Lloudonwhitfield by Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Dundee

Whitfield : Background Site Location

Historic

Post war consensus approach towards planning sought to alleviate population pressure away from inner town centres towards periphery districts where as of late 1960’s Whitfield materialised as part of the solution.

Within a decade, housing quality had soon deteriorated with social affliction exacerbated through a lack of access to employment opportunities with an under-proviso of accessible public transport links

1960

EC ON

OM IC

However shortfalls of this planning approach were soon evident much to the exclusion of social and economic cohesion for residents of Whitfield.

DEPRIVED

1970

EXCLUSION DESTITUTE ENVIRONMENTAL IGNORED CONFLICT

ISSUES VANDALISM

SO L

CIA

Developments in the area comprised mainly of single tenures with prefabricated Skarne block flats alongside with standardised units and deck ac-

TRAPPED DIVORCE

Issues of deprivation became deep rooted when the first stance of tackling urban obsolescent was attempted in 1988 by the Scottish Office.

LONE ISOLATED

1990

SEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL

VIOLENCE

EC ON OM IC

cess. The practice norm was the widespread use of engineering land zones with traffic segregation between vehicle and pedestrian users.

L CIA SO

Fig 1: Maps showing location 1-4

Whitfield is located 3.5 miles north east of Dundee City Centre with an area covering approx. 1.33Km2 for residential uses. It forms part of on-going regeneration efforts with Dundee City Council presiding the delivery through the Whitfield Planning Framework Strategy 2010.

1990’s Regeneration Findings:

FEAR POVERTY

Fig 2

Current Progress to date has seen the extensive demolition programme of the 60’s developments and replaced by a cul-desac mix of housing types. Fig 3 Site Planning Brief Haddington East Whitfield

However, despite much of the built environment having been reduced in density, there exists a surplus to the requirements of open space with the bulk of the land being of poor condition. In addition, there is a greater need to sustain and maintain on-going regeneration efforts to tackle the perpetual socio-eco disparities during a time of Government cutbacks and market instability.

Fig.6

Functional Integrated Resilient Safe Community Mixed Snug Continuity People Strong Inclusive Adaptable Energy Community Vibrant Flexible Robust Diversity Responsive Community Active Affordable Flourish Grow Climatic Journey sustainable Freedom Enhance Community Improve Evolve Prosper Mellow Enhance Remain Consolidated Cultivate Community Persist Linger Develop Comfort Support Viable Equality Synergy Community Harmony Effort Willingness Cooperative Results

Fig 5: Topography of site 1

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The site in focus is situated east of Haddington comprising an area of 2.3 hectares where it has been landscaped over from previous demolition. It is presently identified as Public Park however use has since dimin- Pic 1: Proposed site facing south ished. Under the Whitfield Planning Framework the scope of the site has now been identified for residential uses . The task is to deliver a suitable residential layout.

Planning Context 



Pic 2: Proposed site facing east

Negative image reality needs to be addressed to sustain population levels



Collective agreements take time



Community ambiguity towards positive planning

Case Study

Identified Opportunity Fig 4



Dundee Local Plan Review 2005: Policy 1, 2,4 3A, 8, 67, 72 Whitfield Planning Framework 2010 is a supplementary planning guidance to the Dundee Local Plan Review 2005 Dundee Urban Design Guide: sets out development principles Dundee’s Public Open Space Strategy: developments to comply with an hierarchy of accessible open space

Regeneration Aims Through the reuse of brownfield sites it envisioned that developments should contribute to supporting Whitfield to be : 

A popular and positive place to live



Affordable with a mix of tenure



Safe where community developments can be sustained

Case exemplars were used to explore how regeneration principles can deliver successful housing schemes. In this stance, Glasgow Crown Street formed a point of reference due to its similarity context to Whitfield. It was found that a high quality residential environment can be achieved with attention to scale and built form which can translate the importance of spaces know as ‘streets’. Legibility was sought by defining spaces with joined up streets and spacious corners. The built form should be designed to human scale and supported by a mix of uses.

Pic 3: Crown St aerial view

Pic 4: Crown St residential streetscape

Shared surface had the effect of controlling traffic flow. Stylistic variety in the built form prompted good visual cues to the legibility of the layout while giving spaces their overall distinctiveness.

Pic 5: Crown St residential streetscape

preferable.

assigning winning architects to design spaces against the backdrop of the area’s master plan– this ensured high quality designs to be delivered.

In addition, the scheme was designled where stylistic variety was

It concluded that a disperse approach towards social housing is preferred.

Whitfield: Site Analysis Site Characteristics

House Market Characteristics Fig 12:

Strengths

Weaknesses

Demand exists for affordable housing from Dundee City Centre

Associated risk with brownfield site: costs and health

Area posses a balance tenure

Too much isolated open space around the site Appearance of Dunbar flats

INTERNAL

Accessible bus links to town and nearest amenities

Delivery of ‘New Life Science’ devel- Unfit shopping facilities opment to bring combined facilities

Opportunities

Fig 7: Existing vehicle and pedestrian movements

Solar panel: unique siting of the sloping landform

Photo Survey: A lot of isolated and vulnerable spaces found around the site

Threats

Sustainable transport links– strengthen cycle routes

Accessing finance-mortgage Timescale of development delivery

EXTERNAL

New village street– catalytic for area

Negative stigma of area image

Use open space from Dunbar Park

NEGATIVE

POSITIVE

Fig 8:Good public transport links to Whitfield via city centre

Land Uses

Going Forward

Fig 9: Density relationship of the built environment– gap areas

For a well conceived residential layout Six principles have been identified in to be designed, proposals must: Designing Streets to achieve successful places. They are as followed: Relate to the new south developments with the opening of a new school and Life Science Building due.

Distinctiveness

Safe and pleasant

Have regards the hierarchy arrangements for new streets.

Easy to move about

Adaptable

Improve the spatial gap between Dun5. bar Park and Haddington where density can be achieve via layout of builds 6. form.

North view of Haddington Av

Resource efficiency

ar ac

te r

East view of Dunbar Park

Welcoming

Audio

Vista views Public Art

Current shop facilities: UNFIT

Dun Crescent

Solar

Direction

sc ap

Wind Shrubs

Fig 11: Sensory Analysis Summerfield Gardens Laura Loudon TP31002

Residential

Shop

Police St

School

Place character

New Road

New ‘Street Village’ on Summerfield Avenue

Strengthen existing layout and permeability Ensure attractive spaces

Westerly

To be developed in line with residential

Fig13: Framework for designing residential layout

Inf

Build on Respect from site constraints local character and draw on its uniqueness

Fig 10: Extent of green spaces surrounding the site– isolated

South view where the new combined life science will feature

en tit

Ballumbie Gardens

ras tru ctu

Berwick Drive: north entrance to the site. Bus stop in place– isolated area with no natural surveillance

Haddington

Whitfield: Layout Strategy Movement

Proposed Layout

Open Space

Buildings

1 1

Spatial Permeability 1. 2.



Vehicle and pedestrian access



Pedestrian access 1

South facing views on steep landform will aid orientation and navigation

Streets

Lanes

Central square



1. 60’s period 3 storey 1990-2000 period 2 storey

1 2

Life science building

New creational space

Proposed staff parking

New foot pathways

Mini roundabout

Green spaces

Proposed 58 housing layout

Shrubs

Phase 1: Ensure New Life Science development can deliver improved retail facilities. Agreements with staff parking allocated provision

Developments of 9 semi detached facing south at right angles

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Phase 2

Phase 6

Phase 3

Phase 7

Phase 4

Phase 8

Existing hedges retained New planting

Good Sightlines:

mate the public realm of new streets: with distinctive gables and chimneys

Sightlines towards north streetscape from behind Life Science Building.

4 3

Providing natural surveillance north Berwick Drive to welcome nearby residents and pupils accessing Braeview High

3D Illustration of Proposed Density Form

Phase 2: Connect shared surface spaces with Berwick Drive north & Haddington Avenue east.

Phase 3: Developments of 8 semi detached and 1 detached housing starting northward.

Phase 4: Additional links with Haddington east to establish new street lines within site boundary.

Phase 7: Finalised development of 15 semi-detached. Ensure shared surface can control traffic flow

Phase 8: Landscaping and proceed to secure agreements to improve recreational spaces within Dunbar Park grounds

Phase 5:

Phase 5

Local Markers to ani-

Phasing out Stage

Phase 1

Landscape boundary reinforced

Start of new development 2 storey

Rural landscape boundary

Street Hierarchy 1.

Spatial Hierarchy

Area Characteristics

Phase 6: Additional 25 development with the ‘island’ block– layout now to become integrated.

Whitfield: Design Code Coding System For the propose layout to deliver its quality aims that can better connected the wider extent of Whitfield where a more integrated community can be created through the application of design codes . This can help to ensure that the consistency of goal implementation is at the fore.

Integration

fidence in monitoring progress. In addition, the impact of design coding for the layout can help to provide an element of certainty in the house values when design principles are conformed to achieve sustainable outcomes.

The proposed layout is not fixed but suggestive in providing viable The benefit of design codes can options and demonstrates where help to translate a vision in how a appropriate how people come sense of place and identity can be first when designing a residential procured through time as a com- layout. munity matures and provide con-

Resource Efficiency

North and South elevation of New Life Science facility– essential that it delivers improved retail services from current use Long-term: detrimental to Whitfield’s image

Continuity of streetscape

Advocate shared surface throughout

Maximise the environmental benefits of the site by taking advantage of its south facing slope form. Housing arranged at right angles with an additional benefit of south vista views.

Distinctiveness Improve skate park facilities if feasible. Address neglected spaces with soft remedial measures cleaning up.

Designing Street design code example for organising streets: advocates ‘mixed’ developments

Negative spaces

Active spaces

Animating public realm where shared surface are also decorative to develop place identity

Natural Surveillance at all vantage points

Strong legible feature to animate built form in passing 4

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Improved open space with public garden or optional children’s play zone. Avoid making spaces redundant– Activate as much as possible to enhance area’s vibrancy