parks character area - democracy.ipswich.gov.uk appen… · parks character area history 4 history...

IPSWICH URBAN CHARACTERISATION STUDY

PARKSCHARACTER AREA

CONTENTS

Introduction 3

History 4

Biodiversity and Archaeology 7

Transport and Access 8

Open Space 9

Landform and Views 10

Urban Analysis 11

Character Sub Area Description –

Parklands 12

Character Sub Area Description – Valley Road 16

Summary 18

PARKS CHARACTER AREA

INTRODUCTION 3

The Ipswich Parks character area is a connected seriesof 19th and early 20th century suburbs on the northand east sides of Ipswich. The area occupies treecovered slopes which encircle the historic town onthese sides and which channel routes towards thetown centre; roads such as Spring Road andTuddenham Road cut radially across the area. On itsnorth side it is bounded by the early 20th century ValleyRoad. Two character sub areas have been identified:

• Parklands • Valley Road

This is one of the most attractive residential settings inIpswich. The steeply sloping banks above the townoffer sites on major routes and views across theestuary - a good place to see and be seen. Wealthierresidents built here from the 16th century onwards andthe grounds of the larger houses, such as ChristchurchMansion and Holywells House, are preserved as publicparks.

In the 19th century some of the best middle classhousing was built in this area and large parts of theinner suburbs are today protected as conservationareas (CA). This study examines the urban areas notcovered by CA designation, although for a full picturethe Conservation Area Appraisals for the adjoiningareas should be consulted.

The area is characterised by its mature residentialsetting, mostly comprising terraced housing typesstepping up and down sloping streets. Thedevelopment density is lower here than in adjoiningareas; the parks, gardens, allotments and woodedslopesprovide apicturesquesetting forterraces andvillas. Manyof thestreetsframe viewsacross thetown centre.

Picture: Lacey Street Imagery copyright Getmapping PLC


HISTORY 4

History Samuel and Nathaniel Buck's 1741 engravingshows the medieval town crowded around theriverside. Beyond, fields and woods climb to aplateau-like upland; it is these slopes which

have become the Parks character area. Even inthe mid 18th century (a time of limited economicgrowth in Ipswich), there was developmentbeyond the historic town boundary. RedhousePark (now demolished) and Trinity Lodge areclearly visible in the engraving, the latter set atthe top of a garden.

Fine views, fresh air, access to spring watersemerging from the hillsides and space forgardens made these sites attractive to the newlywealthy entrepreneurs of Ipswich. The newresidents wanted access to their business in thetown and a foothold in the surroundingcountryside. They also, perhaps, wantedfreedom from some of restrictive practiceswithin the urban parish boundaries.

A good example is Morpeth House on LaceyStreet, built 1887 by Charles Whitfield King(1855-1930). He made his fortune out ofphilately, operating a worldwide mail orderbusiness for stamp collectors from premises onthe opposite side of Lacey Street (the early 20thcentury factory still stands).

The South West Prospect of Ipswich (detail), Samuel and Nathaniel Buck, 1741

Redhouse Park. Demolished in 1937, the 18th century home ofthe Edgar family was located near where Cranfield Court, offValley Road now stands. The avenue of trees leading to the frontof the house has been preserved as a small park

Trinity Lodge. GradeII listed. The earliestpart of the propertyis 16th century.

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HISTORY 5

Quirky individualism is visible in a number of thelarger houses, a product both of the ownersdesire to make their mark and a response to thewooded, sloping setting - several houses, forinstance, have crenellated and turretedbelvederes projecting above the roofline.

A number of architects chose the Parks area fortheir own residences, no doubt for the quality ofthe setting and also for access to middle classclients. Examples include Joseph RotherhamCattermole (1824-1900), the local architect whoworked on Woodside the Italianate mansion onConstitution Hill. He lived in The Warren, which

he built forhimself around1853 on ArthursTerrace. BirkinHaward(1912-2002),built TheSpinney offWesterfieldRoad in strikingmodern style in1960.

The majority of housing in the Parks area ismore modest - semi detached villas andsubstantial terraced housing. The 19th centuryhouse building initiative was taken in 1849 bythe Freehold Land Society on their 98 acreCauldwell Hall Estate (see the Californiacharacter area study). No doubt the success ofthe California venture helped encourage privatedevelopers to lay out streets of housing on thenearby slopes. Although not as readilydevelopable as the level Cauldwell Hall site ,builders found ways of stepping their terracesup the sloping streets, turning corners andtaking advantage of sites with views andproximity to open spaces.

Morpeth House. Whitfield King used his house to entertainclients and display his product; the library was converted to aStamp Room and papered with a mosaic pattern of 44,000stamps. The base of the octagonal Billiard Room can be seen inthe foreground

From top: Property at the junction of Back Hamlet and Grove Lane, second half of 19th Century and early 20th. The view is largelyunchanged today.Spring Road viaduct and allotments. The character area has a semi-rural appearance in places, which should be protected fromdevelopment. The Spinney, 1960, Westerfield Road (Grade II listed)

Gothic House, St Johns Road. Grade II listed. 1851-7

The Warren, originally Rotherham House 1853, Arthurs Terrace


HISTORY 6

Valley Road was developed later than the rest ofthe character area. The upland site wassemi-rural until the 1920s, the area mostly openfields and parkland belonging to estates such asRedhouse Park and Brookes Hall. Survivingparkland and hedgerow trees dating from the18th century and earlier are landmarks.

In the later 1920s, Ipswich Borough Councilacquired land across the north side of the townand constructed Valley Road, an urban reliefroad and the first substantial route in the town’shistory which did not connect directly to thetown centre. The broad carriageway runs inseveral straight sections before descending in anatural valley towards Norwich Road in thewest. The land in this area belonged to theSherrington family; Broomhill Park was createdout of woodland sold to the council in 1925.

Housing plots were sold either side of the newroad, a popular location for the modern middleclasses who had cars and could take advantageof the new road to commute. The area has thespacious, light filled feel of garden city planning;detached houses set behind large front gardens,culs de sac and avenues planted withornamental trees. The development density islower than elsewhere in Parks.

Ringham Road. The picturesque effect created by thecombination of slope, garden tree planting and built form can beseen in the group of streets between Spring Road and St JohnsRoad

Parkland tree, Cranfield Court. The Sweet Chestnut tree is asurvival from the grounds of Red House Park which stood nearby

Byles drinking fountain, Alexandra Park, donated 1905 (locallylisted). The park was originally the grounds of Hill House, donatedby descendants of the Byles family to Ipswich Corporation andnamed after the wife of Edward VII.

Spring Road viaduct. Part of the branch line built to Felixstowe and opened in 1877

Valley Road near Broomhill Park shortly after construction in 1926. The mature woodland either side of the road remains an attractive feature today


BIODIVERSITY AND ARCHAEOLOGY 7

Biodiversity From Broom Hill to the western end of ValleyRoad, the habitat in the Parks area consists ofacid grassland and woodland containingsprings, which create wet flushes in thevegetation.

Moving eastwards up Valley Road, the areabecomes characterised more by large gardensand features such as Cordale Spinney, whichmake an important contribution to the town’stree canopy and ecological network (canopycover in Parks area is relatively high at 20.8%).Dropping down to the area east of ChristchurchPark, there are several sites which are significantfor wildlife, including: Spring Road allotmentsand wood and Bishops Hill Wood.

The Felixstowe railway line traverses this easternpart of the Parks area, providing a key corridorfor the movement of wildlife.

Reptiles are found throughout the Parks areaand the railway line is particularly important fortheir movement. Stag beetles too are found inthe eastern part of the Parks area. The majorfeature in this area is large gardens forming partof the ecological network, and relatively highcanopy cover. These are the features which newdevelopment should maintain. In relation tospecies, habitat enhancements should besought through new development, e.g. thecreation of stag beetle piles.

1 Masons Close. Some wooded slopes in this area have neverbeen developed and support a wide range of native plant andanimal species. Redevelopment of garden and backland areasshould be resisted where possible.

2 Spring Road allotments. These are a highly valued localresource, as well as supporting wildlife and contributing tp thegreen setting of the area.

3 Wildflower meadow, Hayhill. The management of the nearbystream as public open space area will help create habitat andincrease awareness of the wildlife in the area.

4 Meadows near Constitution Hill. This unique open spacesupports a range of meadow species and preserves the settingof the Victorian urban edge.

5 Front gardens are mature, well established features in this areaand support a range of flora and fauna.

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Archaeology

This area is characterised by higher ground, andarchaeological sites and early occupation relateto former valleys of tributaries to the Orwell.There is:

• A Bronze Age hoard of axes from Bishop’sHill/Nacton Road (IPS 067)*

• Prehistoric site at Westerfield Road/ValleyRoad (IPS 246)

• Roman/Late Iron Age site at Dale Road/ValleyRoad (IPS 022, IPS 123)

• Roman settlement at Berkeley Close/CarltonWay/The Albany (IPS 240)

• Saxon settlement at Vermont Crescent (IPS122)

• Medieval Brook’s Hall at Westwood Avenue,possibly moated (IPS 636).

*Historic environment reference (HER) number.For further information about archaeologicalsites, visit http://heritage.suffolk.gov.uk/

Bronze Age axe. Bishop’s Hill/Nacton Road


TRANSPORT AND ACCESS 8

Transport and accessTopography is the major factor shaping access. It constrains majorroutes within valleys, reducing their visual impact. The more visiblestreets tend to be the side roads, laid out in the 19th century to servethe new residential developments. They climb the sides of the valleysand present a distinctive rising streetscape (or a descending vista ofterraces framing a view).

Although modern vehicle traffic has imposed itself on the street scene(parked cars are particularly noticeable), the road layout continues tomanage traffic demands.

Valley Road is an early moderninner ringroad which hasgenerated its own suburbantownscape and maturelandscape setting. The lowdensity design contrasts withother parts of the Parks areaand suggests the influence ofthe early 20th century GardenCity movement; grass vergesplanted with ornamental trees,

generous landscaped areas, family homes with front gardens. Thelayout is simple and spacious - junction improvements and newdevelopment should avoid detracting from the setting with intrusivesignage and infill.

The quiet side roads are a pleasant environment for pedestrians andcyclists. In addition, the numerous parks provide traffic free access(cyclists are restricted on some routes).

Belle Vue Road

Colchester Road, near the cemetery Alexandra Park

© Crown Copyright and database right 2014. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100021566.


OPEN SPACE 9

Clockwise from top left: Broom Hill ParkSpring Road AllotmentsWithipoll Street

Linear parkland next to the Belvedere brook atHayhill

The Parks area is defined by thenumber and quality of its openspaces and high level of canopy treecover. Parks such as Christchurchand Holywells provide a resource forthe whole of Ipswich and areprotected as Conservation Areas andLocal Nature Reserves. Smallerparks such as Alexandra and BroomHill serve more local areas but alsocontribute to the overall townscape.

Open spaces tend to be on thesteeper slopes and are visible fromthe lower lying roads and streets,with the result that private and semiprivate spaces such as allotmentsand gardens make a distinctive visualcontribution. Most of these spacesare well cared for and protected, butmodern infill development on somesites has had a visually damagingimpact.

The springs which flow down throughthe narrow valleys are mostlyculverted. However, they are visible inplaces, most memorably in HolywellsPark where the stream was formedcenturies ago into fish pools. A linearpark is being created alongside theHayhill development either side of thestream which flows down from theCemetery. Publicly accessibleenvironmental projects whichhighlight the ecology of naturalsprings should be encouraged in thisarea.

Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2014.


LANDFORM AND VIEWS 10

1 Bishops Hill 2 Bishops Hill 3 Cranfield Court Gateway, Valley Road 1939 4 Zoar Baptist Chapel and Church Hall, St Helens Road 1925

Landform and viewsThe maturity of the townscape and woodland partly masks thetopography of sand and clay, eroded by the action of the post glacialOrwell. Springs emerge from between the gravels and the underlyingclay and flow down towards the estuary. The scale of the landform onlybecomes clear where unexpected views across the town centre areopened up from the tops of steeply sloping streets. The Spring Roadviaduct is a dramatic demonstration of the level changes in this area.

1 Broomhill Pool (Listed Grade II) 2 Cranfield Court Almshouses (Listed Grade II)3 Duke of York public house4 Spring Road viaduct5 90 Grove Lane6 St Helens Primary School (Listed Grade II) 7 St Helens church (Listed Grade II) 8 Zoar Baptist Chapel9 St Marys RC Parish Hall10 County Hall (Listed Grade II)

a Albion Hill – view of Waterfrontb Belle Vue Road – view of Waterfrontc. Spring Road – views of Spring Road viaductd Spring Road – streetscape viewe Upland Road – streetscape viewf Ringham Road – streetscape viewg St Johns Road – streetscape viewh Back Hamlet – streetscape viewi Cemetery Road – streetscape viewj Hervey Street – streetscape viewk Back Hamlet / Grove Lane junction –

streetscape viewl Grove Lane - streetscape viewm Cavendish Road - streetscape viewn Bishops Hill - streetscape viewo Suffolk Road - streetscape viewp Corder Road - streetscape viewq Constable Road – streetscape viewr Valley Road streetscape view and view of

Constitution Hill

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URBAN ANALYSIS 11

This is one of the most visually legible andaccessible areas of Ipswich. The underlyinglandform orientates the visitor towards oraway from the town centre - the direction ofslope and views add to the readability of thestreetscape.

Residential streets have well defined, activefrontages. Although there are few landmarkbuildings (with the exception of the viaduct),the setting encouraged innovative housingdesigns from developers. Streets arecharacterised by a mix of residential types -terraced and detached - which step up anddown slopes, close views and frame views.Viewlines and orientation also add to thedistinctiveness of individual streets and helporientate the visitor.

Valley Road and the railway line cut across thetraditional radial street pattern. However, theyalso provide wildlife corridors within the areaand contribute to the ecological network,linking more formal open spaces.

Suffolk Road, looking towards Hervey Street. The slope and viewlines from the upper parts ofstreets give a strong sense of orientation to the streetscape

Kettlebaston Way. The Valley Road area is more level and more conventionally suburban - thelower number of through routes makes this a less legible and permeable area, although ValleyRoad itself is a landmark in the townscape of north Ipswich



CHARACTER SUB AREA - PARKLANDS 12

1 and 2 Attractive 19th centurywhite and red brick terracedhousing, Cemetery Road andRingham Road.

3 and 4 Larger terraced houseswith double height baywindows on Tuddenham Roadand Belle Vue Road. On agradient, the characteristicfeatures of this middle classhousing type play a new role -the bay windows and chimneys,for instance, form an attractivestepped composition.

5 and 6 Constable Road andAshmere Grove. The 'best'streets were reserved for theupper slopes near ChristchurchPark, although fine terraced anddetached houses can be foundall over the Parks area.

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The streets of 19th and early 20th century housing which form the larger part ofthe character area are comparable with Victorian residential developmentelsewhere in Ipswich, for instance in the Norwich Road area. The housesare typically two or three storeys, Suffolk white or red brick (with a mix ofmore decorative materials such as terracotta and flint). Original slate roofs arerare, but worthy of preservation where they exist. Door and window openings are finelydetailed - some original sash windows survive and the heads of doorways are often treateddecoratively.

Imagery copyright Getmapping PLC



The exceptional feature in the area is theadaptation of conventional building types to thedistinctive topography. Speculative buildersemployed ingenuity in adapting house types tothe angle of slope including the use of prominentbuildings on corners with frontages that wrapthe corner rather than presenting a blank gableend.

Frontages are stepped up the slopes and avariety of elevation styles are used to make theprogression look picturesque; decorativebrickwork courses for instance, or bays thatemphasise the individual frontages. Theattention to detail is continued in the design offront garden walls, which are either stepped upthe slope or laid in brick courses parallel with it.Roofscapes are more important in a risingtownscape; the roof planes themselves are morevisible, and the chimneys become a prominent

part of the stepped building mass. Many streetsin the Parks area retain their ranks of terracottapots crowning broad brick chimney stacks.

In some streets the houses are set well abovethe pavement, either above a basement or asan adaptation to difficult levels along the street.The flights of steps from street level to front doorare set between brick balustrades, thecomposition elegantly expressing the change oflevel and providing privacy and an outlook forthe occupants.

Front boundary treatments are an importantaspect of the areas character. Almost allproperties have a front garden, varying in depthaccording to the size of the house but alwayslarge enough for garden planting. Mature shrubsand ornamental trees contribute much of theforeground greenery, with native species treesclosing the view along the street or rising aboverooftops.

Original brick garden walls survive in manyplaces and a few examples of ironwork such asgates and railings. Boundary walls are also afeature, for instance along the boundaries ofparkland. These former estate walls, whencombined with mature overhanging trees, are apositive feature in the streetscape. Rear gardenboundary walls also exist, for instance at streetjunctions where properties turn a side elevationto the side road.

The removal of garden walls and paving ofgardens for off road parking is a significantthreat to the distinctive character of the area.

1 Ringham Road. A mix of frontages works well in this setting- here, a row of semi detached houses stepping down theslope and round a curve include a prominent gable frontedproperty with a decorative bargeboard and brickwork.

2 Belle Vue Road. The end terrace in this group faces theside street, allowing the frontage to face down the slope andavoiding a blank side gable.

3 Spring Road. Y-junctions, where roads meet at an angle,are a characteristic of the area (reflecting the topography).The end terrace has been given an entrance and facade,complete with pediment, facing down the slope and forminga landmark at the junction.

1 Hervey Street. The curved, rising line of the street isemphasised by the original details - the chimney stacks andpots, bay windows, front garden walls, carved doorway lintels,even the lead flashing on the gables.

2 Bartholomew Street. A mix of house styles is given visual unitythrough similarity of scale, the steep gradient and the maturetree canopies which rise above the rooftops on the highestground.

3 and 4 Alexandra Street. Original stone steps, flank walls, castironwork and clay tiles. These threshold details are prominent ina sloping streetscape, and the attention to detail at entrancesshould be reflected in modern proposals

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Development proposals should seek to retaindistinctive streetscape elements and detail. Thetendency for modern development to use cutand fill to create a single grade should beresisted where possible in favour of buildingforms that reflect topography and context.Street frontages and views should always beaddressed positively and elevational treatmentsbroken up to express function and the varyingcontext typical of Parks sites.

Detailed design features should express theunderlying response to the site. The Parks areaalready includes a robust mix of styles andmaterials - part of the area's picturesquecharacter is derived from casual contrasts ofscale, materials and elevational treatments.Modern design is welcome, particularly if itrespects the overall street form and scale, andproposes innovative solutions.

1 and 2 GainsboroughRoad and North HillRoad. Front gardens ofvarious sizes help definethe character of the Parksarea. Where original gatepiers and garden walldetails survive, theyshould be retained

3 North Hill Road. Reargarden walls can formpart of the streetscape atjunctions

4 and 5 Bishops Hill.Brick boundary wall andcast iron gate pier finial toUpland Gate, c. 1863.Grade II listed. The housewas built for a director ofRansomes; the red brickboundary wall has adiapered pattern and thewords ‘Bishops Hill’ inblue brick. The brickcoursing is laid parallelwith the slope rather thanhorizontally

6 Original iron railings andgatepier, Alexandra Park(Kings Avenue entrance).

1 Cobbold Mews. A mix of materials along rear boundarywalls, including timber panelling and random brickwork addsto the informal character of the space.

2 St Marys Convent (former), off Woodbridge Road. Anexample of a residential development in a sensitivelandscape setting. The site has been masterplannedcarefully so that the modern townhouse terraces preservethe mature garden setting of the original convent building.

3 Housing on former driving test centre site off WoodbridgeRoad. Architect: Barefoot and Gilles, 2011 Distinctivemodern housing design that responds to its setting – anapproach that should be used more widely.

4 Cemetery Road. There are at least three different designsof cast iron railings and front gates in this street, producedlocally.

5 North Hill Gardens. A sensitive conversion of existingbuildings which retains original fabric alongside appropriatelyscaled and detailed new build.

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Private garden space should continue to formpart of the streetscape in new developments. Itsboundary walling and paving should be carefullydetailed. Redevelopment of existing gardenspace (including back gardens) should beresisted where possible, unless there is acompelling design justification.

Red and Suffolk White brickwork and Welsh roofing slate are the historic building materials. There is a colourful mix of materialsalongside this basic palette however. The examples shown include clay tiles and kiln fired brick waste incorporated into a garden wall. Anindividualistic approach to building materials choice can be seen across the Parks area, and this could be reflected in moderndevelopment proposals.

1 Spring Road viaduct. Locallylisted. The white brick structure isan example of bold functionaldesign working well in this location.

2 St Johns Road. Tree and shrubplanting is a vital part of the areascharacter. New developmentshould not treat garden orlandscape spaces as anafterthought.

Alexandra Park, and housing along KingsAvenue (1908. Architect, Joseph Wood for theFreehold Land Society). Public open spacedefines much of the character of the Parks area.The housing on Kings Avenue has beendesigned with first floor balconies and Frenchwindows overlooking the park; modernproposals should also be responsive to theirsetting

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CHARACTER SUB AREA - VALLEY ROAD 16

1 400 year old parkland tree between ValleyRoad and Westwood Avenue. The interwarvillas in the background are typical of thesuburban housing type in the area.

2 Woodstone Avenue. Well maintained grassverges and mature street trees are an importantaspect of the garden suburb setting. Althoughsome front garden space has been paved foroff road parking, garden shrubs and trees stillcontribute to the streetscene. Newdevelopment should follow this pattern unlessthere is a compelling design reason.

3 Valley Road near the junction with WestwoodAvenue.

4 Broomhill Park section of Valley Road.

5 Colchester Road near the Old Cemetery. Theverges are planted with ornamental cherries,the distinctive poplars are in the Old Cemeteryconservation area.

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The early 20th century development in the Valley Road area has a moreplanned, spacious feel. It is also less constrained by topography - thedefining feature is the route of Valley Road itself, which (unlike other majorroads in Parks) does not connect directly with the town centre. Nearbyresidential roads have fewer through routes; the grass verged avenues andculs de sac are good examples of the garden city style of the period.

Although the area lacks some of the picturesquequalities typical of most of the Parks area, itretains a fine landscape setting enhanced furtherby well planted gardens.

Valley Road itself, although busy, is a pleasantlysuburban thoroughfare in the section that runsthrough Parks, lined with a mix of suburbanhouse types fronting the road and visible overhedgerows. Ornamental street tree plantingadds to the setting, and in its western sectionthe road descends through a broad, landscapedparkland to the busy junction with NorwichRoad.

Typically, the architectural style of the ValleyRoad area is the classic interwar suburban villa;broad hipped roofs with deep eaves, doubleheight semi circular bay windows, brindlebrickwork, timber and tile-hung cladding.

Although less architecturally mixed than the restof the character area there are some examplesof Arts and Crafts and Art Deco architecture andone excellent example of Modernism (TheSpinney, 1960 Grade II listed. Architect, BirkinHaward).

Imagery copyright Getmapping PLC


CHARACTER SUB AREA - VALLEY ROAD 17

There are opportunities for high quality design inthis area, as elsewhere in the Parks characterarea. At present The Spinney is the onlyoutstanding modern building, but the potentialfor equally bold architectural commissionsexists. It is important that the low developmentdensity of the area is maintained in the planningof new schemes and that the extent andcharacter of open spaces is protected.

1 Interwar housing on Valley Road.

2 Broomhill Pool, 1938. Grade II listed.Architect, E.McLauchlan. The reinforcedconcrete lido is in the Moderne style (alate form of Art Deco).

3 Detached house, Valley Road. Arestrained Art Deco suburban designfeaturing horizontally proportioned Crittallwindow frames (curved glazing either sideof the entrance), a reinforced concreteentrance canopy and original timber door .

4 Cranfield Court, 1938-9. Grade II listed.Architect, Cautley and Barefoot. TheVernacular Revival style group frames anopen, lawned courtyard facing thejunction of Valley Road and TuddenhamRoad. The expansive, low density style ofarchitecture is appropriate in the setting ofValley Road.

The building materials palette is more restrained than in the 19th century Parks area; there is more of an emphasis on the functional ratherthan the decorative characteristics of materials

Although the front parking courts are too stark for this location,the design of these new houses on Valley Road is an interestingvariation on the suburban type in the area.

View from ValleyRoad towardsConstitution Hill

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• Existing undeveloped space, both private and public, should be conserved for its visual and biodiversityvalue. This includes gardens, allotments, meadows and woodland.

• Where possible, the paving of front gardens for vehicle hardstanding should be avoided.

• Distinctive front garden features such as walls,railings, gatepiers and footpath tiles should be protected wherepossible. Contrasting design approaches, including the omission of garden planting, will have to be justified interms of visual impact on the surroundings.

• The removal of existing tree canopy cover and / or other environmental assets should be avoided. • Distinctive townscape and landscape views should be protected from intrusive development.

Parklands Sub Area• The design of new development should reflect the underlying topography, particularly in the adaptation of

building mass and elevations to sloping street frontages. Avoid creating levelled sites with large cut and fillretaining structures.

• Ensure that active or overlooking frontages are wrapped round corners - avoid blank walls at junctions.

• Modern building materials should complement the existing brick and slate combination, but there isopportunity for considered contrast, particularly in order to make the most of a strategic site.

Parklands Sub Area• The low density, garden suburb character of the area should be protected and reflected in the design of

modern development.

• The typical frontage treatment in the area is a generous front garden; this should be the case with moderndevelopment unless there is a good design reason.

• Within a suburban setting, there are opportunities for a wide range of architectural styles – especially goodmodern designs.

• The pattern of roadside planting, grass verges and open spaces should be protected and enhanced wherepossible.

SUMMARY

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