Westbrooke rd landscape design & assessment by Mark Huxtable

WESTBROOKE ROAD LINCOLN

Landscape assessment, July 2014 - Chestnut Homes

CONTENTS Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03

LANDSCAPE STRATEGY AND ASSESSMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Landscape strategy, assessment and plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

PROPOSALS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04

LANDSCAPE PROPOSALS & VISUAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Proposed sketch plan, access and mitigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 05

Landscape design principles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Landscape sketch plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 1. Central open space & wetland habitat area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 2. Tritton Road green corridor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 3. Catchwater Drain habitat planting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

CONTEXT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 06

Planning context. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07 LANDSCAPE CHARACTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 09

Lincoln Townscape Assessment (LTA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Viewpoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Site character. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 ACCESS & CONNECTIVITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Access and connectivity overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Landscape Architects

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Urban Designers

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Ecologists

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Horticulturists

Somerset House, Low Moor Lane, Scotton, Knaresborough, N.Yorks HG5 9JB Tel: 01423 863369 Fax: 01423 313107 Email: office@smeedenforeman.co.uk Web: w w w.smeedenforeman.co.uk 2

KEY

TO CITY CENTRE

Public footpath Cycle route to Lincoln/ shopping centre Proposed road entry/ exit point Proposed development area

WESTBROOKE ROAD PROPOSED SITE

TO SHOPPING CENTRE

Introduction Smeeden Foreman Ltd has been commissioned to produce a landscape assessment for Chestnut Homes, which sets out the landscape opportunities and constraints for housing within a site adjacent to the B1003 Tritton Road and Westbrooke Road approximately 2km southwest from Lincoln city centre. This document aims to provide information about the condition of the existing landscape and to indicate what landscape and habitat solutions would be appropriate for the proposed site. 3

Landscape architects carried out a site survey on the 01.07.2014 to assess the local area and record conditions and key views into and out of the site. A landscape strategy plan and visuals have also been produced to illustrate the potential landscape and ecological improvements. This is enclosed at the back of this document.

Proposals Current proposals for development of the site, including access and housing layout

Proposed site plan and housing layout Tritton

Road KO

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Footway

Bridge

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18 apartments (3 storey) 44 to 61

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33 34 35 36

5000

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Dining

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Dining up

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37500

plot 1 garage

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25000

26200

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11600

28400

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63 6.0 63 CL L4.1 W

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27600

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Westbrooke Road

28300

31600

Footway

114

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94 6.0 44 CL 5.4 IL

Above: Proposed site plan, Wand es housing layout (not to scale). GP

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Footway

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WESTBROOKE ROAD

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DC CTV

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91 6.0 71 CL 5.1 IL

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CR5.325

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17 16 15

5000

Dining

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Kitchen

Bedroom 2

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2 Kitchen

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5000

Dining

10000

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Fence

Context The following pages outline the relevant landscape planning context of the proposed site

Planning context The following information was provided on 03/06/14 by Lincoln city council in relation to the Westbrooke Road Proposed site ; (DWG Ref WRL/02).

Pre Application Landscape, Biodiversity, Access and Open Space Considerations. Site Basic Natural Stock Policy 44B; The proposal represents a loss of the City’s existing green space. The current function of this green space is primarily amenity (an open space with some tree planting buffer between existing housing and Tritton Road). Retention of a Buffer Strip of approximately 20 meters, retaining existing trees and planting new with native species, as shown on the plan should improve the quality of the open space both as a visual screen and, by continuing the existing native Scrub/woodland planting strip (check species) to the South of Tritton Road, increasing the extent of the habitat corridor and impact on the biodiversity of the area - Pipistrelle Bats are known to be present in the vicinity and woodland/scrub would be used by them for feeding and roosting. The extension of the woodland would also comply with the Policy 46A woodland and other Major Planting initiatives. Sensitive treatment of the Catchwater Drain and open space to the south boundaries should be considered. A native planted buffer strip along the Catchwater drain stretch would preserve/ improve views and habitat along this important accessible, wildlife, recreational corridor. In addition there is also the opportunity to use the buffer strip for managing the development’s surface water run off- SUDS.

Play Provision Policy 65B Play provision within the development needs to be considered in line with the above policy and the standards of provision recommended in the Council’s Play Strategy (appendix E) “Large Housing Developments (Greater than 10 dwellings) Play provision should be in compliance with CLLP Policy 65B, and any relevant local and national play guidance/standards (the City Council Play Strategy, Lincolnshire Play Strategy, National Play Strategy, and Fields in Trust standards). Application design and access statements should include proposals for Play provision, either on site or through contributions to improving the capacity of existing local priority sites as identified in the City’s Play Strategy. Opportunities for safe informal play and integration with, or safe access to any formal provision, either on or off site should be considered at all relevant scales (doorstep/street, local, and neighbourhood) in housing layouts. Use of “Doorstep areas” and “Home zones” and suitable “Natural areas for play” etc in housing layouts may be compliant with the LAP and LEAP element of the (FIT) standard and remove the need for these smaller formal equipped play areas. All developments should have particular regard to the developments need for a neighbourhood level of play provision and its impact on any existing neighbourhood provision at this level. As such the development should provide an appropriate level of Neighbourhood play provision, either through on site provision to the Fields in Trust Standard or through contributions to improving the capacity of the existing neighbourhood play area network as outlined in the City’s Play Strategy. “ The Play Strategy proposes a new Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play at Boultham Park, and the proposed development would be within the required standard catchments for this neighbourhood provision. A developer contribution to this provision would therefore seem a sensible approach for meeting the development’s play needs at this level. With regard to the more localised play needs there is opportunity for such to be better considered and integrated into the development’s layout design, particularly around the shared courtyards and the adjacent open space area.

Ongoing management of proposed Buffer Strips/Open Space/ Play Provision The City Council will only consider the adoption of larger play areas (NEAP) with an appropriate commuted sum to ensure 15 year sustainability. Developers will be required to make suitable provision for the ongoing management of any proposed small equipped play areas {LAP and LEAP) within the development. Adjacent Designations Critical Natural Asset (CNA) Policy 44A (see also related policies 44C and 45B) Catchwater Drain is a designated Local Wildlife Site and supports species such as Water Vole and Mute Swan. The former is a protected species and as such will be subject to Natural England’s Standing advice see http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/regions/south east/ ourwork/standingadvice/default.aspx Further habitat description regarding the Catchwater Drain can be found on the Heritage Connect Website http:// heritageconnectlincoln.com/ecologicalsite/catchwaterdrain/21 Strategic Network of Cycleways. Footpaths Bridleways Policy 5 The site’s location provides an opportunity for accessing both the Cycle route along Tritton Road and the Public Right of Way along the Catchwater Drain. How the development facilities access by residents to these routes and the impact the development may have on such (see above) should be considered.

City of Lincoln Local Plan relevant polices POLICY 5: Strategic Network of Cycleways, Footpaths and Bridleways Planning permission will not be granted for any development which would hinder the completion of the Strategic Network of Cycleways, Footpaths and Bridleways shown on the Proposals Map, unless the Local Planning Authority is satisfied that satisfactory, alternative provision is to be made as part of (or in association with) the proposed development. Where developments will benefit from connection to the network, planning permission will not be granted unless the Local Planning Authority is satisfied that suitable provision will be made for stretches of cycleways, footpaths or bridleways to connect with or complete parts of the network relating to the particular development.

POLICY 44B: Basic Natural Stock Within the areas shown on the Proposals Map as Basic Natural Stock, planning permission will be granted for small scale developments incidental to open space uses which can be carried out without harming the ecological, scientific, landscape, recreational or other amenity value or interest of the area. Planning permission will not be granted for other types of development, unless the Local Planning Authority is satisfied that: 1. the ecological, scientific, landscape, recreational or other amenity value of the site concerned (and its contribution to the wider area in which it is situated) will not be diminished significantly by the development, or is to be compensated for fully by enhancing an adjacent Low Value Site or an adjacent area of Functional Open Space not required for another function; or, 2. it is infrastructure development, essential for the well-being of the community as a whole, which cannot satisfactorily be accommodated on another, Low Value Site; and, .

3. adequate measures are incorporated in the development scheme to protect or enhance the ecological, scientific, landscape, recreational or other amenity qualities of the locality; and; a) adequate measures are incorporated in the development scheme to protect or enhance the ecological, scientific, landscape, recreational or other amenity qualities of the locality; b) where necessary, developers enter into suitable legal obligations to secure the provision of any items or features necessary to meet the other requirements of this policy; c) the development satisfies the design, amenity and access requirements of other policies in this Local Plan; d) the development does not conflict with the requirements of other policies in this Local Plan relating to the particular land use(s) involved, or the general locational requirements of Policy 1; e) the development is consistent with Policy 43 (Green Wedges). Where it is necessary, applicants for planning permission may be required to submit a statement explaining how a particular development proposal would affect ecological, landscape, recreational or other amenity qualities and what measures are to be taken to safeguard the area’s value or interest.

POLICY 44C: Protected Species Planning permission will not be granted for development which would harm plants or animals protected by law, or their habitats, except where the Local Planning Authority is satisfied that adequate protection will be secured by the use of planning conditions or planning obligations.

POLICY 46A: Woodland and Other Major Planting Initiatives As and when resources allow: 1) new woodland will be established on City Council owned land at the eastern end of Great Northern Terrace (in such a way that road access to the proposed eastern By-pass is not precluded) and will also be considered as one option for the use of land to the west of Swanpool Wood;

2) major planting schemes will be undertaken to provide linear buffers: • between the Ermine Estates and the Lincoln Relief Road; • along the boundaries of Oak Farm where these abut the Lincoln to Newark railway and the Swanpool Estate, in advance of the proposed development at Skewbridge; • along major routes (road, rail and water) into the City Centre.

POLICY 65B: Play and Amenity Space in Housing Areas Developers of new housing, including additions to housing stock from changes of use, will be expected to contribute to the provision, laying out, equipping and maintenance of children’s’ play and amenity open space on the basis of the following standard: Children’s’ play space 0.8 ha per 1000 population Amenity open space 0.5 ha per 1000 population This requirement may be waived if the Local Planning Authority is satisfied that the location, scale or nature of a particular residential development is such that it will not generate or contribute to additional demands for such space.

Landscape character The following observations are made in regard to the landscape character of the site and local area

Lincoln Townscape Assessment (LTA), 2011.

Character Area is also linked with the village of Skellingthorpe to the west and once formed part of its open fields. The Character Area is crossed by the A46 Lincoln western bypass which forms a near impermeable boundary through the area.

The site is located within the ‘Swanpool and Skewbridge’ character area (Fig A) in the LTA, but is more physically connected to the ‘Western Hunt Lea’ character area. It is further divorced from the Swanpool and Skewbridge character area (Fig B) by a railway line, road and landscape buffer strip to the northwest of the site. Both character areas are described in the LTA as follows:

Swanpool and Skewbridge is a transitional area between the city and its rural hinterland. This close connection of countryside and city is an important characteristic of Lincoln, contributing to the city’s rural setting and maintaining a relationship between the market centre and its rural hinterland that has existed for almost two millennia. Swanpool and Skewbridge and the undeveloped areas along the River Witham to the east of the city, together contribute to the ‘hour-glass’ shape of the built up area of the city.

Swanpool and Skewbridge character area (site)

Western Hunt Lea Character Area (adjacent to site)

Overview

Swanpool and Skewbridge Character Area is situated on the western side of the city and is predominantly an area of flat, low-lying drained flood plain south of the River Witham. The area is largely in agricultural use and as a result the landscape is characterised by a rectilinear pattern of fields defined by shallow open wet drainage dykes and hedges.

Western Hunt Lea Character Area (Fig B) is a residential suburban Character Area with most of its current townscape dating from the late Inter-War Period (1919-1945) and Post-War Period with large areas of largely separate residential streets and cul-de-sacs. There was early ribbon development on former enclosed fields along Boultham Park Road with most housing in later large developments leading off Boultham Park Road with a geometric street pattern and large numbers of cul-de-sacs. Boultham Park Road and Hall Drive were part of a private drive from High Street to Boultham Hall in the 19th century; some of the trees along these roads may be survivors from this period.

The area is predominantly used for arable or cattle-grazed pasture. The rectilinear pattern of fields and drains are often bordered by well-established and overgrown hedgerows that include both small trees and shrubs, typical of the quick set hedges used during late 18th and early 19th century enclosure. The farmland areas include arable fields, damp cattle-grazed pasture and species-diverse old hedges, many of which are overgrown. There are also several small areas of woodland, grazed scrubland, playing fields and linear stretches of wild flowers along farm tracks and footpaths. The former Skellingthorpe duck decoy lies within a large wooded area within the northwest part of the Character Area which has preserved the earthworks of the decoy. The former Skewbridge landfill tip in the northeast of the area is now covered by rough grassland and widespread scrub, and grazed by horses. The Character Area forms part of the rural foreground to historic views of the Cathedral and north escarpment from the south and west. As such, the views form part of Lincoln’s rural hinterland both when approaching Lincoln from the southwest and when looking out from elevated parts of the city (e.g. north escarpment). The

The first housing developments in the Character Area were ribbon developments along Boultham Park Road which took place mainly in the early Inter-War Period (1919-1945) on enclosed fields that had been part of the Boultham Hall Estate. The earliest houses were built along Boultham Park Road in the 1920s following the reconstruction of the road in 1923, and Lincoln Avenue, the eastern part of which was laid out between 1913 and 1919. After 1930, Lincoln Avenue was extended westwards. The construction of Mayfair Avenue was completed in 1928 and most of the present houses on Mayfair Avenue were built in the mid 1930s. The road bridges carrying Hall Drive and Boultham Park Road over Catchwater Drain were completed by around 1930.

Swanpool & Skewbridge character area map

PROPOSED SITE

Fig A: The site is shown by the LTA character area maps as being within the Swanpool and Skewbridge character area, despite being separated from it by a road, railway line and landscape buffer strip

Western Hunt Lea character area map

PROPOSED SITE

Fig B: Although shown on the LTA character area maps as being part of the Swanpool and Skewbridge character area, the site is more physically connected to the Western Hunt Lea Character Area.

Viewpoints

KEY

View of the site from the footpath adjacent to the site

Viewpoint location

5 6 7 View from the adjacent public open space and character of tree and shrub planting along B1003 5

Map of viewpoints

View from the site towards the block of woodland, northeast of the site

View towards properties adjacent to the southeast boundary

View of the site from the cycle path adjacent to the B1003 with established woodland strips to the SW (right)

There is one non-adjacent receptor at Oak Farm (northwest) with restricted upstairs views of the site

View towards the proposed entrance from Westbrooke Road, east of the site 11

Site character

in e ay l il w

at er dr ain

Minor restricted views of the site from upstairs windows may also be visible from Oak Farm (northeast).

To the southeast, the boundary abuts the urban edge of Boultham, a southwestern suburb of Lincoln. Adjacent properties consist of single storey homes. This boundary edge presents a jumbled mix of concrete block walling, fences and hedgerow with a variety of managed and unmanaged vegetation.

PROPOSED SITE

The site is well screened on all sides from the wider landscape, which limits receptors to adjacent properties and users of the B1003 along the northwestern boundary and the footpath adjacent to the northeastern boundary.

The site is bounded by clear and well defined features:

Existing screening features

Along the northwest boundary is Catchwater drain (3), the drain is flanked by scrub along the site boundary with an area of woodland opposite, screening views to and from the northeast. Beyond the woodland is an area of public open space. A footpath runs along the drain bank opposite the site. Views from the footpath are characterised by open countryside to the northwest and urban private gardens, to the southeast.

Public park

From the western corner of the site, an established strip of woodland extends southwest alongside the B1003.

Boundaries

Along the northeastern boundary is a broken fence line with intermittent trees and shrubs (1). It is bounded by the B1003 Tritton Road and cycle path with an adjacent landscape buffer which separates the cycle path from the adjacent railway line. This boundary provides a strong visual and physical separation between the proposed site and the open rural farmland beyond.

School

Open countryside

The proposed site (viewpoint 1) is located within the Lincoln urban area in the southeastern suburb of Boultham. The site itself is a flat field, consisting of mainly semi - improved grassland and scrub. There is a stand of trees towards the centre of the site.

The southwest boundary is marked by a dense strip of established trees and shrubs, which help to screen views of the site to and from the southwest.

B1 00 3

The site

Commercial centre To city centre

To city centre

School

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Pheasantryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; area of woodland and a mature landscape buffer adjacent to the B1003 and railway provide a dense screen to views to and from the north, northwest, west, and southwest. The established strips of woodland adjacent to the southwest boundary provide a good screen to views to and from the southwest.

Shopping centre Catchwater drain and riparian zone

A pocket of woodland beyond the northeastern boundary provides a screen to views to the site from the northeast (5). The adjacent urban edge provides a screen to views from the east and southeast (6).

The adjacent landscape Boultham originally formed around the Boultham hall area, steadily expanding from the early 19th century to eventually coalesce with the city of Lincoln as we see it today. Throughout the expansion of the suburb, 12

Woodland area

School Foot path

Cycle path

Railway line

B1003 road

Public open space

Urban area

the railway line to the west of the site has served as a strong physical boundary, preventing development spilling over to the open countryside to the north and northwest of the site.

up development. They range in scale from grass verges, pocket parks and community scale recreation areas to large, city scale areas of open parkland with extensive areas of mature woodland and water bodies.

The adjacent urban landscape is characterised by detached one and two story 20th century houses (7). Properties have generous front and rear gardens with mature trees and shrubs, which create a green and open nature to the local neighbourhood. There are numerous public open green spaces (4) that populate this neighbourhood and help to soften and break

Beyond the B1003 and railway line to the north and northeast of the site, the landscape opens out into a rural, flat, expansive agricultural setting. It is divided into a patchwork of individual fields by native hedgerows populated with larger boundary trees. This open, expansive landscape is occasionally punctuated by areas of established woodland.

Access & connectivity The following section demonstrates the sustainability of the site in terms of connectivity to local amenities, public transport nodes and cycle and pedestrian routes

Railway station

LINCOLN CITY CENTRE

Walking route Cycle route Railway line

UNIVERSITY

Hub/ centre

RAIL STATION

Lincoln’s town centre can be easily reached within a 30 minute walk or a 10 minute cycle. There are many facilities in the local area, within a short (10 minutes) walk. These include nearby convenience shops, schools and library. Leisure and recreation facilities such as walking and cycling routes, allotments and the adjacent local park, and the larger Boutham park offer multiple opportunities to residents of this proposed development.

TRITTON ROAD SHOPPING CENTRE

Above: access and connectivity map

SCHOOL

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SCHOOL

ALLOTMENTS SCHOOL BOULTHAM LIBRARY LOCAL CENTRE BOULTHAM PARK yc

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SCHOOL

in s

HARTSHOLME PARK

10 min s walk

The site’s pedestrian and cycle routes will also connect to the wider pedestrian and cycle network along the B1003 Tritton Road along the northwest site boundary and Westbrooke Road to the southeast.

SCHOOL LOCAL PARK ALLOTMENTS

Lincoln city centre, University, Rail station and Tritton Road Shopping centre are all also within easy access of the site.

500m

ins c

The proposed development represents an opportunity to create a well connected and logical extension to the Boultham urban area. Transport links, local and city services and recreational areas are all easily accessed from the site due to it’s close proximity to key cycling, walking and road routes.

KEY

10 m

Access and connectivity

Landscape strategy and assessment The following section demonstrate the landscape strategy and assessment for the proposed site at Westbrooke Road

Westbrooke Road Landscape strategy and assessment

Tritton

Road Footway

Drain

Connectivity Proposals include connecting the site to footpath and cycle networks along Tritton Road and Westbrooke Road via proposed foot and cycle routes. This would provide an easy and quick cycle and footpath connection to shopping areas and Lincoln city centre, reducing the need for vehicular use.

Habitat and ecology Drain

Proposals will enhance and strengthen a variety of on-site habitats, including: • Retaining woodland edges and areas of woodland

Balancing pond/ wetland habitat area

Riparian habitat planting

Proposed foot/ cycle route

Connection to road network

Catchwater drain

Wildflower area

Existing woodland

Above: Landscape strategy plan

Visual amenity and landscape character

views of the boundary and filter views toward the site from the adjacent properties.

Foot

way

Kerb

ste rn(southeast boundary) Adjacent properties Av en ue Views from adjacent properties will change from open grassland to residential development. The boundary edge currently comprises of intermittent vegetation, with convoluted, untidy walls and fencing which help to provide some screening of the view beyond. Ker

Footway

way

Foot

Kerb

Footway

• Creation of a balancing pond with associated semi-aquatic planting to manage stormwater runoff and protect Catchwater Drain from surges during heavy flow events. It also represents an opportunity to create planting which will attract and support local populations of bats and birds.

Connection to footpath/ cycle network

Ker

• Creation of wildflower and wet meadow areas to increase the biodiversity value of the open grassland areas

Native tree & hedgerow green corridor & buffer strip

Hedge

• Improvement of riparian planting along Catchwater Drain with species to provide resources for bats, water voles and otter populations

KEY:

• Planting of native shrubs, trees and hedgerow species that will provide resources for bird and bat populations

Westbrooke Roa

• Where possible, connecting woodland and habitat fragments with green corridors of native tree and hedgerow planting

Proposals to increase planting and create a new, more unified boundary fence treatment along this edge will further help to improve 16

Adjacent footpath and Catchwater Drain Southeast of Tritton Road, adjacent to the site and beyond, Catchwater Drain takes on a distinctly urban feel. Residential gardens abut and spill over onto the drain banks. A mixture of formal and informal planting is present along the upper side of the banks with established riparian aquatic and semi aquatic vegetation along the lower part of the drain. A residential development and associated planting along this area of Catchwater Drain

would not be uncharacteristic. Furthermore, planting proposals along this boundary would aim to establish native tree, shrub and hedgerow planting, along with riparian planting, where appropriate. Proposed planting will help to create a pleasant user experience along Catchwater Drain that is in keeping with local character while increasing the habitat and biodiversity value of the Drain.

Westbrooke Road Landscape strategy and conclusions (continued)

Adjacent residential boundary edge

B1003 Tritton Road Tritton Road is used by cyclists, pedestrians and motorists and is a key route to and from Lincoln City centre and nearby shopping areas. The adjacent edge along Tritton Road is open in character with a broken fence line. Views across to the site are interrupted by occasional trees. As you approach the site from the southwest, the route is lined by an established woodland strip on both sides. Approaching the site from the northeast, established woodland again lines the route, with views through to the adjacent parkland beneath the tree canopies. It is desirable that the character and user experience along this route is retained. The development of this site provides an opportunity to extend the woodland planting along the site’s Tritton Road boundary. This would help to create visual continuity and an improvement in the visual experience along the route and also create a ‘green corridor’ for wildlife, joining two disconnected areas of woodland together.

Urban character of Catchwater Drain adjacent to the site

Furthermore, the proposed woodland planting strip along the Tritton Road boundary would also help screen views of the site to and from Tritton Road. Oak Farm (north) and properties adjacent to Catchwater Drain (east) It is possible that there would be some minor, restricted views of the site from upstairs windows of a small number of properties in these areas. Proposed planting of native hedgerows, shrubs and trees would ensure that these potential views of the site will be further restricted and filtered.

‘Green corridor’ along Tritton road, adjacent to the site

Potential restricted views from a small number of non-adjacent properties

Leisure and recreation Local residents will benefit from the creation of a wetland area and public open space. The site is also close to a number of footpath and cycle networks. In addition, increased connectivity to cycle and footpath network will ensure recreational routes are easily accessed from the site.

Landscape proposals and visualisation The following section is a visual interpretation of the proposed landscape strategy

Landscape design principles The landscape proposals for the site focus on the following key principles:

SKETCH PLAN KEY

• Minimise potential impacts upon the visual amenity of receptors and where possible, create an improvement in views and recreational amenity value

1. Central open space and wetland habitat area

• Retain, reinforce and connect existing vegetation and habitat areas

2. Tritton Road green corridor

• Introduce native planting to create habitat areas to attract local wildlife

3. Catchwater Drain habitat planting

• Ensure good connectivity to local pedestrian, cycle and road routes • Integration of SUDS wetland area to protect Catchwater Drain from storm water surges

Westbrooke Road landscape sketch plan

KEY

Existing trees

Proposed trees

Wildflower meadow

SUDS wetland area

Catchwater Drain & associated habitat planting

Grass

Board walk

Footpath

Native tree & hedgerow green corridor

Not to scale

1. Central open space and wetland habitat area The proposed balancing pond and associated wetland planting will help to create a distinctive and attractive central open space to the proposed development. The space will function as a green gateway to the development and a landscape buffer to minimise impacts to potential receptors along Tritton Road. The space will also perform as a SUDS balancing pond to protect Catchwater Drain from stormwater surges. Native semi aquatic and aquatic habitat planting will be introduced to support local bird and bat populations, along with native wildflower, wet meadow, shrubs and trees. A boardwalk crosses the balancing pond to enable a more engaging user experience and to reduce interruption between the wetland habitat areas of the pond and Catchwater drain. Foot and cycle paths though the central space connect to the foot and cycle routes along Tritton Road which provide access to Lincoln city centre and Tritton Road shopping centre.

Proposed central open space and wetland habitat area

Existing

2. Tritton Road green corridor The existing experience along this stretch of Tritton Road is characterised by strips of established woodland. This development represents an opportunity to strengthen the existing green infrastructure along this route by introducing a ‘green corridor’ of native hedgerow and trees. This would provide an important wildlife corridor and habitat area. Specific native shrub and tree species will be incorporated into the ‘green corridor’ aimed at supporting local bat and bird populations. The proposed ‘green corridor’ aims to help to filter potential views of the development from users of Tritton Road, and enhance the visual experience by unifying existing strips of woodland along this route.

Tritton Road green corridor proposed

Existing

3. Catchwater Drain habitat planting Catchwater Drain, adjacent to the sitesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; northeastern boundary has been identified as a potentially important habitat area for supporting local bat, bird, water vole and otter populations. The proposed landscape strategy aims to improve and enhance the strength of this habitat by introducing native shrub, tree, wildflower, wet meadow, aquatic and semi aquatic planting aimed at sustaining local bat, bird, water vole and otter populations. The nearby balancing pond and associated area of wetland planting will be connected to Catchwater Drain by native tree, shrubs, hedgerow, wildflower and wet meadow planting. A mown path will provide informal access along this side of Catchwater Drain, providing a low impact recreational access route through this sensitive habitat area.

Catchwater Drain habitat planting proposed

Existing

Landscape Architects

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Urban Designers

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Ecologists

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Horticulturists

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