2.6 Clustering

Public perception is often that privacy would be compromised if densities are increased, but this issue can be resolved with intelligent design. It is possible to achieve successful density levels where people still find peace and retreat from the stress of everyday life. The right balance between densification and place amenity is achieved when places are designed in context to responds to their setting. Grouping homes can have multiple benefits, especially regarding the use of energy and the optimisation of land use. Geometrical layouts are the most land efficient.

Nottingham is a compact city that needs a larger proportion of meaningful green spaces. Clustering houses together in an intelligent way can release some land to create parks and natural ecosystems. Providing good green infrastructure not only helps the environment and people’s health and wellbeing, but it can also increase profits. Evidence has recently suggested that the economic value of homes increases with proximity to green areas. If opportunities for greening are limited, simple landscape treatment in the front garden such as shrubs, hedges with sufficient growing space and meaningful planting could reinforce the natural feel of the street.

Grouping homes in mirrored pairs is traditional in Nottingham. With this setting, homes that share a wall are more efficient in the use of energy than detached buildings so clustering can deliver a more sustainable built form and it can save home owners energy costs. Grouping homes together is land-efficient and it can also generates clearer perimeter blocks. The way in which homes are groups largely affects the character of the street. For example, a street with small front garden terrace homes on both aspects can feel very different to a street where car parking is in front of every house. In the latter, homes need to be set back to accommodate the car parking space, making the street feel a lot wider. Narrower streets with houses facing each other result in more cohesive and supporting communities with reduced levels of crime. Compact, streets help developing neighbouring relationships.

Design Criteria

2.6.1 No more than six homes set back from the perimeter line are grouped together (e.g. front on plot parking - curtilage)

2.6.2 The number of detached houses do not exceed the percentage that already exists in the area. Compact development with larger green space provision is preferable to large footprints.

2.6.3 When back to back separation is less than 21 metres, the facades do not have windows facing each other and special design features are introduced to ensure homes and gardens have a sufficient degree of privacy. This point is exemplified in criteria 5 of the Householders Design Guide.

2.6.4 Affordable homes are distributed across the layout in clusters of six maximum.

Some examples of how homes can be clustered:

Combination Dual aspect with rear garden parking and Semi detached with on-plot parking (see types below). Average net density approximately 55 dph. 1 1/2 on-plot parking space per dwelling. Lane width 4.8m with 3.4m wide gates to parking to allow for car ingress. Tree planting zone 3m wide. Pedestrian path and service strip 1.2m wide on each side. Level surface throughout. Bin storage units must not open onto the public highway, this can be managed by setting back storage circa 1 m from the property boundary or with doors opening onto the garden.

Combination Wide front with demarcated on-street parking and Large terrace with front garden in the background, and Small terrace with front parking (see types below). Average net density approximately 57 dph. 1 parking space per dwelling. Lane width 6m to allow for car ingress to front parking. Pedestrian path and service strip 2.4m wide. Level surface throughout. Bin storage units must not open onto the public highway, this can be managed by setting back storage circa 1 m from the property boundary or with doors opening on the side.