Penrith East
2008–2009

Date
2008–2009

Project
Penrith East

Client
Barratt Sheffield
Sheffield City Council

Category
Urban | Living

Fluid developed a range of new housing types that re-interpreted the Barratt Homes catalogue for a series of infill sites in Southey Owlerton, in north-east Sheffield.

 Through a process involving the local community, council officers and client Barratt Sheffield, Fluid developed a scheme which enjoyed near unanimous local support.

Penrith East was one of a number of neighbourhoods targeted for improvement by Sheffield Housing Market Renewal (Transform South Yorkshire).

During the first phase selective demolition was carried out of failing housing stock within the neighbourhhod. Fluid was commissioned in September 2008 by Barratt Sheffield to develop through to planning a proposal for a selection of sites scattered across the area.

The requirement was to develop a scheme that had the full support of the Neighbourhood Forum, would explore a contemporary interpretation of the ‘Garden City’ and would utilise a range of housing types derived from Barratt standards adapted to modern methods of construction.

The aim was to generate a ‘masterplan’ generated by a patchwork quilt of infill sites with linkages and ‘place making’ design approaches building a coherent whole.

Community engagement involved a number of creative exchanges including Walk & Talks, drop-in events and design workshops with the Neighbourhood Forum to inform the design development.

In particular the importance of silhouette and roof forms in such a hilly terrain, the use of colour inspired by the local landscape and the desire for shared green and public spaces in the new garden city interventions were explored. The scheme received planning permission in October 2009.