Nominee Summary
Wemyss and March Estates is a major landowner, rural business operator and employer, headquartered in Aberlady, East Lothian. With its expansion of Longniddry (Longniddry South, www.longniddrysouth.com), the Estate took the bold decision at the outset not to simply sell the land to the highest bidder and relinquish all control, but to instead envision a harmonious complement to the existing village, with input from community. The Estate then selected its housebuilder partners and architects based on their aptitude, whilst insisting on exacting design standards and retaining ownership of a historic farm steading for conversion to become a new mixed-use hub.
Building quality
The Estate, working with Socially Conscious Capital and Taylor Architecture and Urbanism, devised an overall masterplan which defined a connected framework of greenspaces, the arrangement of streets, and aspects of place-making such as building density and storey heights. Furthermore, to ensure high standards of design, an “Urban and Architectural Code” and “Design Companion” were included in the tripartite agreements with the Estate’s two development partners, Cruden Homes and Places for People, who lead on construction, sales and marketing. To prevent car parking and driveways dominating street frontages, garages (some with flats and home offices above them) are instead provided within mews and courtyards to the rear, from where bins are also collected. Additionally, this arrangement enables a number of entirely car-free frontages and footpaths that run alongside attractive greenspaces. The harmonious but varied aesthetic draws from the distinctive patterns of East Lothian’s traditional villages. Higher construction standards include the use of timber windows, natural slate roofs, and that 25% of the homes incorporate built-in habitat boxes, for birds such as swifts, and bats. Floor to ceiling heights are greater than typical new-builds, with taller windows that throw light deeper into rooms, and give a more traditional, generous feel. The Estate was involved in the selection of the developers’ architects, which have included award-winning practices such as Ben Pentreath, Smith Scott Mullan, Halliday Fraser Munro and MGA. Detailed design – everything through to the choice of colours- has been developed in conjunction with the Estate and its retained architect, Ed Taylor.
Ethical/environmental standards
The process began in 2013 with an intensive 3-day Enquiry by Design workshop held in the village, facilitated by The Prince’s Foundation at the invitation of the Estate, where a skilled design team drew and tested ideas with the input of local stakeholders to establish a high-quality, consensus-based vision. As well as new development, the workshop identified the potential of a characterful but largely redundant farm steading to become an asset for the village, as a bridge between old and new. As intended, the new development is now enabling the preservation and conversion of the category-B listed buildings. The site itself is highly sustainable and benefits from close proximity to existing shops and services, with Longniddry train station on its doorstep. An off-road National Cycle Route extends along a former branch line through farmland to the county town of Haddington, whilst the designed landscape of Gosford Park is accessible by foot. Hedgerows and mature trees have been preserved within the masterplan, complemented by new trees and wildlife friendly planting. A burn, straightened in the C19th, has been restored to its meandering course. A young sculptor, Jack Handscombe, set up workshop in the Steading to create artwork for incorporation into the houses, including ornamented habitat boxes. Construction is supporting traditional skills such as harling and stone masonry, and local employment, including an ex-forces site foreman who lives in the Veterans Association model housing built in the village after WWI. The Estate has commissioned a Longniddry-based traditional signwriter to create hand-painted signage.
Community impact
Longniddry South has brought new life to the village, supporting local shops and services, whilst providing new business space and promoting local living. Longniddry Church and other community bodies have welcomed the new residents and members. The development incorporates an exceptionally wide range of house types and plot sizes to cater to diverse needs and enable multi-generational living. Phase 1 has already boosted the intake at the village’s primary school, whilst also providing 39 dementia-friendly cottage flats for over-65s within a short walk of the village centre. 25% of homes are affordable, which are indistinguishable from the private homes in terms of quality. New cottage flats and single-storey properties enable down-sizing from larger houses in the existing village. Several million pounds of planning contributions have enabled new crossings and footpaths along the village’s Main Street, as well as improvements around the train station, increasing its capacity, and the means for the school to expand as necessary. Proceeds from the development have enabled the Estate to restore the Steading to high environmental standards, to reinvest in the Gosford estate and to provide more local employment. Phase 1, which comprises 179 homes (of a total 470) was completed in 2024 and is fully occupied. It has already received several prestigious awards including ‘Development of the Year’ at the Herald Property Awards 2023, as well as The King’s Foundation’s Landowner Legacy Award for ‘for guiding and delivering the Conservation Area of tomorrow’, which have brought recognition to Longniddry as a thriving local community.
