As masterplanner and lead consultant, Mikhail Riches have worked closely with gs8 and Boehm Lynas to develop a new sustainable community on grey-belt land in Watford. A 12-minute walk from Carpenders Park Train Station, this new development of 96 planet positive homes will restore a native woodland forest with play spaces, a wildlife pond and Sentinel Oak trees. Promoting active travel and community, the development will feature a DIY centre, bicycle club, fitness facilities and a car club that can benefit new residents and the existing neighbourhood. Careful orientation of homes and solar panels alongside air source heat pumps and battery storage mean that these homes will benefit from zero energy bills in partnership Octopus Energy for a minimum of 5 years – ensuring that residents have healthy homes to live in and are protected from fuel poverty.