Gibbs Field Development
"One of the reasons the Rural Housing Trust came to us is because they are very interested in new forms of construction, including timber frame and structural insulated panels." Richard Borg, Homes Divisional Director
Gibbs Field, in the Kent village of Leigh, is a small development that provides much needed affordable housing in an area where local people can find it difficult to get a foot on the housing ladder.
Osborne has built this 10-home development for the Rural Housing Trust, a leading developer of small affordable housing schemes in villages in England. The Trust worked closely with Leigh Parish Council and Sevenoaks District Council to identify the site, designated as a development in the green belt for local needs housing. It then developed the design for six houses and four flats before negotiating a £1.1 million detailed design and build contract with Osborne.
Osborne has developed it's own structural insulated panels system, in conjunction with Innovare Systems Limited, but at the time of the Gibbs Field contract was awaiting BBA approval for its use in apartment construction. As the development is small, Osborne chose to use one method of construction, and opted for timber frame. The homes are built to a very high standard and clad in a mix of render and traditional Kent-style timber cladding and decorative brick work.
Through careful sourcing of materials, the scheme achieved the client's objective of a Good EcoHomes rating, while minor design changes also resulted in it meeting the Secure by Design standard - an unexpected bonus for the client.
At the start of the contract, the Trust carried out an eco survey, which was monitored by Osborne, and identified the presence of protected slow worms on the site. These were carefully transferred to a new habitat nearby.
During construction, agreement was reached with the owner of adjacent farm land to enable surface water from Gibbs Field to cross his land and run into an existing brook. A new substation was built so that electricity could be brought onto the development. Osborne has also agreed to provide road improvements, including interactive warning signs and changes to the road layout, to slow down drivers as they enter the village.
The homes were handed over in May 2007, with four flats and three houses being managed by West Kent Housing Association for rent and the remaining three houses by English Rural Housing Association for sale on a shared ownership basis. Both RSLs are existing clients of Osborne. "The associations attended every site meeting, and had their own requirements to meet," explains Osborne's Homes' Divisional Director Richard Borg. "So, instead of having one client to satisfy, we had three and this required very careful management. It is testament to the way we worked together that we were able to design homes that are not only visually appealing and fit into the character of t
he village, but were also delivered on time and to budget."
Jane Davis, Area Programme Manager for the Rural Housing Trust explains the importance of the development to the local area: "Ten local households now have a home of their own in their village. Without this project, it's a sad reality that some locals would have had to move away to find affordable accommodation. Here, they can continue to support the local school, clubs and businesses. Thanks also to Leigh Parish Council who have supported this project and helped make it a success; it has made a real difference to the lives of local people and the future of their rural community."