The Crown Estate and igloo have submitted a planning application for an innovative new neighbourhood of 75 low-carbon homes in Knutsford, designed to redefine how sustainable communities are delivered in the UK. 

Located off Manchester Road in northwest Knutsford, the scheme is one of three flagship projects brought forward by The Crown Estate to explore how high quality, energy secure homes can be delivered at scale, with the aim of tackling the affordability crisis. The project sits alongside schemes in Wootton, Bedfordshire and Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

In Knutsford, The Crown Estate and igloo are pushing the boundaries of what the homes of the future can look like. By exploring new innovations, the developers are seeking to deliver a community that is both sustainable and affordable for future residents, acting as a benchmark for the next generation of sustainable housing in the UK.

Central to the vision is an exemplar approach to landscape and public realm, with nature, community and wellbeing embedded from the outset. Going well beyond just the buildings themselves, the new neighbourhood has been designed to prioritise people and nature, with pedestrian-led streets, minimal road infrastructure and generous green spaces shaping the layout. 

Biodiverse planting and a central pond are set to deliver over 15% Biodiversity Net Gain, with plans to plant more than 80 new trees at the site. A network of public open spaces will be complemented by semi-private communal gardens, play areas and a pavilion for social gatherings – creating a series of connected, sociable spaces that encourage interaction, outdoor living and a strong sense of community. 

The homes will range from one-bedroom maisonettes to five-bedroom family houses, with around 40% of homes being accessible or adaptable, while around 30% will be delivered as affordable housing - supporting a diverse and multi-generational neighbourhood.

The Crown Estate selected igloo as its development partner in recognition of its track record in delivering best practice in sustainable design and construction that centres around positive impact for people, place and planet.

The proposals have been developed in line with Cheshire East Council’s Local Plan and have been shaped through a programme of community and stakeholder engagement.

Michelle Williams, Project Director at igloo, said: “This is a genuinely exciting moment for the project. At Knutsford, we have the opportunity to demonstrate what the future of sustainable neighbourhoods can look like in practice – combining low-carbon living with high-quality design and meaningful placemaking. 

“Through our Footprint® methodology, we’ve brought together innovative construction, biodiversity and community-focused design to create a place that is not only environmentally responsible, but also enjoyable and inclusive for the people who will live here.”

Rob Chesworth, Head of Strategic Land at The Crown Estate, said: “Across the country, we need to find new ways to deliver homes and communities that are affordable, sustainable and sensitive to the local area. This is exactly what our proposals in Knutsford are seeking to provide. By working together with the local community and exploring the relationship between innovation, affordability and nature, we can shape a template for future housing not only in Knutsford, but throughout the UK.”

Planit’s Manchester studio is leading on the landscape-led scheme. Sophie Parker-Loftus, Studio Director, comments, “Knutsford is a pioneering housing project and it’s exciting to be part of a team setting new standards for housing development across the UK. Prioritising people and nature are at the heart of our design for Knutsford and central to delivering on Planit's Regenerative Practice commitment.”

Scott Chenery, Senior Landscape Architect, adds, “Nature is stitched into the fabric of this proposed new neighbourhood. Communal gardens, open public spaces, connected sociable spaces and an abundance of new trees and planting will help to foster a healthy place for people to live whilst delivering critical Biodiversity Net Gain benefits.”

Our Visualisation team, Virtual Planit, led on the creation of CGIs for the low-carbon project which you can see throughout this post.

Find out more about the plans for Knutsford here and read more from us here.