Rolls Crescent

ECD was appointed by North British Housing Association (now Places for People) to design a scheme of 67 family houses, forming part of the Hulme Regeneration Masterplan.

The process started with an introduction to the Urban Design Code prepared for Hulme, the development of a design brief and a series of structured interviews with local residents. Subsequently a design review group was established including representatives of the local community.

The design concept was based on three urban blocks creating a traditional street pattern, with entrances directly off the street and street parking. The brief called for a large variety of house types at two and three storeys, with the 3 storey elements placed at key intersections. Within each urban block is a landscaped communal space for the exclusive use of residents. The development has a strong visual identity characterised by use of curved roof shapes and coloured render.

It has proved very successful and is cited in ‘Better Places to Live By Design’- A Companion Guide to PPG3 as a model of good urban design.