High up in the Welsh valleys, Blaenavon is currently undergoing a renaissance since being declared a World Heritage Site in 2000. This development of 111 dwellings is on the site of the former New Road Farm and the land falls at a spectacular gradient of 1 in 6 down to the ravine at the bottom. The road network is limited to a maximum gradient of 1 in 10 and so an 'Alpine pass' layout has been adopted as the only practical way of traversing the site. Hence, the blocks of houses are arranged parallel to the contours and most of the houses are either split-level or dug into the slope by a whole floor in order to cope with the lie of the land. The site is well populated with mature oak trees, including one strong belt running straight down through the middle of the site, which has been preserved as a steep green swathe echoing the pattern of steep terraced streets in Blaenavon town on the other side of the valley. The design captures the authentic atmosphere of the Valleys with Welsh vernacular architecture and a tight traditional street pattern.