Building with biodiversity at the heart – Orbit Homes’ Micklewell Park

Micklewell Park is Orbit Homes’ upcoming development in Daventry which will deliver a collection of 450 brand-new homes nestled in the Northamptonshire countryside. The development, inspired by the scenic Northamptonshire landscape that surrounds it, will embrace nature and beautiful green spaces, designed for a desirable quality of life with sustainability and biodiversity at its core.

This focus on nature and green spaces at Micklewell Park is central to Orbit Homes’ environmental approach, Orbit Earth, which has been developed to drive sustainable change across three main themes: climate action to become net zero carbon; enhancement of outdoor spaces to improve the quality of natural resources including biodiversity, land, water and air; sustainable consumption to manage resources, materials and products responsibly.

Micklewell Park will embody these themes and benefits from an ancient woodland within the site area where residents can embrace the environment around them which offers a sense of openness and the chance to be close to nature. The development’s location was presented to the local authority for approval to create a new sustainable community that offers a rich tapestry of green spaces for its residents to enjoy with the promotion of biodiversity and wellbeing at its heart.

The setting is idyllic all year round and is rich in wildlife and vegetation, providing the perfect place to watch the seasons change. A further eight acres of new woodland will also be planted to encompass the development, along with wildflower meadows and shrubs for greater varieties of plants and animals in the area, as well as wildlife ponds and a stream that runs into the canal alongside the development. Additionally, wildlife corridors will be created to integrate habitats across the development and beyond, including bird boxes to encourage nesting, rain gardens, and small structures for insects to shelter in during hibernation. The development’s biodiversity was given a boost last year when staff from Daventry Town Council, including Mayor of Daventry, Cllr Karen Tweedale, volunteered their time to help plant more than 300 whips and semi mature trees at Micklewell Park as part of National Tree Week.

Residents will be able to get involved too and live a more sustainable lifestyle, with a total of 20 allotments available at Micklewell Park offering the opportunity to grow vegetables and plants and enhance the local habitats. The allotments will support resident’s physical and mental wellbeing for an improved quality of life by encouraging more time to be spent outdoors.

And it’s not only adults who will be encouraged to stay active, a dedicated play area and trim trail will allow younger children a space to enjoy the outdoors, while a new cycle path and improved towpath will provide traffic-free routes for exercise and leisure. This greener travel is essential for the development’s sustainable future, with plans for two bus stops within Micklewell Park in the pipeline and electric car charging points being installed in 70% of the properties which will help reduce road congestion and air pollution.

As well as the open space at the development, the stunning Daventry Country Park and Drayton Reservoir are just minutes away. Between them they provide the perfect family-friendly setting to get away from it all with a stroll, run, ride or sail. The reservoir is also a premier UK fishing venue, making it an angler’s heaven.

The first phase of Micklewell Park is scheduled to be completed in March 2023, with further phases commencing thereafter. The scheme will comprise new amenities, including two commercial outlets and the option for the local council to provide a new primary school, while a purpose-built community centre will be a hub where residents can meet up, relax and enjoy a variety of activity groups and community events.

Micklewell Park will feature a mixture of two, three, four and five-bedroom houses, as well as one and two-bedroom apartments, which can be bought at market sale, plus two-bedroom homes and one and two-bedroom apartments, available to purchase through the Shared Ownership scheme. The Government-backed Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme is also available on selected market sale properties.

The properties will incorporate the latest technologies to boost energy efficiency and reduce water usage, helping to minimise running costs and support greater sustainability. Additionally, they will feature Showersave wastewater heat recovery (WWHR) which captures and reuses energy while the showers are in use, while a quarter of the properties will feature photovoltaic panels to utilise solar energy.

To find out more about Micklewell Park, visit: www.orbithomes.org.uk/micklewell-park/