Winchburgh, Wheatley Group – McTaggart Group

Project Facts at a Glance
Description	West Lothian Housing Partnership’s 55 new homes are part of a major expansion of Winchburgh village just outside Edinburgh. The new homes are a mix of 36 flats and 19 terraced family homes. They are the first new homes ever built by West Lothian Housing Partnership are part of plans to almost double its housing stock between now and 2021. The site layout and massing were developed in response to the masterplan and street hierarchy, as well as with consideration to the site orientation and sun-path. Building heights are positioned to minimise overshadowing to communal garden areas. Balconies are provided to the rear of the three-storey flats to take advantage of the southern aspect and increased privacy. To create active and safer streets, on-street parking is minimised where-ever possible, with most parking provided to the rear of properties in parking courts. Vehicle access is permitted along the mews street, with a 4.5m clear width throughout, however planting and street furniture is located to discourage motorists from using the street as a main thoroughfare. Changes in materiality and planting denote the east west pedestrian only routes without the requirement for bollards. There are three typologies; the mews, the two-storey terrace and the three-storey flats. The exact dwelling types vary within these approaches. The Mews steps down a steep hill and is of a smaller scale than the surrounding blocks. The access is similar in approach to the main street though with a greater focus on soft landscaping and shared surface. A 2m deep defensible space separates the recessed entrances from the public space. The street is informal with a greater emphasis on place over movement. The two-storey terrace is defined by a carefully considered and arranged access forming a 2m deep defensible space to the main street. The access is made up of a combination of a low-level brick wall with pre-cast cap, handrail with infill barrier, planting, shallow ramp and entrance platform and recess. These elements combine to form a distinctive and comfortable entranceway. The three-storey flatted blocks are raised up from the main street frontage and set back 2m, creating a natural boundary and increased level of privacy from the main road. A clay paver is used for pedestrian routes and shared surface streets, to create a high-quality finish and compliment the facing brick. All individual houses are provided with a private garden area to the rear. Communal drying areas and gardens are provided to flats. A number of public spaces are located in the wider masterplan within a short walking distance of the proposed site.

Project Facts at a Glance

Description

West Lothian Housing Partnership’s 55 new homes are part of a major expansion of Winchburgh village just outside Edinburgh. The new homes are a mix of 36 flats and 19 terraced family homes. They are the first new homes ever built by West Lothian Housing Partnership are part of plans to almost double its housing stock between now and 2021.

The site layout and massing were developed in response to the masterplan and street hierarchy, as well as with consideration to the site orientation and sun-path.

Building heights are positioned to minimise overshadowing to communal garden areas. Balconies are provided to the rear of the three-storey flats to take advantage of the southern aspect and increased privacy.

To create active and safer streets, on-street parking is minimised where-ever possible, with most parking provided to the rear of properties in parking courts. Vehicle access is permitted along the mews street,

with a 4.5m clear width throughout, however planting and street furniture is located to discourage motorists from using the street as a main thoroughfare. Changes in materiality and planting denote the east west pedestrian only routes without the requirement for bollards.

There are three typologies; the mews, the two-storey terrace and the three-storey flats. The exact dwelling types vary within these approaches.

The Mews steps down a steep hill and is of a smaller scale than the surrounding blocks. The access is similar in approach to the main street though with a greater focus on soft landscaping and shared surface. A 2m deep defensible space separates the recessed entrances from the public space. The street is informal with a greater emphasis on place over movement.

The two-storey terrace is defined by a carefully considered and arranged access forming a 2m deep defensible space to the main street.

The access is made up of a combination of a low-level brick wall with pre-cast cap, handrail with infill barrier, planting, shallow ramp and entrance platform and recess. These elements combine to form a distinctive and comfortable entranceway.

The three-storey flatted blocks are raised up from the main street frontage and set back 2m, creating a natural boundary and increased level of privacy from the main road. A clay paver is used for pedestrian routes and shared surface streets, to create a high-quality finish and compliment the facing brick.

All individual houses are provided with a private garden area to the rear. Communal drying areas and gardens are provided to flats.

A number of public spaces are located in the wider masterplan within a short walking distance of the proposed site.