The new Hobbs Court is being developed as a replacement for the existing outdated sheltered accommodation of bungalows and flats. Forming part of Stevenage’s broader Oval neighbourhood regeneration, the strategic vision is to see this as an early phase of the wider masterplan in parallel with the construction of new community centre and church.

The buildings are designed to be read as a cohesive perimeter block, outward facing with animated elevations and addressing the neighbouring routes and pathways. The aim, to enliven the streets and pathways near the neighbourhood centre, reversing some of the back-to-front Radburn layout characteristic of Stevenage.

With a secure private courtyard, the apartments are organised over three, four, and five floors, while the majority of the shared social spaces, office, main reception, and other facilities are located within the single storey element that frames a reworked pedestrian route serving the neighbouring houses. The social spaces, main entrance, and drop-off zone on Jessop Road, aka ‘Green Street', help activate and animate the existing main route serving the wider estate and brings life to a street currently devoid of any activity.

Architecturally, the composition of form and massing is designed to appear as a series of buildings. The articulation of the elevations, changes in materiality, and varied rooflines ensure that the scale and mass are not overbearing, making the building more in keeping with a traditional street elevation. It is important that the building elements are perceived as individual parts within a whole to bring a sense of scale and legibility to both the buildings and the street scene.

Landscape. The landscape proposals by fabrik include a series of diverse and contrasting spaces to serve different resident needs. The main courtyard features a partially covered patio area, accessed directly from the communal lounges, providing an active space for residents, ideal for leisure, gatherings, and social interactions. Ornamental planting and feature trees will provide year-round interest. A linear rain garden will be incorporated to the east of the car park to capture water runoff at the lower point as part of the SUDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) strategy. The shaded courtyard garden in the southwest corner draws inspiration from Chinese gardens and features shade-tolerant planting, adding aesthetic value and enhancing biodiversity.

To the perimeter of the site, the front gardens with lawns, hedges, swales, and ornamental planting provide an attractive setting for the building and reinforce a biodiverse street scene.