Monday, 11 May 2015

Demystifying cluster house development

A Residential Cluster Development, or conservation development, is the grouping of residential properties on a development site in order to use the extra land as open space, recreation or agriculture. It is increasingly becoming popular in subdivision development because it allows the developer to spend much less on land and obtain much the same price per unit as for detached houses.

The shared garden areas can be a source of conflict however. Claimed advantages include more green/public space, closer community, and an optimal storm water management. Cluster development often encounters planning objections.

According to William H. Whyte, the author of “Cluster Development” there are two types of cluster development. Townhouse development and super development.

 Definition

Cluster Development also known as conservation development is a site planning approach that is an alternative to conventional subdivision development. It is a practice of Low Impact Development that groups residential properties in a proposed subdivision closer together in order to utilize the rest of the land for open space, recreation or agriculture. Cluster development differs from a planned unit development (PUD) due the fact that a PUD contains a mix of residential, commercial, industrial, or other uses, whereas the cluster development primarily focuses on residential area.


The purpose of cluster development is to:
  1. promote integrated site design that is considerate to the natural features and topography
  2. protect environmentally sensitive areas of the development site, as well as permanently preserve important natural features, prime agricultural land, and open space
  3. minimize non-point source pollution through reducing the area of impervious surfaces on site
  4. encourage saving costs on infrastructure and maintenance through practices such as decreasing the area that needs to be paved and the decreasing distance that utilities need to be run
  5. the primary purpose is to create more area for open space, recreation and more social interaction                                                                                                                                         Tomorrow: The pros and cons of Cluster House Development.

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