The Crown Estate understands that development needs to respond to local sensitivities, including:
- The local landscape and setting of nearby villages and neighbourhoods, including views from sensitive landscapes such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
- The historic environment, including conservation areas, listed buildings, archaeology and natural features such as hedgerows and woodland.
- Wildlife, including valued habitats and protected species.
- Local architectural styles and designs.
- Other important local environmental priorities (e.g. flood risk and surface water drainage).
Putting theory into practice
- The Crown Estate’s environmentally-friendly development at Burnhill Green, near Wolverhampton, is an example of our approach to design and demonstrates how we put our principles into practice.
- In the heart of the countryside, the development combines the latest green technologies with traditional British crafts and materials.
- The new homes conform to the village’s established architectural style and meet Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
- Sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDs) and landscaping in front of the new houses creates a new ecology-rich village green.