Hulme Living Leaf Street Housing
Hulme Living Leaf Street Housing by Mecanoo for One Manchester The area around Leaf Street in Hulme, just outside Manchester city centre, has a history
New Places
Landscape Led Vision
Introduction
The presence and proximity to landscape is important for health and well-being. The creation of high-quality landscapes is vital for development, playing an intrinsic role in establishing a sense of placeA sense of place is the unique collection of qualities and characteristics that makes one town or development different to another. It lends meaning or attachment to a development or place, transforming it into a home, a neighbourhood, or a community. A sense of place is also what makes our physical surroundings worth caring about. through the creation of enhanced natural and urban environments. Development should not be quantum led but informed by landscape led placemakingRecognising the distinctiveness of individual locations in plans, policies and proposals, and responding accordingly. principles.
Features of landscape led neighbourhoods and new places
- Design a scheme around a landscape framework
- Consider the purpose of the landscape and cater for different needs and users, whether for wildlife to thrive, for play or for relaxation.
- Retain existing features and sites of ecological importance in the landscape
- Views into and out of a site
- Include green corridors for the movement of people and wildlife, including landscape buffers, linear parks, green streets, back gardens or embankments.
NPV 1
Context and identity
CODE
Description
Compliance
CODE
All New Places must have a positive and coherent identity which complements the relevant Trafford Place, area type, existing landscape and/or urban context.
Description
Well-designed places are influenced positively by the surrounding landscape characterCharacter includes all of the elements that go to make a place, how it looks and feels, its geography and landscape, its noises and smells, activity, people and businesses. This character should be understood as a starting point for all development. Character can be understood at three levels; the area type in which the site sits, its surroundings and the features of the site., urban grainThe pattern of the arrangement of street blocks, plots and their buildings in a settlement. The degree to which an area’s pattern of blocks and plot subdivisions is respectively small and frequent (fine grain), or large and infrequent (coarse grain). Urban grain is a key component of defining the character of a place., patterns of built formForm is the three-dimensional shape and modelling of buildings and the spaces they define. Buildings and spaces can take many forms, depending upon their: size and shape in plan; height; bulk – their volume; massing – how bulk is shaped into a form; building lines – the alignment of building frontages along a street; and relationship to the plot boundary – and whether they share party walls or not. In the case of spaces, their form is influenced by the buildings around them., well defined spaces and the local vernacular. Developments do not need to copy their surroundings in every way and should have their own distinct identityThe identity or character of a place comes from the way that buildings, streets and spaces, landscape and infrastructure combine together and how people experience them.. It is appropriate to introduce elements that reflect how we live today, to include innovation or change such as increased densities, and to incorporate new sustainable features or systems. Development proposals must reflect both their allocated Area TypeParts of the local area that share common features and characteristics. Common rules and parameters can then be applied to each area type. and the characterCharacter includes all of the elements that go to make a place, how it looks and feels, its geography and landscape, its noises and smells, activity, people and businesses. This character should be understood as a starting point for all development. Character can be understood at three levels; the area type in which the site sits, its surroundings and the features of the site. of the Trafford Place where the site is located.
Where developments are located towards the edges of New Places they should transition and integrate sensitively into their wider surroundings.
Compliance
Applicants should demonstrate in their submission how this element of the code has been complied with, including how this element fits in with a masterplan or Design Framework for the place as a whole.
Documents required:
- Context characterCharacter includes all of the elements that go to make a place, how it looks and feels, its geography and landscape, its noises and smells, activity, people and businesses. This character should be understood as a starting point for all development. Character can be understood at three levels; the area type in which the site sits, its surroundings and the features of the site. appraisal (may be incorporated in the Design and Access Statement).
Examples
NPV 2
Landscape Led Strategy
CODE
Description
Compliance
CODE
The development of new places and neighbourhoods must be designed around a landscape led strategy that optmises opportunities to retain existing landscape features and their settings, and incorporates a network of public spaces with key corridors and routes defined through the design of the landscape.
Description
The layout and design of New Places must be based on a landscape led approach. The characterCharacter includes all of the elements that go to make a place, how it looks and feels, its geography and landscape, its noises and smells, activity, people and businesses. This character should be understood as a starting point for all development. Character can be understood at three levels; the area type in which the site sits, its surroundings and the features of the site. and identityThe identity or character of a place comes from the way that buildings, streets and spaces, landscape and infrastructure combine together and how people experience them. of a New Place starts to be determined by the siting of developments in the wider landscape which together with the landscape structure within the site informs the layout and grain – the pattern of streets, landscape and spaces, the movement network and the arrangement of development blocks.
Provide a hierarchy of spaces that include parks, squares and greens and pocket parks.
Consider the purpose of the landscape and cater for different needs and users, whether for wildlife to thrive, for play or for relaxation.
A development should complement and enhance the existing landscape and look to ensure that a range of open spaces are created that are intrinsic to the design of the place. Green infrastructure and landscape should be used as a primary tool to enhance quality and connect to the site’s surroundings.
Existing landscape features, such as field boundaries, hedgerows, trees, and their settings, should be incorporated into development layouts, street patterns and open spaces.
Natural features and habitats such as trees, hedgerows, and other mature vegetation contribute to a sense of placeA sense of place is the unique collection of qualities and characteristics that makes one town or development different to another. It lends meaning or attachment to a development or place, transforming it into a home, a neighbourhood, or a community. A sense of place is also what makes our physical surroundings worth caring about. and need to be retained and enhanced.
Give precedent to existing landscape features and characterCharacter includes all of the elements that go to make a place, how it looks and feels, its geography and landscape, its noises and smells, activity, people and businesses. This character should be understood as a starting point for all development. Character can be understood at three levels; the area type in which the site sits, its surroundings and the features of the site. when shaping plans for sites of any size. This can include long views and areas of landscape beyond the development boundaries. Consider what kinds of spaces exist in the surrounding area in order to define provision within the proposed site to ensure appropriate and balanced provision. Identify and preserve areas that have high ecological importance, particularly ancient and traditional landscapes.
Compliance
Applicants should demonstrate in their submission how this element of the code has been complied with, including how this element fits in with a masterplan or Design Framework for the place as a whole.
Area types:
– In New Places existing landscape features may include historic boundary walls and other boundary features, lost urban grainThe pattern of the arrangement of street blocks, plots and their buildings in a settlement. The degree to which an area’s pattern of blocks and plot subdivisions is respectively small and frequent (fine grain), or large and infrequent (coarse grain). Urban grain is a key component of defining the character of a place. and current and historic open space.
Documents required:
- Site Wide Landscape Strategy (may be incorporated into the Design and Access Statement)
- Existing and proposed site and landscaping plans –
- Heritage assessment if required by the Council’s Validation Checklist
- Code requirement signposted in the Design and Access Statement
Examples
NPV 3
Green corridors
CODE
Description
Compliance
CODE
The development of new places and neighbourhoods must optimise opportunities to protect existing and integrate new green corridors to promote active travel and the movement of wildlife.
Description
The protection of existing and creation of new green corridors, together with the provision of a network of green spaces and other green infrastructure will provide multiple benefits for biodiversity, nature, recreation, climate change resilience and also support health and wellbeing. These corridors can include landscape buffers, linear parks, green streets, back streets or embankments.
Compliance
Applicants should demonstrate in their submission how this element of the code has been complied with, including how this element fits in with a masterplan or Design Framework for the place as a whole.
Area types:
- In New Places – High Density, High Rise the enhancement of the canal network should be considered as an opportunity for a green corridor.
- In New Places – Low Density, Low Rise the retention of hedgerows, tree belts and the Carrington ‘Rides’ should be seen as an opportunity to create a distinct sense of placeA sense of place is the unique collection of qualities and characteristics that makes one town or development different to another. It lends meaning or attachment to a development or place, transforming it into a home, a neighbourhood, or a community. A sense of place is also what makes our physical surroundings worth caring about..
Documents required:
- Existing and proposed site and landscaping plans
- Code requirement signposted in the Design and Access Statement.
Landscape Led Vision case studies
Altrincham Town Centre
by Planit IE and Civic Engineers for Trafford Council The use of consistent and high quality materials harmonise the public realmThis is the space between
The Avenue in Saffron Walden
The Avenue by Pollard Thomas Edwards Architects for Hill This development inserts 76 new homes into a conservation area in a historic market town and
Derwenthorpe
Derwenthorpe by Studio Partington for Joseph Rowntree Foundation Derwenthorpe was one of the first large-scale low carbon communities in northern England. Its ‘green’ heating and
Acton Gardens
Acton Gardens by Alison Brooks Architects for Countryside Properties This £500m masterplan for the 2600 home, 40-acre regeneration of the South Acton Estate was won by
Aura, great kneighton
Aura, Great Kneighton by Tate Hindle for Countryside Properties Aura is an example of how good new housing communities can be if a local authority
