New River Village

New River Village represents a strategic brownfield infill and regeneration project on a former industrial site on the urban fringe. The masterplan balances the demand for high-quality housing with the need for a legible, walkable mixed-use village that feels distinct from the existing suburban fabric. Rather than a monolithic block of residential units, the plan organizes the site around a central public realm, with buildings oriented to create defined streets and public squares.

Location and Context

The site sits at a transitional point between the established residential area to the south and the developing commercial corridor to the north. The planning rationale is to anchor the northern edge of the village with a commercial plinth — a mix of retail, office, and coworking space — which activates the ground floor and provides a clear destination for visitors. The residential areas are sited towards the south, buffered from the commercial zone by a shared public realm. This zoning allows each zone to have a clear identity while remaining physically connected.

Masterplan Principles

The masterplan is guided by four key principles:

Walkability: All routes are designed to be pedestrian-first, with a clear hierarchy of public realm that guides users through the site.
Density vs Quality: The plan achieves required housing numbers by building to the edge and grouping units, which frees up space for a coherent public realm.
Active Frontage: Commercial and residential ground floors are oriented towards the public realm to create a safe and lively street scene.
Permeability: A grid of pedestrian paths connects the site to the surrounding streets, avoiding internal cul-de-sacs and encouraging movement through the village.

Housing Mix

The housing mix is designed to reflect the diversity of the area and the village’s identity as a place for all ages. The plan includes:

A range of apartment sizes, from one-bedroom studios to larger three-bedroom units, to accommodate different household types.
Terraced housing along the southern edge, providing a pedestrian scale and a transition to the neighboring residential area.
A dedicated provision for affordable housing, integrated throughout the site rather than being concentrated in one block, to ensure a socially diverse community.

Public Realm and Connectivity

The public realm is the heart of the masterplan. The site is organized around a central pedestrian zone that links the commercial plinth to the residential streets. The plan uses paving patterns, street furniture, and planting to define different areas of the village and create distinct places for socializing, working, and commuting.

Key public realm features include:

A central public square for community events and retail activation.
A pedestrian promenade that connects the village to the northern commercial corridor.
Defined streets that use building edges to create a sense of enclosure and a legible village structure.
A network of permeable pedestrian paths that connects the site to the surrounding neighborhood.

Sustainability

The village is designed with a long-term sustainability focus:

Reduced car dependency by prioritizing pedestrian and cycle routes through the site.
High-density building forms that minimize the site footprint and maximize the public realm.
A mix of uses that supports a 15-minute village where residents can work, shop, and socialize within the site.
The use of a brownfield site instead of greenfield land, reusing a former industrial site for a new community.