Building Communities

AUTHOR: ANDREW TAYLOR, GROUP PLANNING DIRECTOR AT COUNTRYSIDE

In the wake of the pandemic, we’re all considering what the next generation of neighbourhoods will look like and how will they meet the needs of the communities they are designed to serve. Our priorities have changed immeasurably, and as planners and developers, we are looking to respond in earnest.

With the focus on the the’15-minute neighbourhood’ concept, we’re already seeing early adaptations to planning and development. Of course, the ’15-minute’ centre is not a new concept, it has been brought to the fore over the last 18-months, and there are clear parallels we can draw with new neighbourhoods that have long been in development.

Behind everything, we do at Countryside is our unifying purpose to create places where people love to live, with sustainable communities built to last. This means thinking beyond just building houses to also thinking critically about the social and digital infrastructure, and the transport and green spaces that will answer local needs, engaging and empowering the communities around us.

Our strong relationships with local authorities, institutional private rented sector, housing associations, and the private sector nationally and locally means we can deliver a portfolio of affordable, private rented and open market sale homes across the UK through estate regeneration, town centre development, small additions to towns and villages or larger urban extensions.

For us at Countryside, creating places where people love to live is more than just creating quality, sustainable buildings. It’s about supporting and engaging with communities at every stage. From understanding the needs of the communities and responding in the way we design our developments, to working closely with our partners and clients to engage and empower communities throughout the whole development process, we place communities at the heart of everything we do.

We are committed to maximising socio-economic value for the communities in which we work, creating value through our developments by investing in the local economy, supporting local enterprise and creating employment and training opportunities. It is this combined approach that defines Building Communities.

At Countryside, these principles guide our vision to build new communities that people love and in which they can thrive. Beaulieu (part of Chelmsford Garden Community) was boosted by Essex County Council’s approval of a funding package for Beaulieu Park Station. An important step in the sustainable growth of the city, proposals for the new Beaulieu station also include a bus interchange and substantial cycle parking, as well as a dedicated pedestrian and cycle route which will connect both the residential areas and the business park to the new rail station. Connectivity between Beaulieu, Chelmsford and London has been prioritised: following a £22 million investment from L&Q and Countryside, Network Rail has committed to developing a new railway station at Beaulieu, which will form part of the East Anglian mainline. A new relief road under construction will provide easy links onto the A12, while a new bus interchange and express bus route link Beaulieu with Chelmsford City Centre and Chelmsford Rail Station - all residents are entitled to a year’s free bus travel when they move in.

This infrastructure, including a genuine choice of transport modes as recommended by the draft National Planning Policy Framework, has been achieved through collaboration. Born from a shared vision to create a vibrant, integrated community, working together in partnership with Chelmsford City Council to deliver a development that offers a blend of inspirational architecture, attractive landscaping and public realm, a plethora of amenities, new transport connections, sports clubs, community gardens and more.

Countryside – committed to creating places people love.