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Magenta Court, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead
To help address the high demand for housing in the Borough of Dacorum, the Magenta Court scheme significantly contributes to meeting the high demand for housing. The new affordable housing development comprises 4 buildings between 2 and 4 storeys. Plus 29, 1 and 2-bedroom apartments for social rent. It is traditionally built and designed to reflect the neighbouring canal/wharf architecture. Robust materials are chosen to ensure high performance and low maintenance costs for the residents.
This new affordable development in the Hertfordshire village of Apsley is situated on a tightly constrained brownfield site. Previously forming part of the Apsley Mill. It was traditionally built, and designed to reflect the neighbouring canal/wharf architecture, with robust materials chosen to ensure high performance and low maintenance costs for residents.
Occupying a central position in the village, next to the Grand Union Canal, it had numerous challenges. The site saw culverts, a 4.5m site gradient, groundwater abstraction boreholes, an existing substation, vehicle access restrictions, and neighbouring historic buildings.
Solutions were developed with various consents, licences and approvals required to satisfy planning conditions, the Environmental Agency, and the Canal & River Trust. A wholly collaborative method of working with HBC and the professional design team was crucial.
Hertfordshire Building Control was consulted from the outset of this scheme to minimise disruption to the project. We were able to be flexible during site inspections, many of which had to be accommodated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Building Control Surveyor, Craig McMahan, visited the site within time slots, allowing us to keep him and the staff on-site safe. He excelled at sharing his knowledge about different elements of the building.
A significant client requirement was for the acoustic performance of the internal partitions and ceilings to perform 8db better than the building regulation requirement. The air testing also went beyond compliance with the building regulations, and with low SAP ratings from the new gas boiler central heating systems.
To have delivered this amazing scheme with all its complexities, was a major achievement. It could not happen without the collaboration of all those involved. It was fantastic to support Jarvis in winning Best Social Housing Development at the LABC Awards 2021 Grand Finals.