Mill Green Village shortlisted in the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Awards

Gascoyne Estates have recently been shortlisted in the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) annual awards for its Mill Green Village development, situated in close proximity to the Hatfield Park Estate.

The RICS is a professional body working in the public interest to advance knowledge, uphold standards, and inspire current and future professionals, helping to create and protect built and natural environments that are sustainable, resilient and inclusive for all.

This leading organisation has over 130,000 members operating in the development and management of land, real estate, construction and infrastructure globally across more than 140 countries.

The RICS Awards showcase the most inspirational initiatives and developments in land, real estate, construction and infrastructure, recognising outstanding achievement, teamwork and organisations.

The Mill Green Village development awards submission is sponsored by our architects Brooks Murray, and has been nominated in the Community Benefit category, alongside 48 other nominees including the Glasgow Liveable Neighbourhood by Arcadis, the Tredegar Health and Wellbeing Centre by Kier Construction, and the Barmouth Metallic Works by Network Rail.

The awards are judged by a panel of expert judges, using the following criteria:

Professionalism – exemplary conduct, ethics and competence

Collaboration – working together towards a common goal

Achievement – realisation of the project against a predefined target

Thought leadership – innovative expertise that guides industry and inspires change

Sustainability – balancing needs today for a greener tomorrow

Mill Green Village is a development of 9 quality new homes which have been carefully built following the traditional design and appearance of cottages previously built by Gascoyne Estates, and the high standards and attention to detail set by the Estates Design Code and Pattern Book. The scheme also includes a completely revitalised public house.

Wider improvements for the public benefit include a greater sense of arrival, improved street lighting and noise attenuation which have all been woven into the development, along with a newly created green and a village sign which marks the entrance to the community.

Sustainable development is at the heart of the scheme, with each property operating on air source heat pumps, plus high levels of insulation, mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems.

In September 2011, a three day charette (public meeting) was held with the residents of Mill Green, to discuss how the hamlet might be revived. It covered the challenges residents faced and provided the community a real voice in the project. The result of the charette was to agree a masterplan which sought to regenerate Mill Green. The design evolution was accompanied by open, friendly dialogue with residents, who were optimistic about how the hamlet could be improved.

Whilst it was a challenging planning process due to factors such as the development being situated on green belt land plus listed buildings to be considered, Gascoyne worked closely with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council to deliver a scheme that all interested parties were completely invested in and one which would approve the local area.

Planning permission was awarded in 2018 and was actively backed by the residents who gave their unanimous support to the development. The community also expressed a strong desire to see the Green Man public house re-open, therefore the development has also seen the quality restoration of the grade II listed building, adding additional dining space to the property, a new kitchen and landscaped grounds.

In partnership with Jarvis Homes, a Hertfordshire housebuilder, construction commenced in 2021 and completed in May 2023, providing jobs for the local community.

References – RICS – Welcome to RICS