Graylingwell Park, Chichester for Linden Homes, Affinity Sutton and Homes England with JTP

Graylingwell Park in Chichester, one of the UK’s first net-zero neighbourhoods, is set on a former Victorian asylum site. It is a Registered Historic Park and Garden and Conservation Area with two Grade II-listed buildings, and a community-centric chapel. In 2023, the chapel welcomed over 46,000 visitors and hosted 283 events, offering talks, workshops and initiatives that encourage a diverse, vibrant community spirit.

Who is on the project? 

Architects - JTP

Developer - Linden Homes, Affinity Sutton, Homes England

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?

One of the UK’s first net-zero neighbourhoods, Graylingwell Park, Chichester sits on the site of a former Victorian asylum hospital, a mile north of Chichester town centre. In 2008, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) sold the 34 hectare site to developers Linden Homes and Affinity Sutton who appointed JTP as architects and masterplanners. Engaging with over 400 local people and stakeholders, a shared vision and masterplan was co-created which identified community, creativity, neighbourliness and sustainability as core values to guide future decisions at Graylingwell Park. JTP prepared the outline planning application and detailed designs for the first phases, with over 550 homes now occupied. Graylingwell is a Registered Historic Park and Garden, and a Conservation Area with two Grade II-listed buildings, a Scheduled Monument, 472 protected trees and a number of important landmark buildings. The established landscape setting and historic former Victorian hospital buildings, now converted to a mix of residential and community uses, create a distinctive and attractive setting for new homes with a strong sense of identity and neighbourliness. The HCA made creating a community development trust a requirement of the sale of Graylingwell Hospital. Chichester Community Development Trust (CCDT) was set up to respond to the needs of the new Graylingwell community, and now takes responsibility for planning and running community buildings, and delivering an exciting range of community projects, events and activities. Thanks to its success, the CCDT’s remit has expanded to new communities at neighbouring Roussillon Park in 2010 and Keepers Green in 2019.

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

Graylingwell Park has been deemed a great success, largely due to the delivery of many of the vision objectives and principles, with much credit going to the CCDT; the driving force behind delivering the community life. Despite Chichester being an affluent area, hidden pockets of deprivation exist. With significant affordable housing and many young families, a key aspect of Graylingwell is supporting parents and young adults. Central to this and the sense of community is the community-focussed Chapel – a renovated space offering a variety of free and low-cost activities. Its child-friendly ethos with a community café, indoor soft play, and outdoor playground is a prime example of supporting young families to come together in a safe, accessible space. The Chapel also functions as a cultural venue for social events from comedy nights, bands and theatrical performances to barn dances and silent discos, enabling connections across different ages. The retention and conversion of Graylingwell’s historic buildings into community uses has created considerable opportunities for community gatherings and initiatives. This includes The Pavilion home to wellness studios, mental health workshops, toddler groups, art classes, community crochet, café sessions, bereavement counselling, and many others designed to support social interaction. Young people can come together at the bespoke youth space at The Chichester Shed, and activities like dog walking, volunteering or community sports like Graylingwell Girls football team allow further opportunities to socialise with neighbours. A community garden is another shared space where residents can grow food and collaborate on gardening projects.

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. 

Although Graylingwell Hospital originally stood deliberately in isolation, a decade of community-led stewardship and placemaking has reconnected the neighbourhood to Chichester, now forming part of a cluster of well-connected neighbourhoods including Roussillon Park and Keepers Green. Footpaths/cycle paths connect the neighbourhoods, with all communities encouraged to socialise and use Graylingwell’s facilities and attend events. Generous public realm including sports pitches, orchards and allotments, tree planting and landscaping further provides a green backdrop for community activities helping establish a sense of community. Graylingwell stands out for its pioneering commitment in 2008 to creating the UK’s largest zero-carbon neighbourhood, prioritiisng high-insulation, thermal performance, renewable energy, and sustainable materials. A district heating system with efficient gas boilers, thermal storage, and photovoltaic panels supplies energy and hot water to all phases. Amid rising energy costs and growing climate awareness, Graylingwell’s first-phase homes exemplify foresight and set a benchmark for future zero-carbon developments. In 2023, The Chapel served as a hub of activity welcoming over 46,000 visitors and hosting 283 events/activities for the local community. Supporting the diversity of residents, a wide array of talks, workshops and community initiatives were held including a total of 82 wellbeing workshops, 40 youth sessions for younger residents, 40 antenatal support sessions for parents and 52 community café sessions attracting 208 visitors. Elsewhere local organisations are supported with free access to community spaces, the Community Chest featuring a fridge and food shelves saved 640kg of food waste from landfills and residents have been empowered through employment and training programmes.