Dollman Farm, Rugby for Urban&Civic and Aviva Investors

Dollman Farm is a sustainable local center fostering community connection, and created in three phases starting in 2016. Prioritising infrastructure-first, the Tuning Fork cafe opened from day one in collaboration with a local catering business, offering a welcoming space for future residents and visitors. The farm became home to over 30 community groups, including the Allotment Society and various clubs, establishing a strong sense of community before housing development began.

Who is on the project? 

Developer - Urban&Civic Project Management Team 

Planning Consultants -  David Lock Associates

Architects -  Juice Architects

Landscape Design –  BMD

Civil Infrastructure, Structural Engineer, Sustainability -  AECOM 

Describe the social and environmental context of this project, its neighbourhood and people. What is the purpose of the building? How does this building make an impact in its community?

As a central hub for the Houlton development, Dollman Farm is an open, sustainable and convenient local-centre that encourages our diverse community, and those beyond, to connect. Created in three phases, work began on Dollman Farm, in 2016, before any bricks were laid on homes, to establish a sense of community before one existed. This pioneering infrastructure-first approach, saw our eatery, The Tuning Fork, (a collaboration with a local, family-owned catering business) deliberately open from day one, allowing future residents and those interested in how Houlton would take shape, to meet, eat, and feel ‘at home’ from the beginning of development. Dollman Farm’s pedestrian-focussed public realm is connected to Houlton’s footpath and cycle network, forming the core of our Walkable Neighbourhood and, with three distinct types of public space, events allowing us to foster community spirit, support local businesses and charitable organisations, and to build positive relationships with stakeholders are held frequently. Each phase of Dollman Farm was planned with the needs of our continuously growing community in mind and, as such, over the past year Dollman Farm has truly come into its own. With over 1,300 homes occupied at Houlton, Dollman Farm is now the base for at least 30 community groups, including our Allotment Society and clubs such as, Houlton Muslim Society and the Houlton WI. Diverse and thriving, this is a place that will continue to evolve as our community grows, keeping its core purpose of building community, encouraging connectivity, and supporting local businesses, at its heart.

What makes this place thrive? How does the community come together? What makes this a great place to live, work, play, visit or learn?

This year has been a pivotal year for Dollman Farm. Welcoming visitors from across the region as well as Houlton residents, the variety of high quality, well-planned facilities within Dollman Farm is what really makes this place thrive. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to work, seeking childcare, looking for somewhere different to eat, or exploring the nature trails, residents and visitors alike can be certain that they’ll meet like-minded people that are interested in making connections. Dollman Farm has three distinct public realms, and is home to the following facilities, all of which allow the community to come together: The Exchange, Houlton’s purpose-built co-working space, used by Houlton residents and Rugby-based professionals as an alternative to working from home, the Old Station Nursery, a bespoke childcare centre for young babies through to children of pre-school age, the Tuning Fork and The Paddle, our independent eateries, created in collaboration with a Rugby-based, family-owned catering company, a friendly, well-stocked Co-operative Food store, the Barn, our community space, home to over 17 weekly clubs and classes, the Houlton Allotments and Community Gardens, providing respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life, Houlton Community Gardens, a space for our community to grow and relax. With something for everyone, no matter what stage of life you’re at, Dollman Farm truly allows our community to flourish, together.

Please share any data or evidence about the social, economic and environmental performance of this place, or any relevant figures such as footfall, visitors, engagement metrics, residents, etc. 

We’re proud of how important Dollman Farm is to our community. From its contribution to the economy of Rugby, to its positive impact on wellbeing, Dollman Farm is a success. Employing 105 people, 30 of them being Houlton residents, businesses within Dollman Farm are thriving. Our nursery was at capacity just one month after opening in 2018, with children of Houlton residents taking up the majority of spaces. The Tuning Fork welcomes hundreds of customers every week, and has continually improved its footfall since re-opening following Covid-19. Regular events run by our Communities Team in collaboration with the 30+ community groups that currently thrive in Houlton create additional revenue for the businesses. A great example of this being the £12,000+ in additional sales (compared to their busiest Saturdays), generated during our Family Fun event in 2024 organised collaboratively by the Houlton Events Team and Urban&Civic, thanks to the 2,000+ people at the event, held on the Dollman Farm playing fields. Weekly classes at The Barn have increased 340% since the space opened in 2017, with 17 held each week in 2024. A tiered pricing system for the hire of the space ensures it is affordable for the community groups that need a place to meet on a regular basis. Our allotment plots are all in use, and our Community Garden Society has 17 members, the majority stating that the group has helped to improve their wellbeing.