Scandia-Hus were delighted to be involved in the development of 12 affordable homes in Brockham, Surrey, constructed for the benefit of local residents in greatest need. The community-led housing project was managed by The Poland Trust, whose objective is to help local people who are in need, hardship or distress.

When the charity was first formed in the 1950s, the members of the community most requiring support were older residents struggling to purchase appropriate homes for their retirement. However, in recent years it has become apparent that those in greatest need are often younger and for various reasons, they are unlikely to ever be able to live in the area because of the increasingly high property prices.

After a long search for a suitable site, The Poland Trust were able to build Poland Meadow to address this difficulty with affordable accommodation. With land generously gifted to the trust by a local family, 12 homes have been constructed that are being rented at 60% of market value to people with a connection to the area, prioritising those in greatest need. The scheme also involved the sale of 5 plots of land to local families to facilitate building their own homes, with the proceeds helping fund the project. The prices of the houses will be capped at 80% of open market values to ensure the homes remain affordable to local buyers.

Scandia-Hus were commissioned to design, manufacture and construct the affordable housing at Poland Meadow. Working closely with the local council’s planning team, permission was received to proceed within the strict Green Belt regulations with a sustainable and sympathetic design.

It was important that the buildings blend harmoniously into the historic village setting and rural surroundings, so eight of the almshouse cottages share a courtyard and have been configured to resemble a group of farm buildings, with the four almshouse flats built to mimic a traditional farmhouse. Architectural details such as an artificial chimney and stepped rooflines give character to the appearance of the newly built homes. Using black weatherboarding to reflect the look of local barns as well as white cladding and tile hanging to reflect the local vernacular architecture, the final designs sit seamlessly in the landscape.

Along with the high-performing timber frame supplied by Scandia-Hus, the project utilised quality products to ensure longevity and the highly insulated structure combined with energy-efficient windows and solar panels ensures future energy bills will be kept low for the residents.

We are pleased to have worked alongside the Poland Trust on this innovative and unique project which has been welcomed by the community and recognized for its success by the Almshouse Association, receiving the prestigious ‘Inspirational Homes Award’ in 2023.