Victory Oak

St Leonards, East Dorset

This 210 homes (40% affordable) and care home development for Spectrum Housing Group (now Sovereign) was completed in 2021. The scheme is on a previously developed site in the Green Belt, adjacent to a main A-road and neighbouring operational hospital buildings. The majority of residential units are to Lifetime Homes Standards and all are to meet CfSH Level 4. The project was ‘highly commended’ at the 2017 RTPI awards for achieving an integrated, ecologically driven masterplan into the development.

The site is adjacent to a SNCI (Site of Nature Conservation Interest) and therefore demanded a carefully considered approach to landscape that was integrated into the masterplan from an early stage. The former hospital site contains a mosaic of valuable habitats and supports many protected species as nature has slowly been reclaiming the site over the last 20-30 years. The landscape proposals therefore look to help to retain and enhance these habitats and the wildlife they support, whilst creating an attractive and stimulating landscape setting for the development. Matt Harrison led this project when a Director at White Design.