The 'Re-Imagining the Garden City Design Ideas Competition' was launched by the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation in partnership with the RIBA. The competition sought design responses capable of meeting the needs of the 21st Century, whilst recapturing the pioneering spirit that led to the development of the world's first Garden City at Letchworth over a 100 years ago. We prepared master plan concepts for a proposed residential development on a 45 hectare site to the north of Letchworth, which will be the first expansion of the Garden City in a generation.

Our design response sought to drive site specific character through a strategic understanding of how new development in this location might be coordinated with substantial site allocations nearby. This joined-up approach would avoid piecemeal development, ensuring new homes delivered at Letchworth North were befitting of Parker and Unwin’s original plan. Our approach advocated for strategic co-ordination between major sites, ensuring Letchworth North had the critical mass necessary to support a range of community facilities and public transport infrastructure; this rich mix of uses and environs that must underpin any Garden City. Our strategic planning underpins 3 core principles of the site wide masterplan; connected urbanism, productive landscapes, and the promotion of inclusive communities.

The masterplan was organised around a formal boulevard that could accommodate a new bus service, connecting a new local centre and primary school with local rail stations at Letchworth’s centre. Building on existing ecological corridors, the proposals include an east to west linear woodland and green corridor which forms a continuous green link across the site, integrating existing hedgerows and forming a journey of enclosure.

New homes are orientated to front onto the corridor, ensuring residents have immediate access to open spaces and doorstep play, placing green infrastructure at the heart of the place’s new character. Urban blocks, which could be managed by Community Land Trusts, are flexible enough to allow for adaptation over time. The proposals integrate smaller 1–2-bedroom houses and flats with retirement bungalows, starter homes, larger detached units, and self-build plots. At the heart of each community block is a shared courtyard grow-space for producing fruit and vegetables and meeting neighbours.