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Location: Winchester
Client: Winchester City Council
Value: TBC
Status: Design Competition 2016
The Valley
These proposals were developed as part of an affordable housing design competition, run by Winchester City Council, and focus on the transformation of an underused area of public open space. Defined by its steep topography, the site functioned primarily as a visual amenity rather than an active landscape. The design response seeks to unlock this hidden asset by introducing sensitively integrated housing that creates a strong frontage to the park, improves accessibility and enhances the quality and usability of the wider green space.
The site lies within a narrow, east‑facing valley in the southern suburbs of Winchester, offering long views toward St Catherine’s Hill and Bar End. Although surrounded by established residential neighbourhoods and alternative recreational spaces, previous consultation identified the Valley as an area with significant untapped potential. It is already well used informally by local residents for walking, dog exercise and access to nearby amenities, and the proposals build on this existing pattern of use to strengthen connections and wayfinding.
A comprehensive landscape strategy underpins the scheme. The design enhances the Valley’s wooded character through new woodland, grassland and wildflower habitats, linked by sinuous pedestrian routes. Green infrastructure is fully integrated, incorporating sustainable urban drainage, community gardens, biodiversity enhancements and spaces for recreation, wellbeing and everyday movement. The result is a richer, more varied environment that encourages engagement with nature and supports healthier lifestyles.
Housing is arranged to frame and activate the new park, helping to connect the neighbouring areas of Stanmore and Sleepers Hill, which currently turn their backs on the Valley. A new entrance, aligned with the existing Stanmore street grid, establishes a clear connection and arrival point. A ribbon of houses overlooks the park, while carefully positioned apartment buildings step down the slope, responding to the site’s topography and creating focal points along the Valley.
Architecturally, the scheme strikes a balance between context and identity. Robust red brick bases anchor the buildings into the landscape, while zinc‑clad upper floors introduce a contemporary character that reflects the changing light and greenery. Simple, efficient building forms support affordability, durability and a fabric‑first approach to sustainability, ensuring high‑quality, low‑energy homes that are well suited to their setting and built to stand the test of time.
Project Team
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