nqc

GROWING A GREENER FUTURE

Design Quality Charter

WHITEHILL & BORDON

2

Design Quality Charter

We will encourage a range of good quality, well-designed, low carbon homes built to the highest standards in well-planned neighbourhoods where people want to live.If this aspiration is to be achieved, there must be a clear understanding by all about what well-planned, biodiversity rich neighbourhoods and well-designed homes could be like. The Charter principles are clear statements of belief about what will create a legacy of great neighbourhoods in the Eco-town. Principles articulate qualities, characteristics and processes that new development in the town should consider.

3Watercolour, Redhill

4 5Neighbourhood Quality Charter • Whitehill Bordon Eco-town

1. IntroductionIn April 2011, the Housing Specialist Group agreed to prepare a Design Quality Charter for Whitehill & Bordon. This document is owned by the group, with input from the wider community through the Standing Conference and other Specialist Groups. Its main purpose is to represent a shared agreement about what constitutes good design in relation to homes and neighbourhoods, to influence development briefs and wider design guidance and to guide planning application decisions. The Charter is referred to in the Whitehill & Bordon chapter of the emerging Joint Core Strategy and the Whitehill & Bordon Eco-town masterplan, (revised May 2012). This document has been approved by the district council cabinet and is a material consideration in planning application decisions. This has been a creative exercise where local knowledge of existing neighbourhoods and issues of common concern and agreement between participants, have informed the four principles in this Charter.

Building for Life has been a useful tool to help the group identify the elements that

create a well-designed neighbourhood.It is the national quality standard for homes and neighbourhoods and has been tried and tested on newly built schemes and planning applications across the country. The 20 questions forming the Building for Life criteria are used to evaluate the quality of housing developments. The 20 questions are structured under four chapters: Environment and Community; Character; Streets Parking and Pedestrianisation; Design and Construction. Whilst Building for Life is an umbrella for other standards such as Lifetime Homes and Secured by Design, the Housing Specialist Group have also discussed the need to cover issues of integrating habitats for wildlife within developments. The Building for Life criteria can be found in the appendix of this report. More information on Building for Life can also be found at www.buildingforlife.org. The Charter principles draw on other relevant guidance such as Biodiversity by Design, Manual for Streets and the Urban Design Compendium.

Process for agreeing the Charter

The Charter principles are supported by the evidence gathered from seven neighbourhood reviews and draw from visits to other recent developments. This information can be found in the appendix to this document. Members of the Housing Specialist Group agreed 12 priority principles in a workshop on 31st October 2011. These were discussed in a further workshop at the Standing Conference and presented to the Delivery Board in December 2011. In January and February 2012, the principles around natural open spaces and parking were reviewed respectively with the Sustainable Environments Specialist Group and the Infrastructure and Transport Specialist Group. In early March, members of all specialist groups were invited to attend a workshop that focused on developing design principles for Quebec Barracks, which validated the draft Charter principles.

The success of the Charter is now dependent on its use by signatories – as a means to start to guide decisions affecting the quality of new neighbourhoods and buildings.

Site model, Watercolour, Redhill, Surrey


2. Principles

Principle 1We believe that new homes and neighbourhoods must respect the natural environment and provide opportunities for people to live more sustainably by:• considering the role of existing mature

trees in the design of neighbourhoods, to create beneficial micro-climates (in particular exploiting solar shading and cooling) without losing opportunities for using solar energy to provide electricity and hot water to homes

• designing homes and open spaces to accommodate a range of habitats for protected species

• using native plant species in the design of public open spaces

• considering measures to limit light pollution particularly on sites near sensitive and ecological areas

• where there is a need, provide communal outdoor spaces for growing food.

Principle 2We believe that new neighbourhoods should have their own sense of place that together help to create a clear and coherent identity for the town reflecting existing landscape character, local history and new sustainable design. In order to achieve this development should consider:• the role that existing topography,

archaeology, water features, mature trees and hedgerows contribute to the character of new neighbourhoods

• the role of built form in creating a sense of place in different neighbourhoods

• a mix of street scenes and parking solutions to create variety and contribute to neighbourhood character

Principle 3We believe that neighbourhoods should be designed to allow ease of movement for pedestrians, cyclists and cars and should consider providing:• connecting streets to promote easy

movement for pedestrians and cyclists• a mix of parking solutions that reflects

good practice and promotes safety and security for people and cars.

Principle 4We believe the design of open spaces is as important as the design of homes and that homes and open spaces should be designed to last, should be well maintained and meet future needs. We would like to see a variety of house designs in different neighbourhoods that consider the surrounding area and prioritise fabric energy efficiency and energy saving.To help achieve this, the Whitehill & Bordon Eco-town team will refresh the design and sustainability review panel, ensuring a mix of local and national expertise in key areas of environmental design, ecology, urban design, transport and architecture.The panel will not only review schemes at an early stage in the planning process, but may also contribute to the development of more detailed design guidance and development briefs, through workshops with developers, landowners and the local community.

National policy in support of Principle 4

This approach is supported by the National Planning Policy Framework (p15, Mar 2012) which states that “Local planning authorities should have local design review arrange-ments in place to provide assessment and support to ensure high standards of design. […] In general, early engagement on design produces the greatest benefits. In assess-ing applications, local planning authorities should have regard to the recommendations from the design review panel.”

The following principles represent priorities that should be considered for all new development. It is not the aim to cover every topic but focus on physical aspects and processes that will shape future development that participants in the Specialist

Groups considered a fundamental necessity. There are four principles, each supported by evidence gathered by residents and by national and local policy and guidance.

8

Principle one

We believe that new homes and neighbourhoods must respect the natural environment and provide opportunities for people to live more sustainably by:

• considering the role of existing mature trees in the design of neighbourhoods, to create beneficial micro-climates (in particular exploiting solar shading and cooling) without losing opportunities for using solar energy to provide electricity and hot water to homes

• designing homes and open spaces to accommodate a range of habitats for protected species

• using native plant species in the design of public open spaces

• considering measures to limit light pollution particularly on sites near sensitive and ecological areas

• where there is a need, provide communal outdoor spaces for growing food.

Allotments, Whitehill & Bordon


Evidence

• Mature trees and wooded areas are prominent in many neighbourhoods, creating permeable ground cover and the potential for cooling and shading. For example:

Heather Close: public open space in a residential neighbourhood. Trees create the potential for a communal shaded play area as well as potentially reducing the impacts of thermal emissions from surrounding homes.

Robinson Way: too few homes overlook this space creating ambiguity about its role, preventing it from contributing positively to the neighbourhood as a green or communal garden.

Case study – Clapton Park Estate, London: John Little from the Green Roof Company showed the Housing Specialist Group work he has done with residents to turn wasted open space into productive and biodiversity rich areas that residents maintain and now reap the rewards.

Monument Chase: The Deadwater Valley Nature Reserve bordering this neighbourhood is home to rarely seen birds and butterflies. Whilst the study of impacts of light pollution on plant and animal species is still in its early days, there is a growing body of evidence supporting the need for limiting lighting levels to habitats for migratory and native species.

• Existing street lighting does not take account of sensitive ecological areas. For example:

Policy and guidance supporting principle 1

• Whitehill&Bordonmasterplan(2012)• Greeninfrastructurestrategy(2011)• Oneplanetlivingstrategy(2011)• Lightpollutionandtheimpactsonbiodiversity,speciesandtheirhabitats:P.Deda,i.El-

bertzhagen,m.Klussmann;Secretariatoftheconventionontheconservationofmigratoryspeciesofwildanimals(2006)

• RSPBguidanceonprovisionofnestsitesforhousemartinswww.rspb.org.uk/hfwHomesforWildlife”leafletdossier;BatConservationTrustwww.bats.org.uk

• SwiftConservationwebsite-www.swift-conservation.org-andpublications• BiodiversityByDesign(TCPA2005)

• Some of the neighbourhoods reviewed have open space that is under-used and does not support biodiversity or productivity. For example:


We believe that new neighbourhoods should have their

own sense of place that together help to create a clear and

coherent identity for the town reflecting existing landscape

character, local history and new sustainable design.

In order to achieve this development should consider:

• the role that existing topography, archaeology, water

features, mature trees and hedgerows contribute to the

character of new neighbourhoods

• the role of built form in creating a sense of place in

different neighbourhoods

• a mix of street scenes and parking solutions to create

variety and contribute to neighbourhood character

Principle two

Graylingwell Park, Chichester


Meadow View: a missed opportunity for these homes to benefit from the view towards a small green and the Nature Reserve as houses turn their backs on the street and an odd relationship is created between rear fences and the street.

Watercolour, Redhill: a culverted brook was re-opened to create an important landscape feature in the centre of this residential development. The scale and colours of the buildings further contribute to make this an attractive and coherent neighbourhood.

• Mature trees are an important characteristic of many existing neighbourhoods, however, the layout of developments sometimes ignores existing topography and natural features. For example:

• In many of the neighbourhoods reviewed, there were too many “anywhere” developments where built form was felt to be repetitive, lacking in variety and character. For example:

Atholl Road: the Deadwater Valley Nature Reserve is a distinctive landscape feature that could help to characterise this neighbourhood, instead it has been ignored both as a focal point and as a means of creating a place that is easy to understand.

The Clockhouse, Graylingwell Park, Chichester: this former hospital administration building has been renovated to accommodate five apartments.

In Whitehill & Bordon, there are opportunities for the best of the existing Edwardian military buildings to contribute to the character and identity of new development.

Evidence

• On the visit to Graylingwell Park near Chichester, the restoration and re-use of historic buildings demonstrated how existing buildings can bring character and a sense of place to new development.

Royal Drive: standard house types are laid out ignoring the relationship of houses to each other and failing to create a coherent neighbourhood.


• Whitehill&Bordonmasterplan(2012)• UrbanDesignCompendium,HCA: http://tinyurl.com/c9gpz9e

• The visit to Watercolour, Redhill, demonstrated how landscape features and varied built form can help create a neighbourhood with a distinctive character.


We believe that neighbourhoods should be designedto allow ease of movement for pedestrians, cyclists and cars

and should consider providing:• connecting streets to promote easy movement for pedestrians and cyclists

• a mix of parking solutions that reflects good practice and promotes safety and security for people and cars.

Principle three


• In some of the reviewed neighbourhoods, parking areas at the end of streets or alleyways demonstrated the problems that a lack of connectivity can create for surveillance and security.

Off Coniston Road: two rows of garages with no natural surveillance from adjoining houses. It’s location is inconvenient for residents creating further problems of neglect and increasing the likelihood of informal parking outside properties.

Saville Crescent: this long alleyway leading to a poorly maintained garage parking court demonstrates the problems of locating parking at a distance from front doors. As a result, some residents have turned their front gardens into parking areas.

Beaufort Road: on-street parking on this wide street allows pedestrians freedom of movement without detrimentally affecting the character of this terraced street.

Graylingwell Park, Chichester: a single parking solution for this neighbourhood has created a car dominated street that is far removed from the approach encouraged by Manual for Streets.

Sutherland Close: parking spaces that aren’t conveniently located in site of owners homes sometimes result in people parking anywhere – even if it means blocking pedestrian movement. This can be dangerous and create an unattractive, car dominated environment.

• The visit to Graylingwell Park showed that successful street layouts are as important as the environmental sustainability of individual homes.

• Some neighbourhoods in Whitehill & Bordon demonstrate how different parking solutions can be successful, whilst in others, informal parking can prevent pedestrian access and make cycling dangerous.

Evidence


• CompanionGuidetoManualforStreets(HampshireCountyCouncil2010)• Eco-townParkingstrategy(forthcoming)• Eco-townWalkingandcyclingstrategy(forthcoming)• ManualforStreets(DfT2007)• CarParking:WhatWorksWhere(HCA2006)• UrbanDesignCompendium,HCA: http://tinyurl.com/c9gpz9e

21Neighbourhood Quality Charter • Whitehill Bordon Eco-town

We believe the design of open spaces is as important as the design of homes and that homes and open spaces should be designed to last, should be well maintained and meet future needs. We would like to see a variety of house designs in different neighbourhoods that consider the surrounding area and prioritise fabric energy efficiency and energy saving.To help achieve this, the Whitehill & Bordon Eco-town team will refresh the design and sustainability review panel, ensuring a mix of local and national expertise in key areas of environmental design, ecology, urban design, transport and architecture.The panel will not only review schemes at an early stage in the planning process, but may also contribute to the development of more detailed design guidance and development briefs, through workshops with developers, landowners and the local community.

Principle four

Graylingwell Park, Chichester

20

www.whitehillbordon.com

WHITEHILL & BORDON

nqc

Documents

charterthe charter principles

good design

housing specialist group

pedestrianisation design

wellplanned neighbourhoods

welldesigned homes

wider design guidance

priority principles