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This David Wilson Homes development on part of the former Ennstone cement works in Doseley, Telford has been designed in phases.
The first phase designed by Townscape Solutions (see photos) achieved detailed permission in November 2007 for 58 Dwellings on 2.1 ha with construction now complete. Constraints included a heavy tree belt limiting the developable area, a sewer splitting the site diagonally, adjacent industry and ecological constraints.
A masterplan for 460 units and open space drawn up by Townscape Solutions for the remainder of the site (see masterplan) was approved in outline in July 2013. Reserved matters for phase 2 have also been approved with construction now underway.
Kenny Brown acted as an expert witness for McCarthy & Stone after the refusal of planning permission for a 59 unit assisted living scheme on the site of a 1960s police station in Welwyn Garden City.
Located on a prominent site in the conservation area, the Council refused permission on design grounds despite an evidently sympathetic design. The decision was appealed and I gave evidence in favour of the design at a public inquiry.
The Inspector sensibly found in favour of the scheme and stated:
"The appeal proposal responds both physically and visually to the garden city framework in a manner which would enhance the Campus and its role within the planned town centre. Secondly the scheme would make a positive contribution to the townscape quality of the civic area without undermining those attributes which the Appraisal highlights as important here. The significance of the Welwyn Garden City Conservation area as a designated heritage asset would be sustained and enhanced."
Prior to the involvement of Townscape Solutions, this project by David Wilson Homes had stalled, with a number of issues preventing an agreed design solution.
The unresolved issues included trees, car parking, open space, character and context and relationship to neighbouring properties.
A new layout was then produced by Townscape Solutions which overcame the issues. Detailed planning permission was subsequently granted in March 2011 for 81 units and open space, with construction now complete.
McCarthy & Stone Retirement Lifestyles asked us to get involved with a project in the historic centre and conservation area in Wickham in Hampshire. The Council wanted to see a high quality development that related positively to the historic context and took the view that an apartment scheme would be difficult to integrate successfully into the urban grain.
Townscape Solutions produced a character appraisal of the site and context as a guide to the architect and also liaised closely with the in-house design team as the design progressed. The resultant design was positively received by the local design review panel and overcame initial resistance from the Council to gain planning approval in June 2013 and is now built.
This 140 unit outline application by David Wilson Homes on the site of a brickworks in South Staffordshire green belt was approved at appeal in November 2012. As well as housing, the uses included a ‘craft village’, a nursing home, a community centre, country park extension and allotments.
With planning and landscape input from Wardell Armstrong, the design was based around a strong emphasis on planting and landscaping sympathetic to the adjacent country park and green belt designation. An imposed limit on housing numbers also ensured that the houses were set in generous plots. An existing historic brick chimney was also retained as part of the plans, forming a focal point around the craft village.
The reserved matters have also been approved with the construction process now underway.
Townscape Solutions was commissioned by Tesco and Birmingham City Council to provide an expert witness service on design at a compulsory purchase inquiry held in 2009 in relation to the implementation of redevelopment plans for the Swan Shopping Centre in Yardley. Leading an objection was an existing landowner who wanted to promote an alternative design. We gave evidence that the approved design would enhance the area and was an appropriate design response for the context.
The Inspector found in favour of Birmingham City Council/Tesco and concluded that the scheme would significantly improve the character and quality of the area and would complement the role and function of the local centre.
Construction is now complete and the redevelopment has made an enormous improvement to this formerly run down local centre.
After the refusal of planning permission, Townscape Solutions was brought in by Fox Land and Property (Gladman Developments) to provide an expert witness service and an independent design review for a housing scheme on a 9 ha site on the edge of Sawtry in Huntingdonshire.
A new masterplan was then drawn up by us to provide a greater level of detail and a sensitive contextual response. As a result, the design reason for refusal was removed in agreement with the local planning authority. The principle of development was also then won on appeal.
The reserved matters were subsequently approved and construction is now largely complete by Charles Church and Bellway Homes.
Townscape Solutions was commissioned by Northcreek Estates to draw up a two phase masterplan for up to 335 houses and a nursing home for a former industrial site measuring 12 ha on the edge of Penkridge in Staffordshire.
Issues to consider included existing trees, topography and the need to provide local distinctiveness.
The first phase for up to 165 houses and a nursing home was approved in 2012 with the second phase for a further 170 units approved in Summer 2013.
Persimmon Homes subsequently purchased the site. Townscape Solutions helped with the reserved matters by inputting design ideas and drawing up a supporting design and access addendum. The scheme is now being constructed.
David Wilson Homes purchased a former school site in Edgbaston in Birmingham. After a number of proposed plans were submitted, the Council were still not in favour of the design approach. Townscape Solutions was then commissioned by David Wilson Homes to break the impasse.
Working closely with the house builder's in house architect, a new plan was drawn up which created two focal spaces with differing characters. Townscape Solutions then met with the Council, produced the Design and Access Statement and drew up a number of perspective images to illustrate the type of place proposed. The subsequent planning application for 90 houses was then approved in June 2013 with construction now largely complete.