Fencedyke Social Housing

Fencedyke

Client: North Ayrshire Council

Dates: 2014-2017

Value: £4m

Project: New build affordable residential development

Location: Irvine

In 2014 Holmes Miller won the Design Competition for an Affordable Housing residential development in Irvine for North Ayrshire Council. The development creates a local community of 35 new homes for Council rent, consisting of a mix of single storey wheelchair standard bungalows to five bedroom, two storey family houses; arranged to create a mixture of semi-detached houses and terraces, with gardens, streetscape and open space.

Sitting within an existing community of varied age, tenure and design, and protected by an existing mature tree belt, the site layout is based on the “Glasgow Vennel”. The “Glasgow Vennel” is a historic road in the centre of Irvine, which creates an inviting and recognisable streetscape to the development. Implementing the principles of the Scottish Government publications “Designing Streets” and “Designing Places”, further leads to a varied street pattern with a strong sense of place. At the heart of the scheme is an enclosed central “village green” with pedestrian priority throughout providing a pleasant and safer environment for social interaction and children’s play. 

The house designs are detailed with a contemporary “clipped” style providing a simple yet sophisticated appearance. Steep pitched roofs and gable ends at the vennel entrances, with ventilation chimneys, provide a local vernacular aesthetic to the development. Separate identities for each house are provided via feature zinc-clad hooded windows with coloured panel infills. 

The development attained an EcoHomes Award and the Silver Level of Sustainability.