McBains Cooper appointed on Milton Keynes residential scheme

Consultant McBains Cooper has submitted a planning application for a £20m residential scheme in Kingsmead South, Milton Keynes, for Lagan Homes and Midsummer Housing Association.

The firm is providing architecture, urban design and masterplanning to the scheme.

Developed in close consultation with English Partnerships, it comprises 160 homes of which 113 are houses. Some 30% of the homes are affordable housing and the remaining units are available for outright sale.

Zaki Ghiacy, director at McBains Cooper’s Oxford office, said: “The homes are split to ensure that no more than six units of one tenure are located together, to reflect the needs and aspirations of the local community and to create a good community spirit.”

Around 10% of the homes will be powered by on-site renewable energy sources.

Designed for Lifetime Home standards, the homes can adapt to meet the changing needs of the residents.

The development is split into two key designs, contemporary and semi-traditional. The contemporary style features white render with dark-grey glazing and doors. The semi-traditional buildings have orange/red brickwork facades interspersed with white render panels and timber cladding.

The site and buildings have also been designed to comply and achieve a Cabe "Building for Life" silver award for achieving good design standards.

Zaki said: “Regeneration is not only about buildings, it is about creating sustainable communities.

“The scheme will act as a gateway into existing and future parts of Kingsmead and McBains Cooper’s proposal demonstrates a clear and cohesive approach to this.”