in January this year. Our judges would like to consider the development again when it is further advanced or completed, especially in terms of its mixed use.
Homebuilder: COUNTRYSIDE RESIDENTIAL (NORTH WEST) LIMITED
Countryside House, Ibis House, Centre Park, Warrington WA1 1RL
Tel 01925 248900
Fax 01925 248901
Website: www.countryside-residential.co.uk
Contact: Jennifer Trotter, Marketing Manager.
Email: nw@cpplc.com
Architects: CALDER PEEL PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
Market Court, 20-24 Church Street, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 4DW
Tel 0161 929 7622
Fax 0161 929 7655
Website: www.calderpeel.com
Contact: Caroline Lamb, Business Manager.
Email: carolinelamb@calderpeel.com
in conjunction with
Master Planners: EDAW
Commercial Wharf, 6 Commercial Street, Manchester M15 4PZ
Tel 0161 839 4525
Fax 0161 839 5529
Website: www.edaw.co.uk
Contact: Jim Chapman, Director.