Competitors chosen to bid for Osbaldwick development
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the City of York Council announced today that four firms have been selected to submit outline Master Plans for the proposed new development at land near Osbaldwick, York. The £25million project is intended to create a 'model' town extension that seeks to set the standards for housing in the new century, just as the Foundation's village of New Earswick in York has tried to do during the 20th Century.
Over 350 homes and community facilities could be built at Osbaldwick and the first residents are expected to move in during 2002. The master planner who is finally chosen will work with local residents, businesses and others to ensure that the very latest and best ideas are used to develop a place in which people are proud to live.
Nearly 70 firms had asked to be considered for the competition to choose the very best designer for the site. From these, four firms have been selected. They will each be given £10,000 to work up their ideas, which will be submitted in the New Year.
A community planning day is being held on Saturday 9th October so that the views of local people can be shared with the four finalists. On this day, local people will have the opportunity in an informal setting to say what they want to see on the site. Anyone can drop in to the marquee on the site between Fifth Avenue and Metcalfe Lane at any time between 10.30 am and 4.30 pm.
The four teams chosen are led by:
| 1 | Aire Design (lead consultant) with Ecologica Camlin Lonsdale Dewhirst McFarlane Davis Langdon Everest Aire Design led the team which won the Allerton Bywater Millennium Community Masterplanning Competition. |
| 2 | Edaw Ltd (lead consultant) with McNeil & Beechey (York-based architects firm) Wilkinson Hindle Halsall Lloyd Partnership Oscar Faber & Co An international planning consultancy with an extensive track record in masterplanning, and supported by local York architects McNeil & Beechey. |
| 3 | PRP Architects with ECD Energy & Environment Ltd Alan Baxter & Associates An award winning practice of architects and urban designers with a reputation for good housing design. |
| 4 | John Thompson & Partners with Lemos & Crane Whitelaw Turkington Alan Baxter & Associates Londonomics An architectural practice recognised for its pioneering work in community participation. |
Roy Wallington, Head of Strategy and Commissioning at the City of York Council, said: "We are delighted that top firms of architects and planners have stepped forward to act as master planners for the Metcalfe Lane site. We will listen carefully to the views of local people in deciding which of the four teams would be the best".
Roland Crooke, Director of Housing Operations at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, who will be responsible for the project, said: "We are determined that really high quality homes will be built in the new development and that it will be a great asset to neighbouring communities".
Note to editors
The final plan for the new community will have to go through the council's normal planning process before building work starts and there will be many opportunities for public consultation before the development is given the final go-ahead.
(Issued by David Darton, JRF Communications Department, 01904 615906)
