1. Mactaggart & Mickel Good Design…. a housebuilder’s view
Roger Bainbridge
Head of Design

2. Mactaggart & Mickel …a brief history
90 year old Scottish company
Founded by architect Andrew Mickel and
builder John Mactaggart.
Established the ‘single contractor’ system of
building in Scotland with the interwar
development of Mosspark, Glasgow.
Remains a family owned and run business
Currently building across central Scotland and
the Ayrshire coast.

5. The development process
Open market land model
3 Year plan – identifies / predicts build requirements to sustain the business for the next 3 years
Identifies requirement for new land / sites
Business identifies where we would like to build.
Sales / market research informs what we would like to build.
Land opportunity identified (zoned for development)

6. The development process
Open market land model
Site assessed and development constraints identified
Services
Topography
Contamination
Ground conditions
Access
Landscape features
Planning policy / development briefs

7. The development process
Open market land model
‘Product mix’ identified (agent’s market research)
Preferred density identified
Appraisal plan prepared
Key drivers for appraisal plan
Roads geometry
Planning requirements
Coverage / density (units per acre or sqft per acre)
Build direction and construction methodology

8. The development process
Open market land model
Typical approach to site design
Main considerations:
Road width and geometry
Driveway depth
Distance between houses
Rear garden sizes

9. The development process
Open market land model
Typical approach to site design

10. The development process
Open market land
Simple appraisal :
Residual Land Value (RLV) =
Total Income (Total sqft x sales price/sqft)
minus
Total Development Costs (Total sqft x build cost/sqft + Site servicing cost + Overheads + Profit margin)
Other considerations / deductions to RLV
Abnormal ground conditions
Planning gain
Infrastructure contributions (road upgrades, sewer treatment upgrade, public transport

11. Polnoon, Eaglesham Existing planning consent 2004 92 homes
Design drivers
Standard roads geometry – traffic calming , cul de sacs
Standard plot sizes
Standard drive depths and garden depths
Integral garages
Site bisected by conservation area zone
High coverage (sqft / acre)

12. Polnoon, Eaglesham Existing planning consent 2004 92 homes
Design issues
Dominated by the road design
North part of the site has little recognition of context
Lack of connectivity
Dominance of cul de sacs
Poor streetscape
Public realm relegated to the rear of houses
Limited mix of house type. Dominance of large detached homes.
Rigid layout in a rural context

13. Polnoon, Eaglesham A new approach Designing Streets
Whole site seen together
Topography, landscape and context are main design generators

14. Polnoon, Eaglesham A new approach
The new neighbourhood ‘completes’ the existing village, connecting to the historic focus around the Orry.
Pedestrian connections between the new neighbourhood, Bonnyton Drive, the public right of way to the north and Moor Road
The shared surface treatment to the public realm spaces and the three dimensional form of the ‘streetscape’ establishes a spatial hierarchy streets, lanes and ‘courts’.
Secondary ‘lanes’ connect into the streets and form more relaxed neighbourhood spaces.
This clear spatial hierarchy will provide a legible network of ‘street’, ‘lanes’ and ‘courts’ to assist with the orientation and way-finding.

15. Polnoon, Eaglesham
Street hierarchy

16. Polnoon, Eaglesham Buildings and local markers
The public realm network for the new neighbourhood is animated by the introduction of ‘marker homes’. These utilise
architectural devices - gables, chimneys and articulated window surrounds to augment the spatial hierarchy.

17. Polnoon, Eaglesham

18. Polnoon, Eaglesham

19. Polnoon, Eaglesham

20. Polnoon, Eaglesham

21. Polnoon, Eaglesham 2010 design v 2004 design 2010 Numbers - 121 units
Coverage sqft / acre
Mix - 1 bed flat – 6 bed detached
Play areas - 6
2004
Numbers - 92 units
Coverage sqft / acre
Mix – 3 bed terrace – 5 bedroom detached
Play areas - 2
2010 v 2004
Income more units, Gross Floor Area
Development costs more roads, foundations, hard & soft landscaping, play areas
Profit margin c.20% reduction in margin
Land value no change. Land already owned by M&M

22. Polnoon, Eaglesham Conclusions / Lessons
First ‘designing streets’ development in Scotland
First use of ‘aligned consents’
Homes for Scotland best medium sized development 2014
NHBC award 2014
Shortlisted for Saltire Awards 2015
Selling well
Some customers don’t understand or trust the concept….Health and Safety!
Reduced profit margin
Not taken up by other developers or the local authority

23. Product……….. Design influences Design drivers
Continual market research – Savills
Benchmarking competitors
Feedback from on site sales
R&D projects
Design drivers
Flexibility
Expandability
Natural light
Connection to the outside
Kerb appeal
Brand
Tool kit houses

24. Product……….. Technical Energy – Athletes’ Village, Dalmarnock
Mactaggart and Mickel Timber Systems
Off site manufacturing
Closed panel external walls
Roof cassettes
Reduced waste – increased quality
Energy – Athletes’ Village, Dalmarnock
Air tightness < 2
District heating
MVHR
C. 4KW from PVs per house