Kingfisher Drive

Employers Agent: Potter Raper
Planning Supervisor/CDM: DMA Health and Safety Limited
Structural Engineer: Richard Jackson Partnership
Energy Assessment: Barefoot & Gilles

Kingfisher Drive was part of an £8m initiative which enabled Mid Suffolk District Council (now Babergh Mid Suffolk) to develop the first Council Housing in the District for 30 years. Havebury Housing Partnership acted as the development agency for these projects of which Kingfisher Drive was the first in the series.

Developing a steeply sloping site within a mix of development patterns presented a series of challenges. The topography required many changes of level and the surrounding road system had to serve the site whilst avoiding a ‘rat run’ through the development itself. In addition, building on land which had become de facto public open space demanded extensive public involvement to gain local support.

Care was taken to produce a contemporary design compatible with neighbouring houses and with a layout which reflected the surrounding settlement pattern. The intention was to integrate the new buildings seamlessly within the village.

Sustainability was a major factor of the specification with Barefoot & Gilles providing ‘in-house’ assessment. A ‘fabric first’ approach was adopted whereby reduction of energy demand is given priority over renewable technology. The buildings have a highly insulated, relatively airtight envelope which reduces the energy required to heat them and enables full advantage to be taken of energy generation provided by solar panels and air-sourced heat pumps.