Featherstone Lodge is a late nineteenth century detached house in Forest Hill used until recently as a drug rehabilitation centre. The site was purchased by retirement housing provider Hanover when they were approached by local residents who had formed a cohousing group after a previous development proposal for the site fell through. With beautiful views, a 9m fall across the site and some fine mature trees, Featherstone Lodge represents a very unusual opportunity to make an architecturally striking new development among the trees that will enhance the setting of the converted lodge. Our design has been developed in collaboration with the co-housing group members as the result of a series of design workshops exploring their aspirations for the character and layout of the site. The final proposals are for the existing lodge to be converted into self-contained flats with communal facilities. Five new cottages will be arranged around the gardens surrounding the lodge and there will be 18 one- and two-bedroom flats in the lower gardens. Two new houses will also be built on the site of the former gatehouse. All the homes will look onto shared gardens incorporating the retained mature trees and have access to a range of communal amenities.