Wrens Nest, South Sebastopol

The Challenge

Throughout the duration of The Urbanists' involvement with this site they prepared a Development Brief and Concept Masterplan as part of an outline application followed by a Planning Layout and supporting plans as part of a Reserved Matters Application. Both applications aimed to deliver a sustainable and high-quality residential community within a sensitive landscape characterised by steep topography, mature woodlands, and ecological constraints. Through a detailed analysis of the site, The Urbanists developed a vision that balanced the need for new homes with the preservation and enhancement of natural features, including existing hedgerows, woodland buffers, and public rights of way.
 

The proposals emphasised connectivity, integrating the development with the wider development at South Sebastopol through pedestrian and cycle links, while creating distinct character areas that reflected the local context. Key challenges, such as managing the impact of steep gradients, avoiding areas of contamination, and respecting conservation features, were addressed through innovative design solutions. The resulting planning layout created a vibrant, permeable, and sustainable community while preserving the rural character of the site and providing access to key amenities and green spaces. 

Our Role

As Urban Design and Masterplanning Consultants on behalf of Taylor Wimpey, The Urbanists were commissioned to produce a Development Brief for Wren’s Nest, the largest phase within the Edlogan Wharf development at South Sebastopol. Their work provided a coordinated framework to deliver a high-quality, sustainable development that adhered to the masterplan's vision, supported the decision-making process at the Reserved Matters stage, and ensured consistency in design quality over time.

Following this, The Urbanists were appointed to prepare the Reserved Matters application for the first phase of Wren’s Nest and are progressing further work on additional Development Briefs, including the Village Core, in collaboration with Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Homes. Their role involved adapting the client’s house types to align with the character areas defined in the outline permission, ensuring they respected the existing built context while contributing to a cohesive architectural narrative.

The Urbanists’ approach emphasised the integration of natural features, such as woodland buffers and public rights of way, and enhanced connectivity through well-designed pedestrian and cycle links. By combining tailored housetypes with placemaking principles, they ensured the proposals reinforced the local character, provided functional community spaces, and supported a strong sense of place within the wider development.

The Outcome

The Urbanists delivered a high-quality development proposal that exemplifies best practice in urban design and placemaking, while balancing the client’s commercial objectives. By carefully adapting housetypes to reflect local character and strategically integrating natural features, they demonstrated that thoughtful design and a coordinated framework could achieve a cohesive, sustainable development. The approach ensured that high-quality outcomes were delivered without compromising the vision or design integrity. The reserved matters scheme has been granted planning permission and has since been developed.