Chawton Park (Ackender Hill), Alton

Calcinotto were appointed to Chawton Park (Ackender Hill), a social housing project based in Alton

Challenge

Managing a wide-scale social housing development

Set within ancient woodland in the picturesque town of Alton, this residential development delivers a total of 124 new homes as part of Crest Nicholson’s wider Ackender Hill masterplan. Phase 2&3 comprise a mix of 2, 3, 4, and 5-bedroom properties, including 135 private homes and 33 affordable houses, alongside 14 private apartments.

These homes are designed with flexible open-plan living spaces, private gardens, and high-specification fittings. Several plots offer solar panel installations and EV charging, supporting low-carbon lifestyles.

The development benefits from excellent road and rail connectivity, including access to the A31 and direct train services to London Waterloo. Residents will also enjoy proximity to good local schools, the South Downs National Park, and a planned 10-hectare country park that links into regional walking and cycle routes. The scheme supports biodiversity, green travel and long-term local growth through its integration of landscaped public space and eco-conscious amenities.

Solution

Working with the site’s topography

The homes utilise traditional loadbearing masonry construction, with insulated cavity external walls and medium dense blockwork internal walls. Ground floors are formed using precast concrete beam and block construction, providing a durable and efficient solution suited to multi-plot delivery. Upper floors are constructed using timber joists, allowing clear internal layouts while accommodating services within the floor zone. Roofs are formed using prefabricated timber trusses spanning between masonry walls.

Lateral stability is achieved through the masonry wall layout working together with the timber floor diaphragms to transfer wind loads safely into the foundations.

Foundations primarily comprise mass concrete strip footings beneath loadbearing walls, designed in response to ground conditions including chalk and clay with flints. Where required, allowances were made for piling to suit localised ground variability and tree influence.