Inspired by the past, built for the future
Many people dream of a village life. Living in a small community with friendly neighbours surrounded by countryside. Old established villages do not always fulfil the dream; a modern lifestyle and outdated housing can clash. The solution may be a modern village – combining the best aspects of old and new.
Working with English Partnerships, Miller Homes has developed the concept and created the modern village. Birkacre Park, on the edge of Chorley, showcases the guiding principles. Kay Halls, Miller Homes’ Sales Manager explains: “All the research shows that people are happiest and healthiest when integrated into a community. But this does not happen by chance – it needs facilitating.”
“At Brikacre Park we have a very traditional, but actually quite radical, design for this. We have based the development’s design around the community. A village green is at the heart of the development. A proper landscaped area with bench seating a gazebo and a pond.”
“A further aspect of the traditional village is that they have grown around human beings, not cars and traffic flow,” says Kay. “So you have side streets where it is safe to play; cars are excluded or slowed down to crawl in the pedestrian and traffic shared routes. This is achieved through our HomeZone design techniques.”
Birkacre Park is a ‘flagship’ development. To show how new homes can deliver the best in 21st century living standards and offer the qualities of a traditional way of life. Location, architecture and building arts have played a big part in scheme. Kay continues: “ The site is special, located between Yarrow Country Park and Duxbury Golf Club. Yet offers easy access to the new A6 link road, the final part of the Chorley Western Bypass.”
“Strolling through Birkacre Park you see attractive street scenes and vistas around every corner. To achieve this the development comprises of a choice of 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses; a total of 16 house designs and just 12, 2-bed apartments. The individuality is further enhanced by opposite handed designs. In providing such a wide variety, the development appeals to the broadest spectrum of homebuyers, replicating a village community.”
Having the perfect setting and a great choice of properties does not create a ‘wow’ without focusing on every aspect of the design. Architectural detail and building arts are a delight to the eye. Craftsmanship is evident everywhere, confirming the resurrection of traditional construction skills that complement the village feel.
In the roads and paths with the splayed granite sets. Street furniture, which silently directs people and traffic along the HomeZone routes. The sandstone copings, brick pillars and soldier courses that decorate the sculptured boundary walls. Antique style street lighting and iron railings that complement the brick choices. And all the homes achieve Eco-Homes ‘Very Good’ rating.
Overseeing this unique development, and teams of craftsmen, is multi award-winning Site Manager Tony Preece. He has won four NHBC -‘Pride in the Job’ Quality Awards and a Seal of Excellence award since 2005.
To see this exceptional modern village, visit the Marketing Suite on Eaves Green, Lower Burgh Way, Chorley, PR7 3TA. It is open Thursday to Monday, 10.30am to 5.30pm.
