Dan Martyr
Landscape Architecture
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Aston Medical School, Birmingham Aston University are in the process of converting one of their buildings into a new medical school. Several buildings close to the proposed medical school building were built in the 1970’s, and being unsuitable for renovation, have been demolished. 4
ASTON UNIVERSITY NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL - Stage 2 Report
This has created a number of challenges in the design of the landscape for the new building. Demolition has revealed some Illustrated sections showing the proposed landscape bunding to the rear of the medical school. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE significant changes in level, in Bunding will deflect noise from the A38LANDSCAPE as well as reusing demolition rubble on site. ARCHITECTURE particular a difference of up to 4m from STAGE TWO REPORT STAGE TWO REPORT grade to the main entrance. In addition Initial spatial analysis. demolished buildings had been This section sets out some key issues that will be relevant to the landscape design. It starts by looking at issues of wider screening the wider campus from connectivity before focussing in on more detailed design issues around the building itself. noise from a busy dual carriageway. Working closely with the wider project team, we have brought attractive solutions to these challenges. With the architects my landscape team and I have worked to create a palette of materials, that carries a visual theme from the building out into the landscape. Our scheme encourages higher levels of interaction between people through the creation of a more human focused environment.
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ASTON UNIVERSITY NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL - Stage 2 Report
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Visibility of the entrance to the east wing and central part of the building will be screened by the student guild in the interim plan. Encouraging a clear and easily accessible route to the entrance is a priority here. Existing levels in the immediate vicinity of the entrance are challenging, but can be resolved to create a logical access to the entrance.
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along the side of the existing student guild and the western wing of the Aston Medical School building are very pronounced and provide an opportunity to create a unique landscape for Aston Medical School and the campus as a whole.
3. Demolition of existing buildings. The demolition of building along the west side of the medical school in particular has created an open landscape which will need to be redesigned. Landforming and seeding, with the planting of groups of small trees, will create a landscape with the potential for change in the long term, whilst providing an attractive and functioning landscape in the short to medium term.
4. Noise from A38. The A38 runs along the western side of
Some initial sketch work looking at4.circulation within the campus and around school a constant noise which can be loudthe enoughmedical to disturb classes. With the demolition of existing building along this building, that identified the clear need to demolish the studentsideunion building. there is no longer a barrier between the buildings and the site and as one of the busiest roads in the city creates
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1. Movement to the entrances to the Aston Medical School.
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Aston Medical School
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the A38. Careful use of landscape form and planting can create an attractive environment that can also act as a screen to noise and visual clutter. This edge also forms an
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Aston Medical School
A visual of the front of the new medical school building showing the proposed terracing to make up the difference in levels across the site. We have designed the landscape to give a hierarchy to the two entrances and to create a relaxed, distinctive landscape with its own identity that also fits into the existing campus. Materials used in the facade of the building have been brought into the landscape to link the two designs together.
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Knowledge Hub Masterplan, Birmingham
LANDMARKS AND NODES Our research highlighted a number of important landmarks within the study area such as the former Aston Fire Station, Aston University’s main building and Birmingham City University’s recently completed Curzon Building. It is vital for the legibility of the area that visibility to these key landmarks is maintained and enhanced if possible.
The Knowledge Hub masterplan was a collaborative project with Birmingham City University and CoLab (an offshoot of the School of Architecture at BCU). Collectively our brief was to develop a masterplan for an area of Birmingham that houses many of the higher education and innovation organisations.
Nodes are spaces of activity and spaces in which people come together and cross paths. Key nodes within the area include Birmingham Metropolitan College; Birmingham Ormiston Academy; Millennium Point; Aston Business School; Aston University Reception; and Innovation Campus. The development of Knowledge Hub should seek to enhance these nodes in line with their importance within the area.
LEGEND Beneficial building Neutral building Adverse building Active frontage Partially active frontage Key node View in View out
Extract from the final masterplan report showing some of the baseline research carried out by the Canal access team. Since the Royal Assent of HS2 the Knowledge Hub area has gained further attention. 20
We needed to define the Knowledge Hub’s location and how this related to established masterplans and existing proposals, together with an overview of a detailed contextual analysis that was undertaken to understand the area. We worked with several stakeholders including BCU and Aston University, Birmingham City Council, Millennium Point, Innovation Birmingham, and The Birmingham JEWELLERY Conservatoire. Q UA RT E R
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New Student Union This extract from the masterplan report shows the ‘keyEmoves’ identified for development and Birmingham Metropolitan College ASTSIDE Ormiston Academy refurbishment. Of these areas two are now going through feasibility studies with theBirmingham aim Conservatoire of Millennium Point development in the near future I
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Since the masterplan was produced two sites identified as key moves have attracted investment resulting in development, and the project won Node ‘best practice’ at the Urban Design Awards 2017
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BIRMINGHAM KNOWLEDGE HUB | 2 CONTEXTUAL STUDY
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Knowledge Hub
The masterplan set out the vision for the area and the principles of the design process before focusing on the ‘key moves’ that were identified as a mechanism for delivering change within the Knowledge Hub.
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4 The key design features include: • Reducing the width of the carriageway from four lanes to two • Utilising the former carriageway for a linear park with a focus on health and wellbeing • Creating new pedestrian routes based on desire lines
• Provision of opportunities to get fit through play and the use of fitness trails • Providing a positive new entrance to the Conservatoire and other buildings along the route • Providing connection through to Millennium Point • Providing healthy places to eat and cycle changing facilities • Performance nodes along the route
• Providing a series of pavilions that will activate the space
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BIRMINGHAM KNOWLEDGE HUB | 4 KEY MOVES
Working with the staff of BCU we encouraged students from the School of Architecture to work with us to produce designs and illustrate them with their graphic skills. Top is a students work based on my design below. Having the students work with us brought a fresh perspective to the design process, and made me aware of the way that I communicate designs.
Knowledge Hub
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Typhoo Wharf, Digbeth, Birmingham Typhoo Wharf is, as the name suggests, a former tea warehouse in the Digbeth area of Birmingham. The block is occupied with a mix of Victorian factory buildings and modern industrial units.
Typhoo Wharf
The site was identified as having great potential in our Knowledge Hub master plan and it was later revealed that Birmingham City University were in talks with the landowners to develop the site. The aim is to create a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Technology Hub in the former Typhoo Tea building. This will be renamed the ‘SteamHouse’. Other new buildings on the site will a mix of retail and office space, and housing. Our task has been to design the public realm for the whole site as a feasibility study, and to create a detailed design for the public realm for the first phase of work which will be to the SteamHouse building. The most exiting feature to me is the canal arm that extends in to the site. This offers great potential as the centre of the public realm. Work is ongoing to raise funding for the whole site, although funding has been raised for the first phase of work which is to start in summer 2019.
The canal arms at the centre of the site. This photo is taken looking at what will become the SteamHouse building. The distinctive landmark of the chimney is to be retained.
Arrival square. Using markers from the fabric of the new buildings the space is divided into a tight grid outside the entrance to the first building.
Private area of green space for residents of buildings F&G
Access to the canal is created with timber steps and seating that leads from the active edge of building D down to the water’s edge
F&G D
Enterior side of wall to be cleaned/repaired. Local art commissioned
Areas of permanent work
Existing route between walls to be opened up as pedestrian link. Possibly gated out of hours
Potential pedestrian entry to rear courtyard
New wall built along line of existing to close oo rear courtyard. Opening/gateway for pedestrian entrance
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The grid loosens as it comes towards the main square. Lighting coloumns and overhead lighting used to bring down the scale of the buildings to a human scale in stages. Overhead lighting will also serve as the top edge of a frame highlighting the entrance to the Steamhouse building
Brick wall to rear of rear courtyard. Slots cut through brick work to allow selected views out. Dependant on future use of site behind.
Take in the brick building to the base of chimney. Brick work etc can be made good and altered to fit with scheme
Note: To be read in conjunction with accompanying notes. Treatment to rear courtyard and pedestrian link dependant on use of plots to rear.
C Levels taken down to Steam House level with low retaining wall and screening wall built along services entry
The main square functions as an entrance to the Steam House building, and as a dynamic event space. This event space is marked out by a subtle change in paving colour, and the use of unique, very large, lighting stands along building C
Planting extends across the central space. This planting will be designed to appear to be colonising the space with grasses, groups of trees, and perennial plants and flowers providing year round colour and texture
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Steam House High quality entrance landscape that refers to building fabric.
Our first work was to masterplan the layout of the site. I worked with the lead architect on the project to work out the building footprints in relation to the public realm. TYPHOO WHARF INITIAL EXTERNAL WORKS CONCEPTS
Potential need for retaining wall to allow for level services access
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CONCEPT IMAGES CENTRAL SQUARE
The design of the large internal courtyard needed to bring the scale of the courtyard down to a relatable size for the end users. This was achieved by working with lighting engineers to ensure that lights could be strung across the courtyard at first floor height. Given the size of the space tree planting needed to be of a very large scale to prevent being dwarfed by the surrounding buildings.
Typhoo Wharf
View looking from the far side of the canal basin towards the central square to the left and centre of the view.
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Much Wenlock, Shropshire A scheme to build 10 houses for a local housing association on the outskirts of the town of Much Wenlock. The client required an innovative scheme on a steeply sloping site. The buildings have been designed to Passivehouse standard and the landscape was designed with the same environmental focus.
Pollarded willow trees. Bi-annual pollarding to create a feature of the development. Arisings can be sold/donated to local craa groups
Boardwalk and observation deck. Opportunity to bring residents, and especially children, to the water’s edge to observe wetland life
Potential area for childrens play with parts of the retention basin deliberatly flooded. Yearly event of flooding to be celebrated
Booom pond/retention to be only area of permanent water. All other areas to be seeded or planted with wetland species tolerant of periodic flooding
Existing ground level 1:7 slope 1:5 slope 1:3 slope
Much Wenlock
The sloping site meant that we needed to design a SuDS system into the layout. My team and I worked to make this system of swales, rain gardens, and retention ponds an integral part of the design. We wanted to create a sense of the site having a strong link to the wider landscape by using local stone and historic techniques such pollarding trees on site. The retention basin was designed as an area of public space, not to be fenced off but enjoyed by the residents.
1000mm water level 500mm water level Section A-AA through ‘central green’ area of site
Bank retention options. A series of weirs designed to drain into each other in series.
Extract from the final masterplan report showing some of the baseline research carried out by the Existing ground level team. Since the Royal Assent of HS2 the Knowledge Hub area has gained further attention. AA
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Much Wenlock. Land oo Callaughton Lane, Illustrative sections NTS
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The levels also meant that we needed to work closely with the architects to ensure that all of the units were accessible without the need for steps to entrances.
This extract from the masterplan report shows the ‘key moves’ identified for development and refurbishment. Of these areas two are now going through feasibility studies with the aim of development in the near future
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Much Wenlock
The design of the large internal courtyard needed to bring the scale of the courtyard down to a relatable size for the end users. This was achieved by working with lighting engineers to ensure that lights could be strung across the courtyard at first floor height. Given the size of the space tree planting needed to be of a very large scale to prevent being dwarfed by the surrounding buildings.
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I have established protocols for how photos are taken on site to ensure that they comply with current recommendations from the Landscape Institute and best represent views from visual receptors.
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I’m experienced in the baseline work, field work, and assessment. Further to the production of LVIAs I have worked hard to improve the methodology and delivery of our reports. We have had to represent our reports at appeal, and following these appeals we have taken the opportunity to ensure that the report is robust and fair.
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During my time at Node I have written several LVIAs that have been submitted as part of the planning process as free standing documents. I have also written them to form the landscape section of EIAs.
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LVIA and EIA, various sites across the UK
LEGEND Site boundary Listed buildings
Excerpt from a recent LVIA to show the baseline recording of landscape and heritage designations in Scheduled monuments proximity to the site.
"The prominent ridges between the Lea and the Roding, and the valley of the River Ingrebourne"
"Extensive interconnected ridgetop woodlands – on the skyline". Photo taken Countryside conservation approximately 0.9km from the site to show woodlands along the ridgetops local to area LEGEND the site.
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These characteristics have Havering Ridge Special Character Area Scheduled monuments been identified as typifying the Country Parks landscape character of the site Countryside conservation area LEGEND and local context. Whilst at Atkins I worked for 6 months Registered Parks and Gardens Local Nature Reserve Site boundary on the LVIA for the midlands section of It is clear that the local context the HS2 railway. I carried out summer Sites of Importance for Nature Metropolitan Green Belt Listed incongruous buildings features elements and winter photography, wrote Conservation (Metropolitan) such as the M25 motorway, sections of the report, and assisted Community Forest Havering Ridge Special Character Area with the final production of the LVIA theScheduled A12, andmonuments the local railway, "Grasslands are characteristic of the river valleys throughout." Photo taken within the site boundary to illustrate the topography of the site in addition to the grassland chapter. in addition to the built form of Country Parks Countryside conservation area character Harold Hill and a line of large and overhead cables. FIGUREpylons 3.3Local | DESIGNATIONS AND HERITAGE ASSETS |Registered 1:20,000 Parks and Gardens Nature Reserve Extract showing how landscape However the local context still character is assessed in the baseline study and again assessed on Sites of Importance for Nature site with conclusions drawn. features elements typical Metropolitan Green Belt of the Conservation (Metropolitan) landscape character. The key
Harold Court Woods
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PRoW
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View looking north east from PRoW (bridleway)
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High: PRoW users
Camera type
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Foreground views are of a post and rail fence and poor quality hedgerow. Several mature trees form part of the hedgerow. Middle ground views are of a small paddock that has been subdivided for horses. Woodland and plantation trees are visible from the left to right of the view. These vies are likely to be entirely screened in the summer months as the leaf cover increases. Long distance views are screened by foreground and middle ground vegetation. Due to the distance to the intervening vegetation in the foreground and middle ground the visual effect in the short and long term would be negligible.
An example of a typical assessment of the impact on a visual receptor, and the recording of the view from the selected viewpoint. I have refined this presentation in the light of advice from the Landscape Institute and from discussion with colleagues
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LVIA
No mitigation is necessary.
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Jewellery Quarter Campus
University College Birmingham, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham UCB are a vocation lead university offering courses in the hospitality industry, catering, and other creative industries. They wanted to develop their site in the Jewellery Quarter to create a living street where their students could set up their own retail outlets under the supervision of the university. This street was to be the core of the expanded campus, with a new building forming one side of the street. This new building would have at its centre a very large courtyard which would function as a common space for N students, staff, and visitors. My team and I identified the priorities of the public and private spaces,ensuring that the university was still a safe site for it’s students, but with a feeling of openness to attract visitors. The courtyard presented the most opportunity for some truly innovative ideas and materials, including three 10m tall trees at the centre of the courtyard. The project was well received at a CABE review and is at RIBA stage 2+
Holland Street is a key area of the campus in landscape terms. The existing cobbles are to be retained, and the street must have the feel of a real, active, street Whitmore’s Arm is to provide additional pedestrian access between George Street and Charlotte Street. This new pedestrian street needs to work effectively as a safe and secure pedestrian access. It also needs to fit in to the character of the Jewellery Quarter Conservation Area to the west of Holland Street The courtyard will be a large ‘breakout’ space for staff and students and provide eventual access to phase three. It has potential to be at the heart of the campus The service yard off Whitmore’s Arm will need to be redesigned following the construction of the phase two car park The existing courtyard area will remain open during the build period, and will be protected
Our initial assessment of the site with the client and architects identified priority areas to be designed. This initial assessment evolved and informed the design of the public realm
Low, hardy planting to edges of paving
Species divided in to blocks to create a pattern that will change over the year
Projection of still images/view of the sky/films onto the back wall using outdoor projectors
Schellevis paving as used in the main courtyard, laid in long rows
Feature wooden benches
Potential for feature green wall along the rear wall
Option One - George St
Specimen shrubs and grasses
Extensive green roof planting to area of terrace not intended for access
Specimen shrub planting Wooden decking divided by metal grills
Wooden planters and seating. Planting at different heights and close to eye level
Balustrade fixed to existing parapet
Main entrance to courtyard
Option Two - George St
1m wide maintenance strip
LEGEND Revisions
Main access to courtyard
Primary pedestrian flow through courtyard
Potential green wall
Access from fine dining
Secondary pedestrian flow through courtyard
Outdoor projection wall
Service/maintenance access
Pedestrian access to fine dining area available through courtyard
Development: Title: Scale: Drawing No. Revision: Date of Issue: Drawn by: Node Ref:
UCB PHASE TWO Courtyard - Circulation NTS @ A1 MAC0145.SK.004 24 February 2016 UK MAC0145
Specimen shrubs
Planters with seating
UCB
Extensive green roof planting
Charlotte St
Option Three - George St
Balustrade fixed to existing parapet
| 121 Edmund Street | Birmingham | B3 2HJ | 0121 667 9259 | nodeurbandesign.com
Circulation within the main courtyard was discussed with the client and architects. The layout of the courtyard was designed separation of users at peak times. A green roof was designed as a break out Green roof space for students and staff. Extensive green roof planting
Tensioned wire balustrade to observation deck Shallow reflecting pool Ivy and fern green wall with trickle irrigation system to the rear wall
Steps leading up to raised viewing platform that will also provide access to future phases of development
Internal space subdivided by panels of coloured glass to 4m height
Informal group of ‘super mature’ trees with self binding gravel area to the base
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Courtyard, UCB
Refuse store screened with feature cladding. Lockable doors to allow access
CAMDEN HOUSE
Concrete low wall with hedge planting for partial screening and demarcation of fine dining area
Projection of still images/ view of the sky/ films onto the back wall using outdoor projectors
PHASE TWO BUILDING
Fire escape
Climbing plants in planters to grow along supporting tensioned cables
Outdoor projection onto the back wall
Climbing plants in planters to grow along supporting tensioned cables
Tightly clipped turf to centre of courtyard Shuttered concrete built in-situ with Streetlife Wood top system mounted on top for sitting platforms
Entrance to courtyard to be flush with FFL of buildings. Linear paving by Schellevis concrete paving in charcoal
Defined exterior seating area for fine dining patrons Increased density of lighting globes to define the fine dining area as a separate space within the courtyard
Green wall and cladding pattern to match Building A elevation
Defined exterior seating area for fine dining patrons
Raised turf area with seating to the edge Feature lighting globes
Feature cladding to rear of courtyard to screen rear of existing Camden House building
Tensioned wire balustrade to observation deck
Moveable seating to create a dynamic and colourful environment
The design of the large internal courtyard needed to bring the scale of the courtyard down to a relatable size for the end users. This was achieved by working with lighting engineers to ensure that lights could be strung across the courtyard at first floor height. Given the size of the space tree planting needed to be of a very large scale to prevent being dwarfed by the surrounding buildings.
UCB
Overhead tensioned cables fixed at 4m height, fixed to frame to support climbing plants or lighting. Frame fixed to phase two building and cladding frame
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Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire
Shoulderway Farm
Shipston-on-Stour
We were then tasked with creating a masterplan for the site based on this mitigation. The resulting masterplan was very much landscape based and used the available land to avoid views on to the site. All building was to be kept below a contour that had been worked out on site. Wildflower meadows and areas of wet woodland scrub were introduced to increase the habitat locally available. Areas of shared space and home zones were designed in to retain a ‘village feel’ to the development. The project was granted permission and is in the process of development
Shoulderway Lane
proposed site
Our client asked us to initially produce an LVIA and Design and Access Statement for a site on the outskirts of the Cotswolds town of Shipston-onStour. The site is in a sensitive area on the edge of the town, furthermore the topography of the site meant that views on to the site were likely from a number of receptors. Working from the LVIA we identified mitigation measures that could be implemented to reduce the landscape and visual impact to an acceptable level and achieve planning permission.
Existing residential development
Viewpoint 10 (Grid ref SP 258 389) Visual sensitivity: Medium (Road users) View from Shoulderway Lane looking north towards the site. The receptors from this point are considered to be of medium sensitivity being pedestrians and road users. Foreground views are of Shoulderway Lane, bordered on the left by a medium height hedgerow, and to the right by a large hedgerow. Middle ground views are channelled along Shoulderway Lane by the hedgerows either side of the lane. Farm buildings associated with Shoulderway Farm are visible to the left of the view. Long distance views are screened by mature hedgerows in the foreground. The proposed development would be visible behind the farm buildings in the medium distance. Visual impact of the development in the short term would be minor adverse, in the long term the impact would be negligible due to screening provided by planting and existing mature hedgerows Mitigation should include additional planting in the south of the site and retention of hedgerows and trees surrounding the site where possible.
The initial LVIA highlighted a number of potential issues with the development, particularly on sensitive visual receptors on the site boundary Land off Shoulderway Lane, Shipston-on-Stour: Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 33
NODE urban design Creating a sense of place
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1 View location Land off Shoulderway Lane, Shipston-on-Stour: Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 23
Fig 5.2: Viewpoint locations (wider landscape) NODE urban design Creating a sense of place
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A concept master plan was drawn up that was informed by issues raised in the initial LVIA. This masterplan was further refined following consultation withe local residents and the client.
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Shipston-on -Stour
The final masterplan featured areas of wildflower meadow, wet woodland and flood meadow. The masterplan went on to be drawn up as a detailed hard and soft landscape plan, with detailed planting and hard materials drawings also being produced.