Leah Gardens is a development of 94 units, designed for Eastleigh Borough Council to provide sustainable, well-designed homes for local people. The development was designed to be highly energy efficient in order to help reduce fuel poverty and improve health. All the homes were designed to achieve a minimum of Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, and five units were designed to Passivhaus Standards. ArchitecturePLB acted as Passivhaus Designer and the units were certified in December 2018.

ArchitecturePLB worked closely with EBC and development partners VIVID to create an urban design framework for the scheme which addressed a number of complex issues and responded to input from the local community. The development is a mix of private and affordable rented homes in a range of types to meet local needs. Terrace houses and apartment blocks sit within shared surface mews streets with access to a large central green space. A biodiversity buffer around the site shields the scheme from the neibouring allotments. The initial outline planning application for the 2.5Ha brownfield site was unanimously approved by Planning Committee just 6 weeks after submission. The subsequent reserved matters application was undertaken in partnership with the contractor and ensured value for money was maintained.