We are delighted to announce that an outline application for a new residential development at North Stevenage has received a ‘Resolution to Grant’ consent from North Hertfordshire Council’s Planning Committee. Promoted by Croudace Homes, the 24.7-hectare scheme will deliver up to 900 new homes, including affordable housing and self/custom build units, alongside a primary school and a neighbourhood centre.

A Landscape-Led Masterplan Shaping Sustainable Communities

Our multidisciplinary team played a vital role in shaping the scheme, providing Environmental Design services that helped define the project’s green infrastructure network. Through an iterative Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA), Verifiable Visual Montages, and a comprehensive Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA), we ensured the development could sensitively integrate with its surroundings, responding to the site’s existing characteristics and constraints.

The result is a thoughtfully designed scheme that creates two distinct neighbourhoods, each reflecting the transition between different landscape character areas of the existing arable setting.

Green Infrastructure at the Heart of the Development

A central green spine will form the backbone of the development, providing vital community facilities including:

• A large play area
• Community gardens and an orchard
• Active Travel Routes and recreational paths, promoting exploration and healthy lifestyles
• Connections to existing public rights of way, enhancing accessibility

Additional play areas and an allotment, meeting local demand, are incorporated in the green infrastructure network along with sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). Parkland and street tree planting will enhance biodiversity and placemaking, allowing residents to engage with nature.

Collaboration Driving Success

Collaboration was key to the success of the planning application. In early 2023, the project team engaged with Design South East’s North Hertfordshire Design Review Panel, whose feedback helped refine and strengthen the masterplan. This collaborative process continued through workshops with North Hertfordshire Council planning officers, contributing to the development of a Strategic Masterplan Framework (SMF). The SMF, approved in November 2024, set out clear design parameters and an illustrative masterplan, providing the foundation for the outline application’s success.

Looking Ahead

The Resolution to Grant consent paves the way for the formal decision notice, which will enable the preparation of detailed design matters previously reserved or conditioned by the Local Planning Authority. We look forward to continuing our support for Croudace Homes in bringing this exciting, sustainable development to life.