New Homes

Chambers Place, Bures St Mary, CO8 5AB

Rose is delighted to be involved in the redevelopment of the Former Chambers Bus Depot Bures St Mary, Suffolk.

This sensitive mixed-use redevelopment of a vacant, brownfield site provides 10 residential dwellings and a local retail/convenience store through careful reuse of historically significant buildings and sustainable new buildings. The site of the former bus depot of Chambers Bus Company is located in the centre of the Bures St Mary Conservation Area opposite the grade I listed St Mary’s Church and in close proximity to a number of other listed buildings.

Chambers Bus Company was established on the site in the late 1870s operating horse drawn carriage services to nearby towns. By the 1920s the company had expanded to include motorised buses with regular routes. The company continued to operate from the site until it was sold in 2012, after which the site has gradually declined in condition.

Purcell’s forensic analysis of the historic development of the site, the existing buildings and their significance has led to a masterplan that proposes the retention of the historic buildings and elevations that characterise the frontage of the site, whilst adding a new community-focused mews style development to the rear. In particular, engagement with the local community and council conservation officers established a collaborative understanding of the significance of the 1920 steel and glass bus garage frontage.

The scheme delivers a mix of 1- and 2-bedroom apartments and 3- and 4-bedroom houses in accordance with the local housing needs, as well as a 400m2 convenience store. Hard and soft landscaping is used to delineate public, private, and shared realms and car parking, servicing and delivery bays for the convenience store. The landscaping proposals introduces biodiversity benefits with new planting and habitat creation.

Whilst the site previously accommodated significant manoeuvring of buses in and out of the site, the development overcomes the present challenges of vehicular and pedestrian movement at the entrance to the site, introducing pedestrian crossings and widening of pavements and visibility splays.

Works on the development are due to start later this year (2024), if you would like to be kept up to date on progress or wish to register your interest in the development, please contact Alex Leader on email: aleader@rosebuilders.co.uk