An impressive mixed use development ....
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Cofferidge Close is a striking development with a mix of uses: a small supermarket, adjacent shop premises, a restaurant, an NHS dental surgery, offices, car parking spaces, and a terrace of privately owned town houses, the whole set in a well landscaped green space with over 60 mature trees, . The Close has a frontage on Stony's historic High Street, and backs on to Silver Street, with vehicle access through an archway in the row of terrace houses which form part of the original design
"Cofferidge Close...demonstrated how through human co-operation, in a delicate process, architects living and working locally produced a catalyst of quality to act as an example to the town and all letting agents, estates departments, valuers, developers and their architects...(it) achieves a balance of old and new urban fabric consistent with the original consultants’ intentions for all Milton Keynes in their masterplan. Stony Stratford has also obtained the right balance of public and private investment due to Cofferidge Close. It is ironic, though not surprising that it takes a New Town to do something so positive for an old town.”
(Terry Farrell, in the Architectural Journal, Nov 1978).
The Close was completed in the Spring of 1975 and was designed by Milton Keynes Development Corporation, the agency set up to design and build the new city. In the late 80s ownership (excluding the town houses) was transferred to the MK Parks Trust, In the early 90s the premises were sold on, and are now owned by the National Australia Group, and managed by CBRE Investors.
"Cofferidge Close...demonstrated how through human co-operation, in a delicate process, architects living and working locally produced a catalyst of quality to act as an example to the town and all letting agents, estates departments, valuers, developers and their architects...(it) achieves a balance of old and new urban fabric consistent with the original consultants’ intentions for all Milton Keynes in their masterplan. Stony Stratford has also obtained the right balance of public and private investment due to Cofferidge Close. It is ironic, though not surprising that it takes a New Town to do something so positive for an old town.”
(Terry Farrell, in the Architectural Journal, Nov 1978).
The Close was completed in the Spring of 1975 and was designed by Milton Keynes Development Corporation, the agency set up to design and build the new city. In the late 80s ownership (excluding the town houses) was transferred to the MK Parks Trust, In the early 90s the premises were sold on, and are now owned by the National Australia Group, and managed by CBRE Investors.
... which has evolved over the last 35 years...
Click on image to go to Iqbal Aalam's blog
On the plus side, the natural growth of trees in the Close, the planting of spring flowers on the orchard lawn, has added to its attractiveness. On the minus side, details such as the amazing theatrical hanging shop signs, much of the timber pergolas and seating, as well as the bronze public sculpture fountain, “Batrachian Cascade” by Christine Fox, have now largely disappeared. However, the scheme as a whole is a strong architectural statement and has stood the test of time and careless ownership: missing components can easily be replaced.
A detailed illustrated critique and analysis of the changes that have been made to the original scheme can be consulted on the blog of the architect Iqbal Aalam >>
A detailed illustrated critique and analysis of the changes that have been made to the original scheme can be consulted on the blog of the architect Iqbal Aalam >>
... and was partially listed by English Heritage in May 2012
Click for a Summary of the Listing Decision
English Heritage have given Grade II Listed status for the Silver Street houses, nos. 7 - 23, that form part of the Cofferidge Close complex: this raises the issue of the need to protect the rest of the scheme. English Heritage felt unable to list the whole of Cofferidge Close on the grounds that, over time, significant elements had been removed that detracted from the integrity of the original design, and there has been a general erosion of detail.
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This site has been created and is administered by a group of independent residents of Stony Stratford
This site has been created and is administered by a group of independent residents of Stony Stratford