Poppy Lane | Bournemouth War Memorial Homes
Poppy Lane marks the beginning of an ongoing relationship between Footprint Architects and Bournemouth War Memorial Homes, a charity that has supported ex-service personnel and their families with affordable housing since 1947. This first phase of development provided a thoughtful response to the charity’s needs—balancing architectural sensitivity, accessibility, and social value in equal measure.
Built for the long-standing charity Bournemouth War Memorial Homes, this sensitively designed new-build residential development in Bournemouth, Dorset provides five high-quality bungalows specifically for ex-service personnel. Completed in August 2017, the project reflects Footprint Architects’ continued commitment to designing spaces that support social well-being, community cohesion and dignified living.
Sustainability
Though modest in scale, the project reflects several sustainable principles, from the use of durable local materials to energy-efficient orientation and maximised natural light. These homes are designed to stand the test of time, supporting not only their residents, but the wider aims of the charity to provide stable, long-term housing for those who have served.
Context & Place
Located within an established residential estate in Bournemouth, the design of Poppy Lane 1 responds closely to its surroundings. The new homes echo the architectural language of nearby buildings in scale, massing and materiality, contributing to a cohesive sense of place. The scheme enhances the existing setting without imposing on it, demonstrating how considered interventions can renew underused land while respecting the neighbourhood’s character and heritage.
People & Communities
Footprint Architects prioritised the lived experience of future residents, many of whom are elderly or vulnerable. Each home is single-storey, step-free, and arranged to promote ease of movement and neighbourly connection. The inclusion of shared gardens not only supports wellbeing and social interaction but also helps build a strong sense of community. The scheme supports the long-term goal of Bournemouth War Memorial Homes to provide safe, inclusive environments where people can age in place with dignity.
Blending Tradition with Contemporary Character
The two-bedroom homes were carefully designed to sit harmoniously within the surrounding development, echoing the existing palette through the use of materials of the same colour and type. These familiar forms are enhanced by subtle contemporary detailing, creating a sense of quiet elegance and understated modernity. Each home features refined proportions and vaulted ceilings that bring abundant natural light into south-facing living areas, creating bright, uplifting interiors.
Shared Spaces that Support Connection
At the heart of the scheme is a communal garden designed to foster interaction between residents and support a sense of belonging. These shared outdoor spaces are an important part of Footprint’s wider ethos: to create places that are not only well-constructed, but meaningful and socially enriching.
Lasting value for people and place
This development demonstrates how modest, low-rise homes can deliver high social value when designed with care. By working in close collaboration with the client charity, Footprint Architects delivered a housing scheme that provides both privacy and connection, helping veterans and their families to feel at home within a supportive community.
Following the success of Poppy Lane, Footprint Architects have been commissioned for a second phase comprising four additional bungalows. These new homes, named Barrington Way in honour of a former resident who cared for the gardens and allotments at Bournemouth War Memorial Homes, further strengthen the identity of bungalows ‘in the gardens.’ As with Poppy Lane, this second phase involves the demolition of underused garages to make way for inclusive, community-focused housing.
The Barrington Way development will exceed current Building Regulations and are designed to be net zero in operation. The enhanced design includes renewable technologies such as photovoltaic (PV) panels and air source heat pumps, aligning with the charity’s and Footprint’s shared ambition for sustainable, future-ready homes.
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