Commendation for best best social housing development
New approach
Like many other housing associations, Portsmouth Housing Association, which has about 4,700 properties,
including 300 Keyplan units providing temporary accommodation, has been taking a closer look at its social housing. In what it called an Urban Design Project, it challenged the principles, design and quality of the
affordable housing delivered through its development programme. This took the form of “an intense but rewarding” process of evaluation and critique of its past schemes, the view of its residents, a study of European examples of good practice, and constructive dialogue with “a host of professionals.”
As a result of this, PHA adopted a new philosophy for its future developments. This boils down to the use of quality materials, an emphasis on sustainability and, most unexpected of all, “contemporary, provocative design.”
Sharland Place at Broadlaw Walk is the first development to be completed as a result of this new approach, whose “ethos will provide a blueprint for all new social housing schemes we deliver.”
It provides 18 new homes for temporary accommodation, using the Keyplan scheme. These are arranged as a threestorey block in an I-shaped plan, with 12 two-bedroom flats and six one-bedroom flats. This was part of Fareham Borough Council’s homeless strategy to end the use of bedand-breakfast accommodation for homeless families with children by March 2004 – which is when Sharland Place was completed – as required by the Government.
The new housing has been built on the public car park behind the Broadlaw Walk shopping precinct. There is now a new public car park for shoppers at the front of the scheme, and a private garden for the temporary residents of Sharland Place at the back, with an improved pedestrian and cycle path beyond. As PHA says: “An unloved expanse of public parking and a series of ill-defined pedestrian routes have been reworked into a much more optimistic, safer and enjoyable community area.”
HomeBuilder: PORTSMOUTH HOUSING ASSOCIATION
247 Fratton Road, Portsmouth PO1 5PA
Tel 023 9289 2300 Fax 023 9264 6754
Contact: Sabrina Ash, Development Officer
Email: sabrina.ash@phagroup.org.uk
Website: www.phagroup.org.uk
in partnership with:
FAREHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL
Civic Offices, Civic Way, Fareham, Hampshire PO16 7PP
Tel 01329 236100 Fax 01329 821770
Website: www.fareham.gov.uk
Architects: MILLER HUGHES ASSOCIATES LIMITED
Old Post Office Mews, South Pallant, Chichester,
West Sussex PO19 1XP
Tel 01243 774748 Fax 01243 532214
Contact: Mike Ford, Assistant
Email: mef@miller-hughes.co.uk
Website: www.miller-hughes.co.uk
Photography: BEN TANNER/LEFTEYE PHOTOGRAPHY
(01243 511164)