Monk Court, Andover

Site history

This former Greene King pub – called the Merrie Monk – had been struggling even before the pub smoking ban, and Sentinel bought it from the brewery in 2009. This 0.16ha site is just a five minute walk to Andover town centre, on the corner of New Road and Corunna Main.

As a corner plot surrounded by terraced houses and apartment blocks, Sentinel saw the potential to redevelop as apartments, and secured planning consent in early 2010. Neighbours said they were happy for the pub to be replaced by a quieter residential development.

Scheme detail

The frontage of the three-storey apartment block has been designed in ‘cottage’ style, with private entrances for some ground floor apartments, and the 15 homes all come with one parking space and one cycle space. Due to a strong pipeline of shared ownership coming from the larger Augusta Park project on the other side of town, Sentinel and the borough council agreed to a single social rented tenure throughout.

Although there is no on-site open space, the nearby Vigo Park recreation ground will receive £34,000 from Sentinel in developer contributions for new play equipment and to resurface the tennis courts and improve paths.

The £1.6m cost was funded by £800,000 of grant from Homes & Communities Agency, with £850,000 from Sentinel bank loans, and Amiri were chosen after a tendering process.

Features

The project has achieved Code for Sustainable Homes level 3, and features timber frame build and photovoltaic roof panels. Monks Court has also been awarded Secure by Design accreditation.

Completion date: April 2011

Local authority: Test Valley Borough Council

Client: Sentinel Housing Association

Developer: Amiri Construction, Fareham, Hants

Architect: Urban Pulse

Cost: £1.6m

No homes: 12x 2 Bedroom, 2x 1 Bedroom and 1x 3 Bedroom apartments for social rent.