Affordable Housing - Looe

This small development of 15 affordable homes for Cornwall Housing showcases CSA’s best design quality, proving that good design can be accessible to all. This cluster of dwellings features an apartment block (lower on the site) with two 2-bed flats on the top floor, and five units of 1 and 2 beds on the ground and lower-ground floors, plus a terrace of houses. Each home has different coloured doors, to foster a sense of individuality. Originally conceived as three 3-bed houses and two 4-bed houses, the specification was changed mid-way through the build, as it became apparent that the need in the area was for something different. The end pair of houses is now four 1-bed flats.

We set out to build homes on this site that are ‘lifetime homes compliant’, with accessible parking, wider door openings, and internal fittings that will allow the homes to ‘work’ for people who are older, or in wheelchairs, as well as young families. This is an officially recognised set of 12 criteria, and all the homes meet the points relating to internal design; however the site’s slope and the access arrangements to the houses mean not every property quite meets them for the exterior.

Part of our brief was to provide a community area, as there is a well-used footpath through the site to Looe town, below. We created a play park in consultation with local families, to replace a dilapidated old park. The contractors are members of the Considerate Contractors Scheme, and all work was done in line with these guidelines, and in consultation with neighbours and residents.

The project was shortlisted ‘Best social or affordable new housing development’ in the LABC South West Building Excellence Awards 2018.