94 PURFORD GREEN DEVELOPMENT
PURFORD GREEN DEVELOPMENT
The development is being brought forward by Essex Housing - Essex County Council ’ s development team at the site of the former Purford Green Junior School in Little Brays , Harlow .
Oakview Drive , situated in Brays Grove in Harlow , is a contemporary residential development of 35 homes , including 29 for open-market , three for shared ownership and three for affordable rent , designed to seamlessly integrate with the existing neighbourhood .
The development received planning consent in June 2021 , with Marfleet & Blyth awarded the contract to construct the new homes in January 2023 before starting work in May the same year .
Feature brickwork detailing , refined building forms , cropped eaves , and flush verges have been carefully curated to respond to the prevailing character of Harlow New Town .
The project prioritises sustainability with a fabric-first approach , surpassing regulatory insulation standards ; each dwelling boasts a large number of solar photovoltaic panels and is powered by an air source heat pump with underfloor heating , with all homes achieving an Energy Performance Certificate ( EPC ) ‘ A ’ rating .
The design also includes multiple public open spaces , prioritises the retention of existing mature oak trees and includes a link to an existing footpath , which will be refurbished with new surfacing and lighting . All dwellings are ‘ Accessible and Adaptable ’ with five designed for wheelchair users .
Notably , design challenges such as ensuring privacy for the neighbouring homes and primary school were met by adopting a thoughtful dwelling typology with no overlooking windows , and