Old Station Road, Mendlesham

This scheme comprised 56 new homes (48 private), including a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom units. Although the site had outline planning approval—with access and Public Open Space fixed—the untested design created significant design constraints. The fixed access and open space location, positioned in a low-lying area needed for drainage, restricted the layout and site functionality.

We were tasked with using the Developer’s standard house types, originally designed for other regions. These did not suit the Suffolk vernacular, so we adapted them to incorporate wide frontages, steep roof pitches, and a material palette of brick, render, and weatherboarding which better respected the existing local character.

Key constraints from the outline approval severely limited design flexibility, and changes were difficult without a fresh application. Despite this, we navigated the planning and design process carefully, delivering a cohesive scheme that met both aesthetic and technical requirements.

The project was completed in Spring 2020 and became Lovell Partnerships’ fastest selling site nationwide, demonstrating the value of thoughtful design, attention to detail and a strong community focus.