Set within an expansive 650 acre landscape on the edge of Aylesbury, this landmark masterplan delivers a thoughtfully structured 2,450 home urban extension for Barratt Strategic and Ashfield Land.
The vision responds sensitively to its rural Buckinghamshire context, weaving new neighbourhoods into the existing landscape rather than imposing upon it. At its core, the masterplan is guided by a strong placemaking ethos, balancing housing growth with long term environmental quality, legibility and community identity.
A clear spatial framework establishes a hierarchy of movement routes, green corridors and public spaces, ensuring the development functions as a coherent, well connected extension to the town while retaining a strong sense of place in its own right.
Client
Barratt Homes
Sector
Public Realm & Infrastructure
Location
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Ward
Aylesbury Vale District Council
Status
Completed
The development is organised around four distinctive village settlements, each defined by its own architectural language, scale and character. This village-based approach creates recognisable neighbourhoods that foster community identity while avoiding the monotony often associated with large-scale housing growth.
The masterplan carefully responds to existing landform, hedgerows, watercourses and ecological assets, using these natural features to shape development parcels, frame views and structure open spaces. A network of landscaped streets, parks, green buffers and informal open spaces runs throughout the site, promoting walkability, biodiversity and healthy living. The result is a development where built form and landscape are intrinsically linked, creating a strong sense of arrival, orientation and belonging.
A comprehensive mix of uses underpins the sustainability and resilience of the scheme. The masterplan provides two primary schools, with safeguarded land for a future secondary school, alongside local retail centres, sports and leisure facilities, food retail and 10 hectares of employment land. This integrated approach reduces reliance on the private car, supports local jobs and encourages daily activity within walking or cycling distance of homes.
The quality and ambition of the project have been widely recognised, receiving numerous prestigious awards including Outstanding Built for Life, the RTPI Award for Planning Excellence and What House: Best Partnership Scheme, delivered in conjunction with the RSPB. Together, these accolades reflect a masterplan that successfully combines strategic planning, environmental stewardship and high-quality design to create a lasting and successful new community for Aylesbury.
