Public Exhibition Board. by Alan Pritchard

Feature Square...

Landscape Strategy... This pedestrian open space will form a feature to users of the site who will view the space from the main entrance roundabout to the south. The space will be predominantly surfaced with high quality natural paving material and feature seating bisected with thin rows of contrasting dark grey granite, these rows will link the strategically placed spring flowering cherry trees, which have a striking bark colour and will give the square a unified and sculptural appearance especially during winter months. Strategically placed seating plinths with associated low-key lighting will further enhance this unique space. In using predominantly hard materials the space can be used all year round as well as being an attractive ‘looking-space’ for residents of the new development. Native evergreen hedgerows are proposed along the surrounding building facades to help soften the overall space and provide year round foliage.

Memorial Space...

The proposals shown on the Landscape Masterplan are designed to create a cohesive feel to the development, linking with the surrounding local character whilst creating an interesting setting for the new housing units. The main areas of landscape development are contained within the newly created open space with improvements made to Cille Stream and the proposed mitigation facilities which will periodically flood in periods of high rainfall. • Create views to Cille Stream and open space to the East. • Create a hierarchy of open spaces linked with green, predominantly pedestrian/cycle friendly routes. • Remove vegetation that is unlikely to survive the construction process and replace with native species more appropriate to the local area. • Retain and re-use existing topsoil for use on site following construction • Create a unique setting for the new buildings which is both aesthetically pleasing yet enhances the habitat value for insect, mammals and birds • Develop a simple yet striking planting scheme which is related to orientation and hydrology of the site • Create added interest and ecological value to the stream by creating attenuation facilities planted with native reeds. • Use robust, eco-friendly hard landscape materials predominantly free-draining to reduce surface runoff

Situated to the end of the green link this space is intended to act as a transitional area leading from the development into the open space beyond. Its orientation leads into the space and directly to the new pedestrian bridge, enhancing the permeability of the site. Sculptural elements will be used within the surfacing and high quality seating units will encourage passive recreation. Overlooked by surrounding properties this space will encourage social interaction and create a cultural link with the sites past.

Cille Stream Open Space...

Green Link... In order to create an exciting and naturalistic space rich in wildlife, the landscape setting along Cille Stream will be created by opening up the water course within the site boundary. By creating a series of new backwaters and planting native trees such as Alder, Birch and Willow will further enhance this area. A new pedestrian footbridge will be installed over the stream and areas of native bulbs will create spring colour and trees such as Larch and Hazel will create an attractive backdrop to the reed beds. It is anticipated that the proposals will encourage a range of birds and invertebrates typically found in gardens in the local area and to further this aim, new and existing tree species will be provided with bat and bird boxes. Overall, it is considered that in the medium to long term the proposed scheme will provide an overall net biodiversity gain. The proposed reed beds situated along the Cille Stream will have a dual role, the primary function is to flood in periods of high water levels, the intention is to plant the basin with native rushes and grasses, creating a low maintenance scheme which encourages wildlife habitats. Simple viewing platforms will be installed over the beds to help educate residents and users of the site into the ecological improvements made by opening up Cille Stream. A simple native planting scheme will integrate the proposals with the local rural character. Native hedgerows will be introduced and planted with native field trees, these will create important wildlife corridors linking through the site and beyond into the surrounding area and creating an attractive setting to the surrounding units.

Bisecting the site on an east-west axis this pedestrian access route will link the memorial at the eastern end with the feature square. Using high quality materials this space will be planted with a row of specimen native trees which will flower through the year to create interest and form a visual link to the open space to the east. Front gardens will be planted with simple hedging and shrub species creating defensible space whilst aiding surveillance from ground and first floor windows. The proposed soft landscape will help create a natural wildlife corridor further enhancing the bio-diversity value.