Parc Craigmillar

PARC CRAIGMILLAR CASE STUDY

SCOTTISH PLACEMAKING CASE STUDY

LEARNING POINTS

URBAN REGENERATION COMPANIES IN SCOTLAND

DEDICATION TO PLACEMAKING

PARC CRAIGMILLAR

PARC Craigmillar displayed clear leadership in its approach to putting placemaking at the heart of the regeneration, thus influencing all the subsequent decisions. This is supported by a long term vision which is reflected in the Business Plan for the regeneration, the Craigmillar Urban Design Framework and the subsequent area based masterplans. On a project basis this was maintained by a formal Design Review during sketch design and before Planning Application submission.

QUALITY OF PROFESSIONAL TEAM

Choosing the appropriate team of creative professionals capable of producing the design quality and with the ability to negotiate its successful implementation. In cases where the proposed solution is not in accordance with the standard solution all members of the professional team needed to be clear on the design principles, be prepared to make a professional judgement and to justify their decision.

DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE

The area based masterplans allowed the ultimate infrastructure design in terms of streets and utilities, to be clearly understood at an early stage. Ownership of the land and the availability of forward funding based on the Business Plan was essential to early construction of the public realm. The coordination and timing of the design and construction of this infrastructure is critical in relation to the development of specific sites.

ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN PROFESSIONAL TEAMS

Ongoing input from the masterplan team ensured that the design development on specific sites was assessed and approved during the design development. PARC hosted a discussion forum for the professional teams working in the neighbourhood, ensuring good quality communication between different project teams.

PHASE 1 HOUSING

CREATING A STREET

RELEVANT CASE STUDY GUIDANCE:

Craigmillar, Edinburgh

Architecture Policy Designing Streets PAN 67 Housing Quality

The Urban Regeneration Companies (URC) are special purpose vehicles set up to deliver complex regeneration projects - attracting and coordinating public and private sector investment around a shared plan with the aim of achieving the sustainable transformation of their areas.

OTHER CASE STUDY THEMES:

Clydebank re-built: Connection & Control Clyde Gateway: Integrated Urban Infrastructure Irvine Bay: Re-making a Scottish Coastal Neighbourhood Raploch: Village Square at the heart of the Community Riverside Inverclyde: ReImagining Place Assets

VIGILANT APPROACH TO MAINTAINING DESIGN QUALITY

Maintaining the design quality required continued effort at all stages with all organisations involved. There was substantial discussion with the Local Authority on reducing the 18m window to window dimension to achieve the enclosure to the streets and the variety of streets. It is important that the project team recognise design quality and have the understanding and confidence to challenge the standard rules when appropriate.

PHASE 1 HOUSING, NIDDRIE MAINS ROAD FAÇADE

PHASE 7 HOUSING

COMPLEXITY OF A NON-STANDARD STREET DESIGNS

The approach to the street design was not in accordance with standard solution and as a result the process of negotiation and agreement of the design proposals was more complex. Examples of this were: incorporating the quality objectives with the safety objectives in the Road Safety Audit; getting approval for porous paving within adopted areas and location of the service strips for utilities. In general the view was the earlier these discussions with other organisations are commenced the better.

PHASE 1 COURTYARD

Showcase the achievements of the URCs Provide Scottish examples of how place making policy

IMPORTANCE OF LAND OWNERSHIP

has been implemented

Ownership of the land ensured control of development proposals and design quality which enabled PARC to guard the long term vision. The long term business plan and the ownership enabled certain elements of the process and the actual construction to be forward funded.

Assist learning on what works and why

The learning in this case study is targeted at anyone who is involved in the planning, funding, delivery and management of places in Scotland.

COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO DESIGN OF THE OPEN SPACE

The design of open space and streets was carried out in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. This involves a clear approach to defining legal boundaries, adopted areas, management strategies and maintenance strategies so that the design could reflect these practical and more long term requirements, ultimately protecting the long term viability and sustainability of the place.

EFFECTIVE CONSULTATION WITH THE RESIDENTS

Initial discussions on the shared space were very difficult as it was a very new concept at that stage. A number of local groups were taken to Holland to look at examples. The process of explaining the solution and raising aspirations was important to getting support for the proposal.

The URCs in Scotland have committed to the placemaking agenda. This is one of a series of case studies looking at URC initiatives which have been chosen to reflect a variety of projects in term of scale, type and stage. The purpose of the case studies is to share evidence from these initiatives in delivering places by design. They are presented in terms of key lessons and challenges to:

PARC Craigmillar Ltd

The case studies focus on design issues and are based on the six qualities listed in the Scottish Government ‘Designing Places’ policy statement and subsequent government planning guidance.

Dolphin House 4 Hunter Square Edinburgh EH1 1QW

This case study focuses on the issue of delivering shared surface streets and a ‘homezone’ solution in the Wauchope masterplan area of Craigmillar.

PHASE 1 HOUSING

t: + 44 (0) 131 220 4424 f: + 44 (0) 131 220 4425 e: parc@edigroupscotland.co.uk w: www.parccraigmillar.co.uk Winter 2010

SCHOOL FRONTAGE, PUBLIC SQUARE

The Scottish Government has set out an ambition to achieve better places as part of the sustainable economic growth agenda.

PLACES are ‘people spaces’. They are an expression of social, cultural, economic and environmental values. Quality of place can be measured in terms of design quality, stewardship and public life.

“Places where people want to be”

PARC CRAIGMILLAR CASE STUDY

PARC CRAIGMILLAR CASE STUDY

PROJECT CONTEXT

DISCUSSION ON QUALITIES

Craigmillar is an area to the south east of Edinburgh adjacent to Craigmillar Castle and the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. PARC is spearheading the regeneration of Craigmillar, involving a total investment of around £200 million. PARC is responsible for creating around 2,000 new homes, new joint campus schools, a new town centre with retail, leisure and office facilities, a new library, new community and lifelong learning facilities and new landscaping, public parks and civic spaces.

PARC’s approach to the regeneration has been to strive for the highest quality in every respect. They have established a Design Review Panel including the relevant masterplanner and independent design professionals which considers each project during sketch design and pre-planning application.

PROJECT INFO Site Area: PHASE 7 HOUSING

Density:

70units/ha

% Public Open Space:

34.1

School design capacity: DESIGN TEAM Page / Park BOU SITE

ARY ND

Elder & Cannon URS Corporation

The design of the space is from wall to wall of the street in terms of surface treatment Planting is included as an integral part of the street layout, not as an addition Street design measures to slow traffic such as short streets, changes in direction and sharp angle turns

The Craigmillar Urban Design Framework (CUDF) by Llwelyn Davies Yeang with City of Edinburgh Council Planning (29 Sept 2005) provides the strategic design guidance for the URC area. It identifies five design principles of Distinctiveness, Sociability, People friendly, Sustainability and Quality. The document was adopted as supplementary planning guidance.

Reflected in the CUDF and the Wauchope masterplan which forms an important proposed context for the project. There is a strong hierarchy in street structure which enhances the variety of spaces and experiences as you move through the area.

Landscape

Consistent design of the shared space street layout, materials and planting proposals particularly to Niddrie Mains Road and the square in front of the schools establishes a distinctive element of the Place.

SAFE AND PLEASANT Definition public/private

The project team felt that the CUDF was very effective in establishing the quality of Place for subsequent documents. This was assisted by the Wauchope masterplan and the CUDF being considered for planning approval at the same time.

A subsequent masterplan for the Wauchope area of Craigmillar was produced by Page / Park in November 2005. This expanded on the principles of the CUDF, providing more specific guidance for the design of the individual sites. Central to this masterplan was the strategy of Home Zone Streets. The specific project chosen for this case study is the completed area which covers the Wauchope Phase 1, Phase 7 and the joint campus schools.

PARC implemented a comprehensive engagement with the local community including project presentations at public meetings.

New primary schools

The inclusion of the local primary schools within the area provides a community focus and activity based around the daily routine of the school hours.

Management of open Spaces

Proposals are in place for the ongoing maintenance and management of the open spaces which will protect their quality and future benefit.

Sense of enclosure

There was specific design emphasis on creating enclosure to the street which will be more obvious when subsequent phases are complete. The back green to Phase 1 housing provides an attractive casual landscaped secure area for the residents.

A new community high school and library located in the town centre A new, revitalised town centre providing around 300,000 sq ft of space for commercial and retail development 150-acres of green space transformed into a network of parks, river walkways, open woodland and play areas More local job and career opportunities Improved learning and leisure facilities for young people Better transport links into the city centre and traffic calming measures

EASE OF MOVEMENT Density reflects location

The public spaces are located on key desire lines through the neighbourhood including the route to the schools.

This encourages both the route and the space to be busy and therefore safe.

Cycling routes and facilities

The shared space approach creates pleasant cycle routes.

The flats and houses are provided with cycle storage.

Well integrated car parking

There is a variety of parking from shared public spaces to private in curtilege, which forms part of the landscape

Location of community facilities

Safe and pleasant Ease of movement Sense of welcome Resource efficient

PHASE 1 HOUSING

PHASE 7 HOUSING

Higher density housing is located adjacent to the public transport route.

Pedestrian routes linked to public spaces

SENSE OF WELCOME Landmarks to enhance legibility Encourage positive interaction between neighbours

Distinctive

The use of fences, walls and ground materials clearly defines the difference between public and private areas.

Active frontages/uses on the street

PARC Craigmillar Goals: Quality, affordable new homes

Proposals reflect views to Arthur’s Seat, links to Town Centre and importance of Niddrie Mains Road route through Craigmillar.

Strong street pattern

Ian White Associates

WAUCHOPE MASTERPLAN

Road space allows for traffic but is not delineated by it

Adaptable

700 pupils

PHASE 1 HOUSING

The pedestrian has high priority in the space. Cars stop and slow down for pedestrians. Children can play in the street

DISTINCTIVE Response to context

6.09ha

School Site Area: 2.29ha

KEY ELEMENTS OF WAUCHOPE HOME ZONE STRATEGY

DESIGNING PLACES - six qualities:

Residential Units: 432

PRIMARY SCHOOLS CAMPUS

PHASE 1 HOUSING

“Designing Places” identifies six qualities which are key to achieving successful places.

By their nature these qualities are interlinked and influenced by a wide range of factors such as community view, planning policy, statutory context, economic circumstances and the procurement process. The following review assesses the Wauchope Phase 1, 7 and the primary schools development on the most relevant qualities for this project, which are ‘Distinctive’, ‘Safe and Pleasant’, ‘Ease of Movement’ and ‘Sense of Welcome’.

PUBLIC SQUARE TO PHASE 1

The distinctive design of the buildings makes these projects easy to identify within the wider neighbourhood.

The design of public spaces and the streets encourages people to interact. The design of the back green to Phase 1 housing provides a secure location for children from different families to play together.

Public spaces such as the school square form a reason for other people to use the area. The schools operate an open play ground policy after school hours and have facilities available for wider community use.

SCHOOL FAÇADE