Land Case Study for St Peter's Quarter

Overview

The site was acquired by Cala in early 2019. Detailed planning permission was secured in February 2020 with construction starting on site in August 2020.

The opportunity

The Green Belt site has an extensive planning history dating back over many years, with the majority of planning applications having been for extensions or alterations to the existing hospital buildings. Cala identified an opportunity to provide much-needed housing, in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework which requires Runnymede Borough Council to demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites. The development would be the start of a new chapter for the site, and would facilitate major healthcare improvements locally.

Cala worked closely with Runnymede Borough Council to ensure the delivery of a high-quality development that provides much needed housing in the borough and, due to its close proximity to the St Peter’s Hospital, the site was ideal for NHS key workers.

In 2018, Cala submitted plans for the 212 homes, a retirement complex, multiple green spaces and pedestrian links to both St Peter’s Hospital and Homewood Park. Cala also brought back to life the disused walled garden spaces.

Our approach

Given the former use of the site, a key challenge for Cala was to disconnect the obsolete buildings without effecting electrical power to St Peter’s Hospital next door. This required the team to carefully review decades-old service plans and outdated infrastructure to ensure construction had no impact on the Hospital.

Another challenge presented itself from Highways England in that the design could have meant increased amounts of traffic in the area. In order to mitigate this, Cala has provided a bus service that extends the route and frequency of the existing bus route provided by the NHS, offering connections to train stations and amenities in Addlestone and Chertsey. Sustainability is an important focus in the design of St Peter’s Quarter and as well as the increased public transport offering, the development has a large proportion of green space which provide opportunities for both recreation and local wildlife to thrive.

Of the 212 homes, 49 are apartments that have been designed as ‘pavilions in the park’ to reflect their setting amongst mature trees overlooking Homewood Park.

Where are we now?

St Peter’s Quarter offers a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, and three-, four- and five-bedroom houses, for a wide range of homebuyers at different stages of their lives. The first occupants moved in June 2021.

The scheme exemplifies Cala’s expert knowledge of the local area, the final design layout is reflective of Chertsey as a picturesque, historic market town. To create a sense of community within the development, the team has delivered ample green spaces to sit at the heart of the scheme –whilst buildings have been positioned to overlook these public, open areas and streets.

Register your interest in St Peter's Quarter, Chertsey.