Planning permission granted for masterplan Burley Road

We are delighted to announce that planning permission has been granted for a masterplan for a new neighbourhood at Burley Road, Oakham, Rutland, for Mulberry Homes. The new 17-hectare neighbourhood will ultimately provide up to 213 homes, including 30% affordable housing and improved connections to the town.

The scheme will comprise of 203 homes within the current Reserved Matters application and a further 10 self-build/custom-build plots to be brought forward through separate future applications. The development will also deliver new public open space, play areas, allotments, green infrastructure and improved walking and cycling connections.

At ADAM Architecture we believe that meeting the need for new homes does not have to come at the expense of the character and identity of the places in which they are built. At Burley Road, our masterplanning team have worked closely with the landowner to take a long-term, place-led approach to growth, using the site’s landscape, history and relationship with Oakham to shape a neighbourhood with a strong sense of identity. Research into local building forms, materials, street patterns and the relationship between buildings and public spaces has informed a neighbourhood intended to have its own identity while feeling naturally connected to the existing town.

Rather than creating a development that could belong anywhere, the ambition is to establish a lasting extension to the town, carefully planned as a place for its community and landscape to evolve together over generations.

The architecture combines traditional local materials including coursed ironstone, rubblestone, render and red brick with contemporary standards of energy efficiency and sustainability. Details including Flemish bond brickwork with burnt headers, stone and brick quoins, close-clipped eaves and brick corbels draw on the distinctive architectural character of the area.

A new north-south Main Street will form the principal route through the development, connecting a series of character areas and a new local square. Density and character will change across the site, from a more formal, higher-density southern quarter through the Main Street to a lower-density, more informal northern edge adjoining the countryside.

Robbie Kerr, Partner at ADAM Architecture, says:

“There are different ways to meet the housing need in this country. At ADAM Architecture, we believe new development should be an opportunity to create something that has a lasting value for the places and communities it becomes part of. At Burley Road, we have worked closely with the landowner to understand Oakham’s character, landscape and history, and to use these as the foundations for a new neighbourhood that feels as though it has grown naturally from the town. It is about creating somewhere with its own identity, but which is connected to the community around it. It will be a place that can evolve and thrive for generations to come.”

The relationship between the development and its landscape setting is central to the masterplan. We have worked with landscape consultants Golby + Luck to shape the layout to retain important views and establish a strong visual connection with the rolling hills to the north, including a key view towards Burley House and its historic parkland.

The layout also responds to views south towards the spire of All Saints Church, with the southern edge set back to strengthen the visual connection with Oakham.

The northern edge of the site will incorporate a broad greenway with swales, attenuation basins, recreation areas and natural play, creating a softer transition between the neighbourhood and open countryside. Existing hedgerows, trees and watercourses will be retained and enhanced wherever possible, complemented by new planting, wildflower grassland and habitat creation.

The landscape strategy responds to the wider character of the Vale of Catmose, while the integrated sustainable drainage system will help manage surface water and contribute to biodiversity and the long-term environmental resilience of the site.

Connectivity is a fundamental principle of the approved scheme. New and enhanced pedestrian and cycle routes will connect the neighbourhood with Oakham town centre, the existing Co-op retail area and the wider footpath network, while public rights of way will be retained. The town centre is approximately a 20-minute walk from the site.

The masterplan has been informed by the principles of Building for a Healthy Life and active design best practice, with walkable streets, accessible green spaces, play areas and lower-traffic environments designed to encourage active travel and healthier lifestyles.

Sustainability is embedded from the outset, with homes designed for high levels of energy efficiency and an all-electric strategy for space heating, cooling and hot water. Electric vehicle charging infrastructure will be provided for most homes, while fibre-optic broadband will be available throughout the development.

The scheme will provide a mix of house types, sizes and tenures, supporting a diverse community. Affordable housing will account for 30% of the homes, comprising affordable rent and shared ownership, and will be distributed throughout the development and designed to the same external specification as the market housing.

The 10 self-build/custom-build plots will be located in the north-west of the site and brought forward separately, providing future residents with the opportunity to shape their own homes.

The development sits outside Oakham Conservation Area and the Green Belt, and its design has been carefully considered in relation to the town’s historic environment and surrounding heritage assets. Through its scale, massing, landscape strategy and carefully positioned views, the masterplan seeks to establish an appropriate transition between Oakham and its rural setting.

The result is a framework for a new neighbourhood in which architecture, landscape and public realm work together, rooted in Oakham’s distinctive character while providing the homes, connections and green spaces needed to support the town’s future.