Small Spaces, Big Impact: Rethinking the Ginnel

Most housing layouts start with a rule.

In Wales, that usually means around 21 - 23 meters between dwellings where habitable rooms face each other protecting privacy with a 42 square meter garden per home.

When you set this out on a plan it leaves a zone of 6-8 meters which is typically absorbed into each garden and fenced off - boundaries are clear, it’s easy to manage with long runs of fencing, narrow strips of garden, and a space that feels more like it’s been divided than designed.

Instead of being fully absorbed into individual gardens could it be treated as communal space — a ginnel that sits between the the gardens. Not public, not exposed, but shared in a way that’s overlooked, secure, and part of everyday life.

This has been done before.

Examples

Goldsmith Street, Norwich (UK) by Mikhail Riches Architects

• - Features a shared ginnel between terraces with seating, planting, and play space

• - High-quality social housing scheme with strong natural surveillance

• - RIBA Stirling Prize winner praised for community-focused design

• Project link: https://www.mikhailriches.com/project/goldsmith-street/

Goldsmith Streets post-occupancy feedback and award assessments confirm that the shared ginnels at Goldsmith Street are being actively used. According to the Housing Design Awards submission:

"The space is secured at each end encouraging small children's play in this shared amenity asset."

The Design Commission for Wales highlights the positive impact of the Ginnel spaces in their article Goldsmith Street – How Norwich City Council Brought Quality Back to Social Housing 

"The ginneys that run behind the terraced homes on the Goldsmith Street scheme – and the low number of cars – have created natural spaces for play and community."

The article goes on to observe that Goldsmith Street succeeds in “combining quality, sustainability and community,” with its interconnected spaces supporting social cohesion and well-being. Residents reportedly express pride and a sense of care in their environment, noting:

"Someone did care that I liked my home. That means a lot to me."

Burnholme Green, York by Mikhail Riches Architects

• Features a shared ginnel between terraces with seating, planting, and play space

• High-quality social housing scheme with strong natural surveillance

• Projects link https://www.mikhailriches.com/project/burnholme-green/

Accordia 2, Cambridge by Alison Brooks Architects

• - Features a shared spaces between terraces with seating, planting, and play space

• - High-quality social housing scheme with strong natural surveillance

• - Housing design awards overall winner 2006

• Project link https://alisonbrooksarchitects.com/project/accordia/

Levenshulme Ginnel Gardens, Manchester (UK)

• - A resident-led transformation of a neglected ginnel into a shared garden

• - Includes planting, benches, and raised beds

• - Demonstrates community ownership and minimal intervention success

• Project overview: https://www.jandphats.co.uk/blogs/news/ginnel-gardening-the-ultimate-guide-transforming-your-alleyway

Lessons from Copenhagen’s Quiet Urbanism

Extracts below from our previous blog - read in full here Lessons from Copenhagen’s Quiet Urbanism

"By spending a few days in Copenhagen, from CopenHill to Reffen, to Margretheholm to Karens Minde Axis, one begins to see a city designed not around cars or parcels of land, but around life lived well together.

Every project, regardless of scale, reflects the same DNA: landscape first, community at the centre, and architecture as a backdrop to daily life.

It’s a lesson worth taking home — that the spaces between buildings matter most, and that genuine sustainability begins with generosity."

Ginnel design possibilities

Linear Shared Garden

- Native planting, fruit trees, benches, pergolas

- Defensible space with soft boundaries

- Low fencing or hedges for privacy without full separation

Playable 'Mews Lane'

- Resin or gravel path with informal play space

- Seating, low lighting, and access to gardens

- Practical for bins, bikes, and garden tools

Communal Growing/Allotments

- Raised beds, shared composting, tool storage

- Encourages healthy lifestyles and shared ownership

Wildlife Corridor

- Meadow planting, bird boxes, bug hotels

- Low maintenance and enhances biodiversity

Filtered Access Path

- Practical shared access with defined private edges

- Encourages permeability and reduces street reliance

Implementation Considerations

Making better use of the space between homes doesn’t require a fundamental redesign of housing layouts — it’s about being more intentional with space that already exists. The key is balancing practicality with placemaking: ensuring layouts remain compliant and buildable, while creating spaces that feel safe, usable, and meaningful to residents. These areas should support everyday life without becoming over-designed or dependent on perfect conditions. Just as importantly, how these spaces are managed over time will ultimately determine whether they succeed or quietly fall back into being leftover space.

Key points to consider. They:

• Must still meet core requirements (privacy distances, access, defensible space, planning compliance)

• Balance overlooking with privacy to create safe but comfortable environments

• Design for low maintenance and long-term robustness

• Avoid over-design — allow spaces to be flexible and adaptable

• Encourage a sense of ownership through resident input

• Consider long-term management early (who maintains it, how it’s used, and how it’s looked after)

• Keep solutions simple, practical, and easy to deliver within standard construction approaches

Conclusion

Does the 6-8 metre space between dwellings offer an opportunity for a shared ginnel that enhances residents’ quality of life? While issues of privacy, security, ownership, and maintenance must be addressed, can these be managed through thoughtful design and clear strategies.

Precedents like Goldsmith Street and Levenshulme Ginnel Gardens show that well-designed shared spaces can become valued community assets. With the right approach, can ginnels encourage interaction, support greener living, and add character—becoming both functional and meaningful parts of everyday residential life?

We are currently incorporating ginnels into one of our housing projects but we're not over-designing them at this point. By working closely with the delivery team, we will revisit these areas during the construction phase to conduct detailed consultations with residents, aiming to understand how they envision their spaces functioning and evolving. We'll share more details on this project once the Planning has been submitted.