Thrale Almshouses

Description

The restricted nature of this urban site precludes the provision of large amounts of amenity space. However the apartments have been provided with a small shared garden, while each of the houses benefits from a hard surfaced patio area - effectively a reinterpretation of the rear yards that would have served the terraced properties that once stood on the site. To soften the impact of the hard surfacing the single storey rear outriggers have been given sedum roofs, and it is hoped that as the site matures residents will introduce their own container planting.

Planning History

Cotton Street was one of a pair of surface car parks on the edge of the town centre identified as potential housing sites. Related designs were developed for both but contamination led to only one being built out. At the time of the application the land was zoned for commercial use but with the retail offer in the town centre shrinking rapidly it was clear that a residential development was a more viable option. Nonetheless the application faced opposition from local businesses who were concerned that the loss of parking might affect trade.