Supporting a growing town with a new community hub.
We were appointed by Wellbeing Places to explore the potential of a challenging site in Middleton, Greater Manchester, with the ambition of delivering around 80 affordable homes. What began as a capacity and feasibility study developed into a full appraisal and preapplication process with Rochdale Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Homes England — all of whom are grant funding the scheme.
From the outset, the vision has centred on biophilic design: connecting people to nature and placing residents’ health, happiness and wellbeing at the heart of the development. This approach informed every aspect of the design process. Homes, streets and shared spaces are planned to encourage social interaction, reduce isolation and create a sense of community belonging. By supporting communal living and strong neighbourly connections, the development aims to help residents maintain independence and wellbeing for longer.
The project has been shaped through a genuinely community-led process. Key stakeholders and local voices have been involved at every stage, helping to refine priorities, create shared ownership and ensure the emerging design reflects the needs of future residents as well as the surrounding neighbourhood.
Hilton Fold Lane is a deeply complex site with significant constraints. Mature trees, sensitive landscape features, former mine workings, a floodplain, public rights of way, buried utilities, river adjacency and various easements all needed to be carefully understood and integrated into the design. Working closely with our consultant team, we developed solutions that respect these constraints while unlocking the site’s potential for high quality residential use.
The proposed homes meet high environmental and accessibility standards, including M4(1), M4(2) and National Space Standards. They are designed for long term energy efficiency, resident comfort and durability. The landscape-led masterplan also delivers a 10% biodiversity net gain, making a positive contribution to local ecology while reinforcing the scheme’s biophilic principles.
By bringing together environmental stewardship, thoughtful design and community-driven decision making, Hilton Fold Lane demonstrates how underutilised and constrained land can be transformed into a place where people can live well — close to nature, connected to one another, and supported by a neighbourhood shaped around their wellbeing.
