Designing new homes in the Cotswolds isn’t straightforward. All new housing must comply with the Cotswold Design Code. That doesn’t mean that new homes have to mimic historical styles, but they must harmonise with them.

Fosseway Housing Association, part of the Bromford Housing Group, knew all about the design code from its experience of building new affordable homes in the Cotswolds. The association worked with private developer Charles Church Ltd on Linden Lea, in the small Gloucestershire village of Down Ampney.

The village is set midway between Cirencester and Swindon and is also popular with workers who commute to Bath, Gloucester, Cheltenham and Bristol. As a result, it is highly desirable and opportunities for affordable housing are scarce.

Linden Lea is a development of 30 homes, of which nine are affordable homes and are mixed in amongst the other homes in the scheme. All the homes have been to the same high standards, using Cotswold stone walls and Cotswold slate roofs.