79 to 83 Lake Drive

AZ Urban Studio acted as planning consultant on this long-running residential project, supporting the client and design team over a number of years through a complex planning process. The site at 79 to 83 Lake Drive has now secured full planning permission for two distinctive suburban houses.

Our role included managing multiple applications, including a successful Section 73 application to vary the approved scheme, as well as advising on Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) matters and wider planning strategy. Key issues addressed included design, ecology, and residential character in a sensitive, semi-rural context.

The project builds on the success of the client’s earlier commission at No. 77 Lake Drive – The Houseboat – which won both the Stephen Lawrence Prize and an RIBA South West Award in 2017. Designed again by Brown Urbanism, the new homes reinterpret the ambition of the Houseboat within a more conventional suburban setting. A key innovation lies in the use of a split-section layout, creating generous volumes and spatial variety within a modest domestic footprint.

AZ Urban Studio is proud to have supported the evolution of this thoughtful and replicable approach to housing design.