<i>Good design is to the fore at Crest Nicholson&amp;’s development of a former dairy site in Cheltenham (right). The developer has appointed Stoneform to design and build the scheme of 24 apartments in a conservation area requiring the new scheme to mirror the feel of the existing buildings. APG Architects is developing the detailed design which will see two blocks built as modern interpretations of the Regency Villa.</i><p></p><p>Good design can boost the value of housing schemes says a new report. The study provides evidence that developers can add value to their operations by adopting good urban design practices that create a strong sense of neighbourhood.</p><p> The value of housing design and layout was commissioned by CABE, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, with the ODPM and Design for Homes. It shows how different types of housing layout impact on the costs of the development, the value of the end-product and final profitability to the developer. </p><p> The research selected eight examples of completed developments and compared them in four matched pairs. </p><p> The eight sites were studied in four different locations around the south east to try to eliminate the impact of regional economies and the differences between …