German Road, Bramley
Site history
The site is located on German Road in Bramley in Hampshire, identified as a strategic development site by Basingstoke and Deane as part of their local plan adopted in September 1998. The earliest evidence of settlement in the area is the Iron Age fort at Bullsdown, just to the east of the present village. The course of the Roman Road from Silchester to Winchester runs through the western end of the village. However, in its present form, Bramley originated in Saxon times and is mentioned in the Doomsday book, the Grade 1-listed St. James’ Church dates back to the 12th century.
The site lies to the west of the A33 between Reading, to the north, and Basingstoke to the south. Adjacent to the railway line between Reading and Basingstoke to the south of the village and north of the Bow Brook which flows from west to east and forms a tributary of the River Loddon.
Covering an area of approximately 9.5ha the site is an irregular ‘L’ in shape, with a spur to the south. Previously used by the Ministry of Defence ammunition dump between 1918 and 1987 it was also the centre of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, School of Ammunition after 1922.
The site was then purchased by Taylor Wimpey and planning permission was granted in July 2007 at appeal.
Scheme background
Our ongoing relationship with Taylor Wimpey brought an opportunity to purchase a ‘packet’ of new properties, to be offered as affordable rented homes to local people on the housing waiting list.
10 homes have garages, all others have a parking space plus additional spaces for visitors. Bicycle storage is provided and there is a well equipped play area on site.
Our investment of £10.35m was supported by a grant of £3,184,616m from the Homes and Communities Agency and £1.15m from Recycled Capital Grant Fund.
Features
Construction is to EcoHomes standard very good and Secure by Design part 2. The timber frames are predominately brick clad with tiles roofs. The whole site has been extensively landscaped befitting it’s semi rural location.
Development details
Local authority: Basingstoke & Deane
Developer: Taylor Wimpey
Architect: Taylor Wimpey Design & Build using HGP Architects
Cost: £10.35M
Number of homes: The whole site provides 271 homes plus a nursing home and commercial units. Sentinel has 46 affordable rented homes, 14 x 2 bed flats, 12 x 2 bed houses, 13 x 3 bed houses and 7 x 4 bed houses.
Completion date: March 2010
