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Chantry Mews

Hopkins Estates

Dorset, UK

Chantry Mews is a 42-home residential-led sustainable development in the heart of Gillingham, Dorset, for Hopkins Estates.

The project has been conceived to set a new, sustainable precedent for development in the region by creating a new neighbourhood that promotes environmental sustainability, social cohesion, and a sense of community. A play park, allotments, planted borders, trees, and green roofs will flank the new route, ensuring that approximately a third of the entire site is dedicated to green space to inspire a greener way of living.

The scheme was granted planning permission in Summer 2024.

The original South Lynn house in 1952 © David Lloyd/Gillingham Museum

Site History

The site is located on the High Street on the former site of a large house called South Lynn. the property was built in 1882 for Mr James Herridge, a local businessman, and later purchased by Jack Stickland and converted into a car showroom.

In the 1960s, the garages were known as E.R. Stickland & Son.

The property was demolished in 1978 and redeveloped as a supermarket, which was later destroyed by fire in 2012. Since then, it has been vacant and used as a car park.

The site's history has inspired the name of the new centrepiece building, Strickland Works. As a gift to the town, it will frame a new town square on the High Street.

Archive plan of the site © David Lloyd/Gillingham Museum

South Lynn Aerial 1969 © David Lloyd/Gillingham Museum

'E R Stickland & Son Ltd' Booklet 1969 © David Lloyd/Gillingham Museum

Aerial drone footage of the site © Agency Kilo

Green Armature

The project seeks to redefine town centre living in a rural community that encourages walking and cycling by creating a new pedestrianised “green link” to offer easy access between the High Street and the countryside.

Homes are configured along this new landscape and provide various options, including detached cottages with private courtyard gardens, maisonettes, lateral apartments and assisted living. Chantry Mews itself is flanked by four houses, providing family housing in a unique courtyard configuration with private gardens.

Strategic diagram of the masterplan in context

To the south, a smaller building known as Herridge House, after the original owner of the site, provides eight assisted living units on a quieter back street, Buckingham Road, with direct access to the local library, park and supermarket via a pedestrian bridge over the River Stour.

The architecture responds to the local vernacular by featuring Gillingham Red brick, a prominent material used in the town as it was locally produced from the rich clay. All the buildings will be constructed in timber framing from sustainable sources and clad in locally sourced materials, using local labour. Green roofs feature on the larger structures, and a solar array adorns the southern part of Strickland Works.

Proposed Masterplan

Early concept sketch of Chantry Mews

Concept image of the proposed town square on the High Street

Chantry Mews

Site History

Green Armature

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