Case study Sweets Way Case Study

Sweets Way is a residential development located in Whetstone in the London Borough of Barnet. Located a few minutes’ walk north is Whetstone town centre, home to a wide range of local shops, restaurants, banks and commercial buildings. The site was previously used by the MoD for accommodation for service personnel in the 1970s.

The scheme incorporates 202 houses and 86 apartments, with 20 per cent of dwellings being provided for affordable rent or shared ownership use. The inclusion of a wide variety of housing types is designed to cater to a broad range of residents, creating over time a diverse and well-integrated community.

Brick as a primary material was initially chosen to relate to the prevalent use of brick in the context, particularly the residential streets surrounding the scheme. During the planning process a strategy using three main brick colours was chosen to create a strong sense of legibility for the development.

The main green spine of the scheme is fronted by three-storey townhouses in Forterra’s buff-coloured Ecostock Belgravia Gault Blend. These are paired with stone frames to recessed entrances and window surrounds that give a formal rhythm along the central street. The vista to the main street is completed by the focal apartment building at the end, which is in a contrasting red multi brick material – Forterra’s Ecostock Oakthorpe Red Multi. The use of brick banding detailing at the base and combination with pale stone banding and window surrounds creates a striking elevation and is in keeping with the formal character of the main spine street. The smaller streets to the east and west incorporate a mix of red and red/brown multi coloured bricks that create a more informal, varied character.