Marley Court in Bingley is the redevelopment of a brownfield site on the bank of the Leeds and Liverpool canal to provide 19 new dwellings for the social housing provider Incommunities. The site presented several challenges:
- There is a 2/3m slope across the site from the road, Marley Court, up to the canal.
- Residents’ privacy will be an issue for the site is on the same side as the towpath.
- The Leeds and Liverpool canal is a heritage asset. The development must be sensitive to its setting.
The proposed scheme addresses these challenges:
- A terraced, split-level, town-house typology has been developed to accommodate the slope of the site. 3 different dwelling types provide a mix of 2 and 3-bed properties.
- The existing stone boundary wall between the site and the canal is reinforced with railings and planting. This acts as a buffer between the garden, which is at the first floor level on account of the split level, and the towpath. The living accommodation is also at this level, although slightly elevated above the garden, providing privacy from the towpath while improving views out.
- The new dwellings reflect the surrounding context in scale, mass, and materials. They also positively address the canal for they have a sensitive, contemporary identity with a slight industrial edge provided by the metal balconies on the second floor. This sits comfortably with the industrial origins and character of the canal.
