The Russells

When the Gordon Russell Furniture Company, an American owned firm, decided to move to Worcester in the late 1990s, they wanted to be sure that the 1.82 hectare site they left offered something of a legacy. They approached and worked in partnership with Wychaven District Council, who created a design brief for a mixed use development placing an emphasis on quality of design landscaping and layout, while stimulating local employment. 12 developers teams entered the design competition in 2001. The furniture company director was involved in the selection of the winning scheme, that by Chase Homes, who submitted a full planning application later in the same year.

There followed a long period of consultation with the local council, local residents and English Heritage, during which the detailed design and housing mix evolved and elements such as new office space, the refurbishing of listed buildings, the provision of a public open space, a supermarket and special needs housing were developed. The issue of access to the site via Back Lane, which was jointly owned by the council, a doctors surgery and the Lygon Arms, was also resolved through inclusive consultation with all parties form the outset.

The site was acquired and full planning permission granted in August 2003, works started in September of the same year and the site was completed in the autumn of 2006.