A hallmark for naturally occurring intergenerational living - Hanham Hall, South Gloucestershire

This Housing LIN Case Study (No 160) captures the key design characteristics of the award winning Hanham Hall, outside Bristol.

Written by project architects HTA, Hanham Hall is England's first large-scale volume house builder scheme to achieve the zero-carbon standard and is one of the flagship Carbon Challenge schemes promoted by Homes England. The scheme for Barratt Homes and Sovereign Housing Association addresses local housing requirements for intergenerational living by providing a wide range of accommodation, from 1-bedroom flats and coach houses to five-bedroom houses.

Located in South Gloucestershire, the 9-hectare site adjoins the green belt and suburban housing. It provides 187 new private and affordable homes with complimentary community and commercial uses. The restored Grade II Listed Hanham Hall is central to the vision - providing the site with a sense of identity and history while adding vibrancy to the community through new uses such as office space, a crèche, and cafe. Furthermore, Hanham Hall is now run by its residents, who share a Community Interest Company that manages and maintains the buildings and grounds.

Not designed with older people specifically in mind, the homes themselves have attracted older residents from elsewhere in the country who have moved to Hanham Hall to live in a sustainable community. The development provides housing for people at all stages of their life and has quickly become an intergenerational neighbourhood.

The scheme was judged the winner of the National Housing Design Awards, Richard Feilden award for Best Affordable Housing in 2014.