Housing • Broadfields

New social rented homes on the edge of London, this is an exemplar for the intensification of suburban housing estates.

The Broadfields Estate lies on the very edge of the green belt, the last cluster of low-rise housing before the landscape opens up into the south Hertfordshire countryside.

The estate was built between the 1930s and 1970s, and is typical of its day: low-rise housing, far from public transport, and criss-crossed by alleyways and open space with unclear ownership.

Replacing redundant pram stores, and slotting into a narrow strip of land bounded by a culverted river, protected oak tree and existing gardens, two new residential buildings of three and four storeys face one another across a shared entrance courtyard.

Photographer: Agnese Sanvito

Photographer: Agnese Sanvito

28 new homes in place of unused pram stores

100% affordable rented homes

"There has always been a real community feel here and the children in the new flats have made friends with the children already living here. They play together in the playground and sometimes do gardening together. The new landscaping has brought butterflies into the garden, which the children love to see and along with the gardening, they’re taking pride in the space and becoming interested in nature."

Resident, Broadfields

The development comprises 28 apartments arranged within two building. There are 19 one-bedroom, and nine two-bedroom apartments across the entire scheme; all of which exceed the London Plan space standards. Every one of the homes is for affordable rent.

Landscape Plan

Ground Floor Plan

"Along with the budding friendships among the children, it’s been nice to hear from people who have been stuck in temporary accommodation and are enjoying the security of having their own space and somewhere permanent to live, particularly the mums."

Resident, Broadfields

Landscape plays a big part in the scheme, with new drying areas and replacement pram stores arranged throughout the open space, creating pockets of social space among areas of planting, with seating areas beneath retained trees. Dedicated, secure play space for children is provided too.

The taller buildings help with orientation and wayfinding, clarifying routes through the estate and providing passive surveillance across open space which previously attracted problematic behaviour. But most of all, it provides generous and attractive new homes, helping to integrate a new community with an existing one.

Photographer: Agnese Sanvito

Client
Barnet Homes

Status
Completed 2025

Location
Barnet, London

Funding
Mayor of London

Collaborators

Landscape: Exterior Architecture
Executive Architect: Guy Logan Architects
Employer’s Agent: Potter Raper
Contractor: Bugler Developments

Project Team

Katie Hackett

Project list