East Hemel

This residential-led masterplan will deliver up to 4,000 homes, up to two million square feet of employment space, plus extensive social infrastructure across predominantly publicly inaccessible agricultural land between Hemel Hempstead and the M1 motorway.

Our civil engineering strategies were based around maximising the opportunities from the complex topography of the site and working with the existing landform, whilst protecting the site from flooding, enhancing biodiversity and connecting to nature including the Nickey Line, a historic disused railway in the north of the site. We have also used excess material to create a noise bund to protect the site from noise and air quality pollution from the M1. In order to develop these strategies, we have been working closely with key stakeholders, including National Highways, Hertfordshire County Council and managing the interface and safety restrictions from the adjacent Buncefield Oil Depot.

A transformative vision

Our appointment positioned us to address complex engineering challenges while establishing new benchmarks for large-scale residential development. The sustainability frameworks balance environmental protection with community development, creating solutions that serve both immediate project needs and long-term regional transformation.

The site’s location presented unique opportunities alongside significant technical constraints. Existing farmsteads, established hedgerows, woodland corridors, and the historic Nickey Line railway provided valuable ecological assets that informed our approach. To align with The Crown Estate’s ambitious vision, we created a Sustainability Brief that embedded five core principles into the design proposals:

1. Nurturing our Natural World,
2. Promoting Community Participation,
3. Fostering Prosperity and New Economies,
4. Celebrating Pride of Place,
5. Connecting Places and People.

This Brief provided a blueprint for delivering a 100-year vision that extends beyond traditional development timescales.