Regent Place

Fraser Brown Mackenna Architects

Regent Place, a new development for Gateway Housing Association, provides 32 high-quality Shared Ownership homes, including two 3-bedroomed maisonettes and three wheelchair units. Located opposite the Medway Conservation Area in Bow, the scheme complements the urban and history-rich setting whilst providing homes for contemporary living. The design provides a continuous three-storey frontage along Norman Grove and Saxon Road which relates to the character of the area and the locally listed Saxon Lea Court.

The courtyard, which creates a green space in the heart of the development and a play area for the under-fives, responds to the leafy character of the neighbourhood. This has been further enhanced by setting back the buildings to allow a green strip of gardens, which along with the mature London Plane trees tie the development into the immediate context and nearby Selwyn Green. Setting the buildings back has also increased their distance from existing properties resulting in improved privacy and reduced noise disturbance. Ordered fenestration patterns with tall, generous window proportions further underpin the scheme’s connection with the Victorian architectural legacy of the area. The arched entrances to individual dwellings introduce an intimate, human-scale character that echoes this distinctive feature in the surrounding streets. The parapet detail is also a nod to the Victorian heritage of the area. The scheme is car-free given the proximity to local transport links and supportive of local policy that encourages sustainable modes of transport. Dedicated cycle storage is provided within the courtyard and is accessible to all residents