A new housing development in Mitcham has won a national design award.

The Rowan Park development, in Rowan Road, was one of six project winners at the 2012 Housing Design Awards.

Once completed, the former Rowan School site will boast a 2.6 hectare public park, 217 solar-panelled new homes, a scout and community hall and medical centre.

Judges praised the development for its “family friendly layout and community facilities” and its architects for going “beyond the sustainability brief”.

Councillor Andrew Judge, cabinet member for environmental sustainability and regeneration, said:

“Rowan Park is at the forefront of innovative and sustainable design and sets the benchmark for future developments in our borough.”

Thirty per cent of the housing will be affordable to buy through part ownership schemes with a further 10 per cent part of developer Crest Nicholson’s first-time buyer’s initiative.

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