The Blog / Masterplanning

Special Setting, Berkshire

Special Setting Berkshire

In the grounds of a former private zoo located within a designated planning special landscape character area a new dwelling has been approved.

The DA supporting landscape strategy and management plan has been developed within the estate setting of a grade 2 listed building.  The new 1.5ha gardens are set around mature parkland including estate pond and enhanced walled garden enclosure.

Working with STL Architects for Amberleigh Homes the scheme includes a new driveway access within the Green Belt setting.

 

Special Setting  Berkshire

Care Village Transition Plan, Surrey

Care Village Transition Plan

At the edge of a planning Green Gap at Farnham, a Care Village is proposed that offers significant communal leisure facilities. These include an extension to the local rugby club playing fields, new tennis and bowls clubs with a central management hub. The landscape setting of the 4.48ha site will be improved by extensive mixed-age enclosure planting with new footpath links to the local nature reserve and greenspace as well as drainage and bio-diversity enhancement to the boundary stream and linked wetland margins. The design, including long-term management, will offer a meaningful transition between the existing settlement and open countryside. The pre-application inquiry submitted to WBC is being co-ordinated by HR Architects with Bell Cornwell Planning on behalf of Lamron Developments (Holybourne) Ltd.

Hambrook Extension, Sussex

Hambrook Extension

Working with HGP architects for Foreman Homes, DA provided the landscape strategy for a 30 unit residential development on a 1.23ha site in a village setting severed by the A27 trunk road improvements. The landscape submission included an enhanced landscape framework.

The new greenspace is linked by public footpaths to boundary marginal habitat and woodland improvements. Integrating linked SUDS drainage on this low-lying site was an important design feature retaining the mixed-age tree canopy and mature hedgerow enclosure.

Mixed use development in Basingstoke

wo years after Basingstoke Town FC moved to a new ground operated by the Hampshire FA the application for mixed use development at their former 2.7ha Camrose site has been approved on appeal. The successful scheme includes mixed tenure apartments with street and podium level landscape all adjacent a new neighbourhood park. The roadside frontage includes a stepped vertical landscape treatment to fit the prominent sloping site and opposite a new link road there is a proposed care home sited near local community facilities.

DA provided the landscape strategy with supporting design and management plan. Fibonacci Architects co-ordinated the submission on behalf of Basron Developments. 

Settlement Edge Integration, Sonning Common

This recently occupied 25 unit development for established client T A Fisher includes affordable and market units with LAP play facilities set within reinforced shelterbelts and structural landscape adjacent the AONB. DA continues to work with T A Fisher across the Thames Valley.

Suburban Apartments, Purley

Purley apartments

The Croydon Council housing intensification policy guided DA and the successful design team for the 7 unit apartment scheme for The Purple Pepper Partnership.

The application led by WSPA exploited the significant site topography while respecting the local street pattern and mature tree canopy.

DA provided landscape and tree protection advice in a scheme that included communal allotments and play space.

We continue to work with WSPA on a number of projects across the south-east in the residential/ leisure and private sectors.

The Glasshouse, Basingstoke

The Glasshouse Basingstoke

This high specification office development lies in a prominent location at the edge of the established Basing View business district. 

The passive energy 7 storey development includes communal conference facilities, gym, café and terraced roof gardens with significant vertical landscape treatment around the basement parking zone. 

DA worked with Fibonacci Architects and Woolf Bond Planning for Fishron Properties Ltd.

Urban Renewal, Basingstoke

Urban Renewal Basingstoke

Basingstoke Town Football Club has recently moved to a new ground west of the town operated by the Hampshire FA. The former 2.7ha Camrose site is now being redeveloped for mixed-use with care home, apartment and terraced housing around communal green space and shared links to the town centre.

Vertical landscape treatments are utilised together with buffer structure planting in the DA landscape strategy and supporting design statement in the application to BDBC.

Fibonaaci Architects co-ordinated the submission on behalf of Basron Developments.

Sensitive Settlement Edge – Sonning Common

Sensitive Settlement Edge – Sonning Common

Our latest scheme for T A Fisher has been the detailed application for 25 units at Kennylands Road.

The proposal on a west facing, edge of settlement site includes both affordable and market housing with LAP play facilities. Boundary treatment was carefully considered reinforcing existing shelterbelts, respecting neighbouring privacy while enhancing distant views in the AONB context.

DA also provided a long term landscape management plan to support the detailed application. Pro-Vision Planning co-ordinated the submission to SODC.

 

Redundant land re-use – Courtlands Farm, Surrey

Another Green Belt success has seen the granting of detailed planning permission at this former munitions factory on the Surrey North Downs.

The reinforced green envelope and associated long term management plan will assist with the integration of the residential development into the local landscape character. DA working with WS Planning and Architecture co-ordinated the landscape planning reports. Construction is anticipated to commence in 2019.

 

Major School Development – Hampshire

Alton School is embarking on a major development programme on a south facing heavily wooded site. This will include new teaching, boarding and sports facilities including an indoor tennis centre and 4G pitches. A central social hub will be created around the refurbished Manor House with improved parking all to be set within the managed wooded setting. DA are working with MVL architects on the new masterplan providing the key tree and landscape advice.

A detailed application is anticipated in Spring 2018 with significant construction planned for autumn 2019.

Work continues in the Green Belt, South Downs National Park, Conservation Areas and other constrained areas of the southern UK.

Special Case Planning – Lingfield Surrey

Lingfield Surrey

Achieving sustained planning success by making special cases in sensitive locations is a feature of the DA project portfolio. The illustration by OSP architects depicts courtyard replacement development for an outmoded light industrial site.  The proposal was located within the setting of a Grade 2 listed property.
Outline planning approval was granted in July 2015. Working with Tim North Associates Planning, DA advised on tree protection and landscape strategy. A landscape management plan was also provided to integrate the proposal that included new village playing fields.

Work continues in the Green Belt, South Downs National Park, conservation areas and other constrained areas of the southern UK

Lingfield---Perspective--copy

MOD land disposal

MOD land disposal

Masterplanning larger scale projects place importance not only on exploiting existing site assets, but also links with the local community. Acting for Inland Homes plc, DA assisted on the redevelopment of a redundant RAF base near Leighton Buzzard. The proposal included 170 units of mixed residential units with a neighbourhood community centre, local park and nature reserve with links to the local footpath and transport network. Working with BM Architects the design included a landscape strategy, detailed design and 5 year management plan. Planning approval was granted in Spring 2015 with phased construction by third parties anticipated until 2018. DA is involved on a number of masterplanning projects including restored gravel workings, mixed leisure and commercial development and a new garden village adjacent SSSI wetland habitat.

MOD-masterplan-Leighton-Buzzard-copy

Estate Management – South Coast

DA assists private landowners to enhance the long term property value as well as exploiting the site character in estate improvements. Projects include listed buildings and grounds where sympathetic restoration is incorporated into the masterplan. The illustration shows a former medieval Chapter House in the grounds of a Sussex Farmhouse that will be refurbished as a family country home.

Hardham-Sx-Fmhouse-west-sussex-crop

Edge Of Settlement

Edge of settlement locations require careful consideration and balance of natural and built form. Building massing, siting, access and the enhancement of landscape enclosure are reoccurring themes. Frequently DA support an indicative landscape strategy with protected species, tree and visual surveys. Management schemes are then adopted to protect key features and guide development.

DA is working on a number of outline applications in the south of England including the E Sussex example where Green Belt abuts existing settlement.

E-Sussex-crop

Commercial Redevelopment Prospero, Redhill

With the government’s ‘right to buy’ initiative and the latest NPPF planning policy, the need for potential development land to be effectively promoted is essential to win planning support. DA is actively involved on a number of masterplanning sites with public meetings and exhibitions used to engage with the local community. The feedback on environmental issues then informs the most appropriate design.

Current outline planning projects extend from Essex to Gloucestershire including the 120 unit Farnham residential proposal with HR Architects illustrated. DA was part of the successful design team to gain approval for the 74ha site that included 64 new units at Oxlease Farm, near Romsey. This project includes the SSSI former Barge Canal and securing environmental enhancement in the Test Valley.

Farnham-plan-base-crop

Urban Infill – Berkshire

DA provided supporting tree and landscape reports for the courtyard housing scheme set in the grounds of a Listed Building now converted to mixed use. Space for adequate tree protection was a key constraint for the scheme completed by Aquinna Homes in Spring 2014.

urban-infill

Faraday Court – Surrey Research Park

Faraday Court is the latest phase of development at Surrey Research Park. Detailed planning permission is being sought for two new buildings totalling over 6,000m2 for specialist veterinary and pathology services. The 2ha sloping site is bordered by ancient woodland.

A sustainable low energy design is being prepared including spoil recycling and biodiversity enhancements. DA has supplied landscape and tree management services to the established design team, including HCD architects. The first phase construction is programmed for completion summer 2014.

Meanwhile as neighbouring SSTL expands the University of Surrey anticipates further development on the Research Park.

Retail Renewal

As British retailing adapts to new markets DA has been instructed on refurbishment programmes in Carlisle and London. Working with St Modwen project management at Edmonton shopping centre and The Co-operative at St Nicholas Retail Park, Carlisle the practice has provided landscape refurbishment strategies to enhance the public realm. Other regional projects extend across the south from Dorset to Kent.

Oxlease Gardens

Oxlease Farm extends to 74 ha in the Test Valley near Romsey. It is divided by the Romsey Barge Canal designated SSSI with an important wetland habitat to the west.

The landowner is proposing to gift this wetland to the local council for environmental and conservation purposes with improved public access supported by a long term landscape management fund.

A low density 58 unit enabling residential development, Oxlease Gardens, is proposed on former paddocks around existing farm buildings. DA is part of the masterplanning/ EIA team working with Pro-Vision Architects that has presented the scheme at public exhibition before the pre-application submission. A full planning application is anticipated to Test Valley BC later in 2012.

Oxlease-map

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