Roundfield in collaboration with social enterprise Landstory have been invited to work with the Rural Urban Synthesis Society (RUSS) to deliver their pioneering Church Grove housing project in Lewisham alongside Architype and Jon Broome Architects.

On what is a demanding urban site, we are developing a highly multifunctional landscape that will provide space for growing, socialising and playing whilst harnessing as much rainwater and sunlight as possible to create a vibrant, resilient setting for this new community.

“RUSS is a volunteer-led community land trust based in Lewisham south east that aims to provide homes for those priced out of the housing market. The group’s vision for Church Grove is to build high quality, sustainable homes providing a combination of one bedroom to four bedroom homes with a range of purchasing and renting options based on the needs of the residents who come forward for the scheme. This will include social rent, affordable rent, shared equity and shared ownership. The scheme will also provide the opportunity for people wishing to be involved with building the homes to learn and develop a range of building and management skills.”

The Church Grove project is a model that guarantees the long-term provision of affordable housing and the best value use of publicly owned land. It’s a real version of the big society in action, and an example other local authorities would do well to follow.

Oliver Wainwright, Architecture and Design Critic

theruss.org