We are working as part of a collaborative team on the design of a new Garden Community for Latimer (Clarion Housing), the UK’s largest housing association.

The Tendring and Colchester Borders Garden Community is expected to deliver almost 8,000 new homes over the next 20 years as well as employment space, a new country park, an expansion of the University of Essex campus, a rapid transport system, shops, and community facilities.

Alongside Haworth Tompkins, Bell Phillips and Periscope, we are prepared the detailed component of a hybrid planning application for the first phase of the new garden community, which will see 800 homes, retail and employment spaces and strategic green infrastructure. The project was to be submitted for planning in early 2026.

The design of the wider masterplan and Phase 1 is underpinned by a landscape led approach, whereby the existing hedgerow corridors of ecological importance split the site into development parcels. These are retained and enhanced to provide active travel corridor across the site.

We have developed a mews typology within the higher density areas of the site. Our development model features an inner terrace of walk-up apartments over garages, which front a shared street for parking, servicing, and doorstep play. This approach enables the outer edges of the block to be car free, fronting green corridors that enable the landscape to take centre stage across the masterplan.

_{Masterplan drawings courtesy of Haworth Tompkins.}

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