Swanscombe Tidal Park
Masters Project MLA Landscape Architecture Kingston University, London LD7205 Stefan Tebbenhoff K1513368
1
Swanscombe Peninsula
Thames Estuary and its 5m flood risk zone 2 Front page: Impression of Swanscombe Tidal Park
Contents Project Ethos Stakeholders
5
Estuary Character Profile Ecology & Habitats Coastal Squeeze Habitat Creation
8 10 12 14
Peninsula Character Profile Site History Scale Comparison Transport Links Urban Development
18 20 22 24 26
Tidal Park Park Objectives Flood Model Managed Retreat Site Development Planting Strategy Industrial Heritage Soil Forensics Habitat Access
30 32 34 37 38 40 44 46
Funding & Maintenance Rethinking Parks Salt Marsh Nursery
51 52
Organisation & Implementation Landscape Practice Profile Work Stages Legislation, Regulation, Health & Safety Professional Ethos Endnotes, Image Credits & Acknowledgements
56 57 58 61 62
3
Project Ethos Sustainability as design principle Sustainability is the guiding principle of Swanscombe Tidal Park. This starts by taking into account the wider context of the Thames Estuary. Climate change presents the greatest challenge to the estuary in terms of future uncertainty.1 Of particular concern is the expected rate of sea level rise. Flood defences cannot be raised indefinitely and we need to look for alternative ways to live with the rising water. Managed retreat is one such way, where flood walls are placed further inland, allowing space for salt marshes to develop and absorb wave energy before it reaches the hard engineered flood defences that protect our assets.
To ensure the long term success of the park, economic and social sustainability have also been taken into account early. With increased pressure on public spending, low maintenance costs are imperative for parks. Designing with nature, rather than fighting against it, allows for stable habitats that can be maintained with less input, resulting in lower costs. Moreover, getting the local community involved with maintenance can create opportunities for education, training and development, ensuring the long term use of and engagement with the park.2
Managed retreat strategy for Swanscombe Peninsula
4
Stakeholders*
Client and Land Owner. As a large French industrial company specialising in cement, construction aggregates, and concrete, Lafarge merged in July 2015 with the Swiss cement company Holcim and is now operating under the name LafargeHolcim as the world’s leading global building materials and solutions company.3
The Environment Agency (EA) is a non-departmental public body, established in 1995 and sponsored by the United Kingdom government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), with responsibilities relating to the protection and enhancement of the environment in England.7
Nature After Minerals (NAM) promotes strategic opportunities for delivering biodiversity through high quality habitat creation on mineral sites. Working with mineral planners, industry, statutory bodies, conservation organisations and local communities, to make substantial contributions to priority habitat creation and boost priority species populations, while providing richer places for people to enjoy.8
RSPB Is the largest nature conservation charity in England, consistently delivering successful conservation, forging powerful new partnerships with other organisations and inspiring others to stand up and give nature the home it deserves.9
Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust is the only organisation in Europe devoted to the conservation of all invertebrates. It is actively working to save Britain’s rarest little animals, everything from bees to beetles, worms to woodlice and jumping spiders to jellyfish.10
The Port of London Authority’s operations cover 95 miles of the River Thames. It works to keep commercial and leisure users safe, protect and enhance the environment and promote the use of the river for trade and travel.11
SouthEastern provides the majority of commuter/regional rail routes in South East London and Kent as well as some parts of East Sussex.12
Fastrack is the high quality fast bus service for the Thames Gateway area by Arriva, Kent County, Council, Gravesham Borough Council, Dartford Borough Council and Prologis.13
The Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce covers the County of Kent & Medway, providing membership services, business advice, international trade services and representation.14
Natural England is the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England, helping to protect England’s nature and landscapes for people to enjoy and for the services they provide.6
Founded in 1958, the Kent Wildlife Trust is a registered charity and the leading conservation organisation covering the whole of Kent and Medway, dedicated to protecting wildlife and wild habitats for everyone to enjoy.4
Set up by Government to speed up delivery of up to 15,000 homes and create a 21st century Garden City in north Kent. It is working with local authorities and local communities to develop a shared vision for the area, providing high quality, attractive and sustainably-constructed housing as well as opportunities to work.5
Gravesham Borough Council is the planning authority for the east side of the peninsula.
Dartford Borough Council is the planning authority for the west side of the peninsula.
*This is a student project. The stake holders are assumed and don’t have any official affiliation with the project.
5
6 Fishing near Gravesend
Estuary 7
Character Profile Being at the periphery of London, the Thames estuary has been part-shaped by the city’s human history functioning as a major transport link to the North Sea and beyond. But it is no mere residual landscape defined by the city: it is an entity in its own right and must be understood on its own terms. A truer picture of the estuary comes into focus when we consider mud, tidal waters, darkness and light, marine ecologies, military ruins, estuarine communities, dialects, shipping and associated industry, abandonment and disturbed ecologies.
Despite its close proximity to London, it contains some of the least settled areas of the English coast.15 There are only a few major settlements and medieval patterns of small villages and hamlets perch on higher ground at the marsh edges.
The estuary is a remote and tranquil setting dominated by the sky. Strong feelings of remoteness and wilderness persist in this fluid landscape of shallow creeks, drowned estuaries, low lying islands, mudflats, tidal salt marsh and reclaimed grazing marshes that lies between the North Sea and the rising ground inland.
Due to its strategic position as entrance to the political and economic power of London, it has for centuries been a highly contested landscape. Romans founded the city, Vikings settled along the river, Napoleonic military defences, can be found throughout the estuary and ruined forts and 20th-century pillboxes are all an important part of the landscape.
Quick Facts
16
8600 Ha
7 Meter
346 Km
896 sq Km
Area protected by national or international nature conservation designations
Length of the river Thames
8
Sharply contrasting the wild and remote marshes are the large scale industrial developments which are highly visible in this low-lying landscape. Ports, waste disposal facilities, dredging, mineral extraction and prominent power stations all are visible from many miles away.
Average daily rise and fall of water levels in the estuary
Approximate size of the flood plain area
20 - 90 cm
Expected sea level rise in the estuary over the next century
Horses grazing on the flood defence wall (Tilbury Power Station in the background)
9
Ecology & Habitats The estuary is an internationally important area for hundreds of thousands of migrating birds travelling as far afield as Siberia, Canada and north Africa.17 One fifth of the world’s population of black bellied brent geese settle in the estuary each winter. The area is also important for its biodiversity interest, supporting reptiles like the slow worm, newts and water voles, and rare insects that thrive on old brownfield sites The vast majority of the coastline and estuaries are designated as Ramsar sites and Special Protection Areas, while the Essex Estuaries are a Special Area of Conservation.
10
Saltmarsh and the large expanses of intertidal and subtidal mud provide rich feeding grounds for birds such as oystercatcher, dunlin, shelduck, teal and wigeon. Common seals can be found resting on the mudflats. There are a number of notable marshland plants, for example the pedunculate sea-purslane, re-established at Foulness in 1989. This intertidal zone is also an important breeding and nursery area for fish such as Dover sole, flounder, sea bass and mullet. The intertidal and subtidal areas are also rich shellfish grounds and provide an important commercial fishery and bird feeding ground.
Sand dunes
Mud flats
Salt marshes
Grazing marshes
Brownfield sites
Farm lands
11
Coastal Squeeze Addressing the problem intertidal habitat loss Climate change presents the greatest challenge to the Thames estuary in terms of future uncertainty. Of particular concern is the expected rate of sea level rise. In addition, freshwater flood flows from tributaries that drain into the Estuary will increase due to higher winter rainfall. All this underlines the necessity for an adequate flood defence system, which has been developed over the centuries as a hard engineered wall and flood gate system. However, these hard defences in combination with rising sea levels are producing the negative effect of coastal squeeze, which relates to the loss of intertidal habitat loss (mudflats and salt marsh) in front of the sea defence walls. Normally when average water levels rise, salt marsh migrates further inland to stay in the intertidal zone. When there is a hard engineered wall in place however, this process gets interrupted and the margin of salt marsh gets squeezed between the rising water level and the flood defence wall, eventually disappearing altogether. The Environment Agency estimates that over the next century 1200 ha of intertidal habitat will be lost in the estuary due to coastal squeeze18. This is one of the biggest challenges facing the area, as salt marshes and mudflats support species that make the estuary internationally important. They function as breeding grounds for fish on which the fishing industry relies, and form a valuable function of absorbing wave and surge energy, thereby protecting the land and the defence structures behind. Managed retreat of some the hard engineered flood defences provides major opportunities for improving the reliability of the defence system. It also provides opportunities for enhancements for recreation and education.
Coastal Squeeze
Inland Migration
12
13 Intertidal zone and flood defence wall near Gravesend
Habitat Creation The Environment Agency estimates that 876 hectares of new intertidal habitat will be needed to address the problem of coastal squeeze in the estuary19. It identifies five sites which have the right characteristics for intertidal habitat creation: • Grain Marshes • All Hallows Marshes • St Mary’s Marsh • West Canvey Marshes • Bowers Marsh Habitat creation is a positive step towards sustainability and supporting species that make the Thames estuary internationally important. Additionally intertidal habitat forms a valuable function of absorbing wave and surge energy, thereby protecting the land and the defence structures behind. Work includes construction of a new line of defence to protect people and properties from the risk of flooding from the new intertidal zone. It also includes, in some cases, recharging the land levels so that the correct habitat develops. It may take up to 10 years after the realignment is implemented
14
before the habitat is fully established at the site. Some of the sites identified have designated coastal grazing marshes. If these sites are selected, new freshwater habitat will be needed to compensate for the loss of these designated areas as a result of intertidal habitat creation. For compensatory grazing marshes, the Environment Agency has identified the following sites: • Dartford Marsh • Crayford Marshes • Fobbing Marshes • Vange Marshes • Erith Marshes There will be no increased tidal flood risk to the public as a result of the intertidal habitat creation schemes as they will always include a new defence construction on the landward side of the new habitat. This provides major opportunities for improving the reliability of the defence system. It also provides opportunities for enhancements for recreation, infrastructure, visitors centres and other facilities.
Bowers Marshes Vange Marshes
West Canvey Marshes
Fobbing Marshes
Erith Marshes St Mary’s Marshes All Hallows Marshes
Crayford Marshes Dartford Marshes
Grain Marshes Swanscombe Peninsula
15
16 Abandoned barge at Swanscombe Peninsula
Peninsula 17
Character Profile Swanscombe Peninsula is located immediately east of the Dartford Crossing. Previously a salt marsh, the peninsula has a long history of industrial development and more recently has been raised in some locations by the disposal of spoil from the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.20 The topography of the area is mainly flat with a man made sea wall on the bank of the River Thames to the north, and bunding between the marshland and the surrounding industry. There are open, panoramic views across the River Thames, adjacent industry and towards the Dartford River Crossing Bridge. Large ships are visible on the river itself as well as the heavy industry of Tilbury Docks on the Essex side of the river. Large electricity pylons cross the area from the east to the west, with the 400kV Thames Crossing Pylon dominating the views with a heigh of 190 meters21 (similar in height to the BT Tower in Central London). Large industrial buildings line the eastern edge of peninsula. The area has a poorly defined land use and is a mix of rough marshland, open water, clumps of native scrub and trees. There are no public roads on the peninsula, with road access stopping at the fringes. Access from the road continues as a footpaths. Public access is in parts limited by the adjacent industry.
View from Swanscombe Peninsula towards the Dartford Crossing
400 kV Thames Crossing
Swanscombe (Kent)
Grays (Essex) Chalk Cliff
Peninsula S-N section 18
HS1 Tunnel
River Thames
Grays (Essex)
Swanscombe (Kent)
19
Site History 1825
400,000 BC Bone fragments and tools, representing the earliest humans known to have lived in England, have been found at the Barnfield Pit. This site is now the Swanscombe Heritage Park. Digs on the peninsula for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link revealed a 400,000-year-old site with human tools and the remains of a Straight-tusked Elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus), and evidence of water vole, pine vole, newts, frogs etc., indicating a site with standing water.22
A cement works at Swanscombe opens in 1825, having patented a new cement called British Cement. Between 1840 and 1930 it was the largest cement plant in Britain. The first reliable and fully understood production of Portland cement anywhere in the world occurred at the Swanscombe works in the 1840s. The development of the cement industry led to ever expanding quarrying for chalk in the surrounding area, and the development of tram networks together with wharves along the River Thames. It finally shut down in 1990.26
1066 In 1066 Swanscombe locals massed an army in defiance of William I, and so won the right to continue their ancient privileges, including the tradition of passing inheritance by gavelkind. They were offered a truce that left Kent as the only region in England which William did not conquer24
2007
1940 Swanscombe’s proximity to London and position under the German flight path to the city meant that it fell victim to bombings several times during the war.28
Section 2 of the HS1 project opened on 14 November 2007 and is a 39.4 km stretch of track from the newly built Ebbsfleet station in Kent to London St Pancras. The route starts with a 2.5 kilometre tunnel which dives under the Thames on the peninsula.30
830 Vikings settled throughout the winter along the Thames estuary with their ships, and established camps in Kent and Essex. Archaeological digs and centuries of tilling have revealed a Danish castle and settlement, with pottery, anchors, weapons and some ships’ timbers. The settlement was later variously called Suinescamp (in the Domesday Book), the name deriving from the Viking king Sweyn Forkbeard, who landed in East Anglia, and became King of England in 1013.23
20
1700 ‘Inning’ of the marshes: a process of throwing up an embankment around the salt marsh and using the low-tide to let it run dry by means of one-way drains set into the new seawall.25
1880 North Kent developed during the 19th Century as an important location for the paper industry as its situation on the River Thames provided access for the transport of timber from the Scandinavian forests. The area became a focus for producing newsprint from pulp to serve the newspaper industry, including the New Northfleet Paper Mill (actually in Swanscombe)27
2012 1953 In 1953 Swanscombe peninsula flooded, along with many coastal areas in the South East.29
Plans are unveiled in October 2012 for a major theme park on the peninsula.31
1940
1960
1990
2003
2010
2015 (Historic) satellite images from Google Earth
21
Scale Comparison Swanscombe Peninsula 170 ha
London Wetlands Centre 29 ha
22
Freshkills Park, Staten Island 890 ha
Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens 253 ha
23
Transport Links 15 Mil
es
10 Mil
es
Central London
M25
Par (via is/Bru Eur ssel otu s nne l)
24
M25
London (Charing Cross)
Dartford
Ebbsfleet/ Paris/Brussels
Gravesend
25
Urban Development Greenhithe, Swanscombe and Northfleet are the urban areas immediately bordering the park. However, the area is under intense urban development by the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, with a vision for a new town called Ebbsfleet Garden City. The vision is to develop close to 13,000 new homes over the next 15 years.32 The civic heart will be a new commercial centre, built around Ebbsfleet International Station, which connects residents with Central London in 17 minutes and Paris in two hours.
12,842
27,993
13
8
82
564,480
70,310
32,000
Proposed new homes
Hectares of employment & commercial land
26
Resultant population
Commercial floor space (sqm.)
Primary schools
Retail floor space (sqm.)
Secondary schools
Jobs
Greenhithe
Swanscombe
Northfleet Ebbsfleet Development Corporation Proposal <30 Dwellings per Ha 30-50 Dwellings per Ha 50-90 Dwellings per Ha 90+ Dwellings per Ha
27
28 Impression of the park interior
Tidal Park 29
Park Objectives ficient global business in the sector.
“The 2030 Plan” The LafargeHolcim Sustainability Strategy
1
2
Swanscombe Tidal Park is part of the LafargeHolcim “The 2030 Plan” initiative. LafargeHolcim wants to lead in sustainability and set new standards for the way our industry works and encourage the whole construction sector to play its part in addressing our planet’s biggest issues.33 Why ‘construct’ salt marshes? By 2030, LafargeHolcim wants to produce 40% less net CO2 per tonne of cement than it did in 1990. This will help it remain the most CO2-ef-
Salt marshes play an important role in carbon storage. They make an important contribution to climate change mitigation through their ability to absorb and store carbon, at a rate of up to 2.1 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year, which is nearly 100 times more than tropical rain forest.34 Including salt marshes into our carbon strategy enables us to significantly reduce the net CO2 output. Another area where LafargeHolcim aims to lead is through innovation and developing solutions with enhanced environmental performance. Due to rising sea levels, there will be an increased pressure on hard engineered flood defences. Salt marshes provide a natural barrier in front of built defences, with 50% of wave energy being absorbed by 10-20m of salt marsh. Seawalls with no salt marsh are 10 times more expensive than those with 60 m of saltmarsh.35 So the park will lead the way in developing sustainable managed retreat and flood defence solutions.
Benefits of Salt Marshes
Fishing Industry
30
Carbon Storage
Eco Tourism
Flood Defence
Water Purification
Biodiversity
Swanscombe Tidal Park Masterplan
31 0
50
100
200m
Flood Model To guide site design, a flood model has been developed in SketchUp by adding geographical information from Google Earth. This is a cost effective way to model terrain using satellite data.
Spring Low Tide
32
Low Tide
High Tide
Spring High Tide
Storm Flood
33
Managed Retreat The flood model provided an interesting insight into the way the site floods from the West. This has been used as the guiding design principle for the site, identifying the appropriate areas for salt marsh establishment. The model also illustrated the importance of repositioning the flood defence wall further inland to protect the HS1 tunnel and remaining industrial zones at the periphery of the peninsula.
34
Flood model with repositioned flood defence wall 35
Woodland Meadow Bare Ground Upper Marsh Lower Marsh Water/Mud
Year 2 36
Habitat development following managed retreat of flood defence wall
Site Development
Ecology development
Salt Marsh Species
Brownfield Species
YR 2
YR 4
Year 5
YR 6
YR 8
YR 10
As the site floods with the tides following the repositioning of the flood defences, pioneer plant species will establish in the first year or two, attracting new fauna to the lower areas of the site, while existing animals retreat to the higher dry areas of the site and nearby brownfield sites. Within 5 years upper marsh plant species will have been planted out/established. Existing meadows on higher areas are managed by grazing and young woodland is encouraged to grow by thinning out existing silver birch scrub, and planting additional whips where suitable. After 10 years the site is well established and readjusted to a changed ecological balance.
Year 10 37
Planting Strategy Matrix planting is used as a technique to mirror and encourage natural development of the salt marshes. Lower marshes that flood daily are expected to establish on their own accord in the first two years due to seeds still likely to be present in the soil, mainly cord grass. The matrix plants used for the upper marsh areas are Sea Arrow Grass and Sea Lavender, with the lavender creating a thick, recognisable border between the lower salt marshes and the dry, species rich meadows above. In terms of management, the lower marshes will need to be monitored for invasive species with appropriate action taken where needed.36 Upper marsh species will be cultivated on site, and planted out from year 2 onwards.
Park interior (West Basin)
Current meadows are species-rich and will be kept as is. Sheep will be allowed on the meadows twice a year for grazing. The shrubby birch woodland will be thinned out to encourage trees to grow thicker, and allow sunlight in to enable other local species to establish naturally.37
Typical section of park interior (West Basin)
38
Artemisia maritima Existing Meadow
Betula pendula
Cochlearia anglica
Limonium vulgare
Spergularia marina
Atriplex littoralis Water
Existing Meadow
Triglochin maritima
Suaeda vera
Tripolium pannonicum
Spartina anglica
Inula crithmoides
Sample planting plan of park interior (West Basin) 39
Industrial Heritage 40
Impression of fishing near the old industrial jetty
41
Concept collage of views and landmarks on and surrounding the peninsula
42
Views, Landmarks and Routes
Essence of place
Route composition
Swanscombe peninsula has had intense interactions with human activity. Land reclamation, cement production, waste dumping and tunnel digging all have altered and left scars on the landscape. But interesting ecologies have established in relation to these interventions as well. Brownfield sites are some of the most species rich – and the peninsula is no exception. These relations of industry and ecology have been brought to the foreground, most notably by conserving the highly alkaline environment of the rare jumping spider.38 Where manage retreat allows the original habitat salt marsh restoration, higher grounds due to spoil and landfill maintain their brownfield richness in a manner that can be enjoyed safely by the wider public.
The experience of the user has been used as a starting point, rather than drawing up routes that ‘look good on a map’. The routes through the park are based on desire lines – trails that would naturally form as people orientate themselves based on views, and tend to choose the way of least resistance (i.e. avoiding steep climbs where unnecessary). The design principle used was to ‘take the pencil for a walk’ through the landscape.39 To diagram the experience, a method has been used that was developed by urban designer Donald Appleyard.40 Although developed to study the motorway as a landscape, it has here been used to explore and compose the main route for the park, connecting key views as they hide and reveal themselves.
Views, Landmarks and Routes
Space, motion, view and attendtion
43
Soil Forensics The main soil type of the peninsula is alluvium; a deposit of clay, silt, and sand left by flowing flood water of the river and estuary.41 The land was drained initially for farming, but with the abundance of chalk nearby it has led to intensive development of cement production on site. Kiln dust - a by product of cement production, has been tipped over the years on the land. It appears to have been dumped mainly at the centre of the peninsula, creating a 10m high mound. Later, additional soil mounds were formed on the peninsula from the spoil of tunnelling HS1. Soil pH tests have been carried out to see if the site is suitable for salt marsh establishment. Salt marshes are slightly alkaline and the samples tested as slightly alkaline as well, with the exception of one taken near the kiln dust landfill, which had a very high pH of 10.02 Ecology has adapted to this alkaline environment with most notably the distinguished jumper spider (Sitticus distinguendus) making its home on the peninsula. It prefers alkaline environment and in the UK is only found in two places (the other being the nearby West Thurrock Marshes on the Essex side of the river). Due to its rarity in the UK, it is a priority species on the UK list of Biodiversity Action Plan and must be protected.
44
pH 7.54
pH 7.55
pH 8.68
pH 10.02
pH 7.49
pH 8.08
Sitticus distinguendus
Concept collage of soil interventions
Chalk
Sands & Gravels
Alluvium
45
Habitat Access The kiln dust mound will remain on site as the main habitat for the (protected) jumping spider. The mound has a high educational value, illustrating the rare ecologies that can establish on post industrial land. Access however must be controlled due to the vulnerability of the spider and the alkalinity of the soil. A raised walkway is therefore proposed.
Angle frame nonalloy
U-steel nonalloy Galvanised grating
U molding nonalloy Concrete Piling
Steel beam
Raised walkway detail
Raised walkway, plan and section
46
0
50
100
200m
Raised walkway 1:200 model.
47
Funding & Maintenance 48
Impression of bird watching at the east basin of the park 49
Community involvement
50
Rethinking Parks Economic, Social and Environmental Sustainability a business model for park maintenance While it can be relatively straightforward to finance the construction of a park, covering the long-term management can be a challenge. Local councils have traditionally been responsible for the upkeep of parks. But with ever increasing pressures on public spending, parks will need to find new ways of supplementing income by private funding, support from the community and voluntary sector, greater levels of site–based income generation, fundraising and sponsorship.42 To make Swanscombe Tidal Park sustainable in the long term, a close relation will be established between the park and neighbouring current (and future) communities to make it an integral asset within their wider physical, social and economic setting. A social enterprise will be set up with residents that collaboratively manage the green spaces in more diverse ways. The programme aims to promote a strong focus on value for money and transparency, and residents will be provided with detailed information about running costs and the savings requirements before making decisions. The park and its social enterprise will offer gardening and nursery courses to change the lives of disadvantaged and unemployed local people. This can benefit them and lead to volunteering with other organisations, qualifications and ultimately a job.
Cost effective design Environmental principles and cost–effective management are built early into the park construction. Salt marsh are established naturally with pioneer species readily available in the immediate local ecology, and seeds likely still in the soil. Successive plants are cultivated on site in an innovative salt marsh nursery. Seeds for the nursery can be readily found locally in the estuary. Lawns are avoided and natural meadows encouraged. Local farmers/ sheep holders are invited to let their cattle graze the meadows. This way, less professional maintenance is needed which reduces costs, whilst improving biodiversity across the park.
Ecosystem services Ecosystem services, which capture the value of the environmental services and benefits that nature performs, are a current growth area for income generation for parks. Renewable (wind) energy can be generated on site to provide energy for running the park, and possibly selling off surplus to the grid. Other benefits are water treatment and flood risk management, improving air quality, carbon sequestration and enhancing biodiversity. These benefits are harder to quantify but with expert help it is possible. For example, Mayesbrook Park in Dagenham, London has been restored though a publicly funded programme to address flood management. This ‘dual use’, value–based approach has been analysed by the Environment Agency and Queen Mary University London who estimated a long–term return to society of at least £7 for every £1 spent on the project, thereby justifying investment in the park by public agencies.43
Section 106 Agreement Additional funding can be obtained through section 106 agreement with the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation. New housing will benefit greatly from the existence of the park nearby. Generating revenue this way will help cover the annual maintenance and operations costs’
Other Activities • Specific temporary or permanent facilities for children and young people including adventure and natural play, skate parks, multi–use games areas and performance spaces. • Provision of meeting places, attractive office space, hubs for social enterprises etc. • Increasing the provision of cafés, concessions and kiosks, and particularly to meet seasonal demand. • Parks resources being used to generate energy (e.g. water, solar or wind power). • Establishing educational and training facilities for formal and informal skills programmes. • Private functions and corporate events that may be leased on an occasional basis.
51
Salt Marsh Nursery Commercial nurseries donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stock salt marsh plant species, as they are generally not used for gardens. To supply the site with enough plants, a specialised nursery will be built in the old water treatment plant on site, re-appropriating the existing water tanks and sedimentation structures. The nursery will provide an opportunity to study salt marsh plant species and whether or not they can be cultivated. Successful species will be planted out on site. Part of the nursery can also be used to study different species of trees that thrive in changing saline conditions. It will contain a visitor centre with information about the nursery and the park. Former on-site water treatment plant
Max Height
Bloom Chart 120 Cm 120 cm
Spergularia Spergularia marinamarina
Annual Annual
100 Cm 100 cm
Cochlearia anglica Cochlearia anglica
Perennials Perennial
80 Cm 80 cm
Triglochin maritima Triglochin maritima Beta vulgaris Beta vulgaris subsp. subsp. Maritima Maritima
60 Cm 60 cm
Tripolium pannonicum Tripolium pannonicum Inula crithmoides Inula crithmoides
40 Cm 40 cm
Limonium vulgare Limonium vulgare
20 Cm 20 cm
Shrubs
Atriplex littoralis Atriplex littoralis
Shrub
Suaeda Suaeda veravera
Dec
December
Spergularia marina Spergularia marina
Nov
November
Cochlearia anglica
Oct
October
Triglochin maritima
Sep
September
Annual
Cochlearia anglica
Aug
August
Limonium vulgare
Jul
July
Triglochin maritima
June
Limonium vulgare
Jun
Inula crithmoides
May
Tripolium pannonicum
May
Perennial Tripolium pannonicum
April
Beta vulgaris subsp. Maritima
Apr
Inula crithmoides
March
Beta vulgaris subsp. Maritima
Mar
Atriplex littoralis
February
Artemisia maritima
52
Feb
Artemisia maritima
Suaeda vera
January
Atriplex littoralisShrub
Jan
Suaeda vera
Artemisia maritima Artemisia maritima
Proposed salt marsh nursery
53
Organisation & Implementation 54
Cycling through the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interior
55
Landscape Practice Profile The Landscape practice for this project would preferably be based locally (in the London area) or have a local office to enable for regular site visits and management on-site. If UK based, it would need to be registered with the Landscape Institute and preferably have ISO 9001 certification. Strong design and land management skills will be important, as well as the recognition to work with specialists where these skills are not in house. Imperative will be to work with external specialist in terms of hydrology, ecology, (structural) engineering and quantity surveying. Many of these skills are found in-house with large firms like Arup or AECOM, and these would be logical candidates for taking on this
project. A smaller landscape practice could also work in collaboration with such a firm, as indeed happened at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. From the start, a strong BIM execution plan will be important. Getting it right in design phase is imperative to cost saving on site. A strong model can calculate cut and fill etc. The practice will also need to have a strong project management skills in house. For public engagement, the practice need either a strong PR department or work a qualified external PR firm.
Client
Steering group
LafargeHolcim
Gravesham Borough Council Dartford Borough Council Ebbsfleet Development Corporation Natural England Environment Agency Nature After Minerals RSPB
in partnership with
Kent Wildlife Trust
Finally, LafargeHolcim potentially have a large role to play in terms of construction and providing groundwork equipment. Design and Project Lead Landscape Architect Technical Team Coordinator BIM execution & document control
Structural Engineer
Landscape Contractors
Land Management Consultant
Hydrologist
Ecologist
PR Consultant
Volunteer Coordinator
Quantity Surveyor
Project Organisation Structure
56
Work Stages Advise on planning application is given, and agreement reached on the detailed extent of services provided to the client.
The project will be delivered in line with the Landscape Institute Work Stages A-L44 Preliminary Services:
estimates are provided for implementation in discussion with other consultants. There are continuing discussions with planning authorities leading to a submission of an outline planning application. There will also be discussion with public utility companies and with statutory authorities such as conservation bodies to ensure the design is acceptable.
Standard Services:
Work Stage A: Inception
Work Stage C: Outline Proposals
The client’s requirements are explored in terms of use, time scale and finance. Site visits are done and information about ownership is obtained as well as any legal restrictions regarding access and development. Advice regarding other necessary consultants will be given, as well as on any specialist contractors and suppliers/lead times. Services, terms of engagement and fee payment basis are confirmed in writing with the client at this stage.
Outline proposals are prepared with approximate cost estimate, following cooperation with other consultants, planning authorities and the CDM (Construction, Design and Management) Planning Supervisor.
Work Stage E: Detailed Proposals Salt Marsh Species
Detail proposals are developed in sufficient Brownfield Species detail to gain the client’s approval of the proposed materials, techniques and standards of workmanship. Cost checks are carried out where necessary and advise the Client is advised on the consequences of any changes to the estimated cost and programme. The client’s consent is obtained to proceed and detailed planning applications obtained.
Work Stage D: Sketch Scheme Proposals The designs proposals are developed in sketch form, in discussion with the client and other consultants. Size and character of the project are developed in sufficient detail to enable the client to agree the spatial arrangements, materials and appearance. More detailed cost
Work Stage B: Feasibility The client’s requirements are tested and alternative design solutions are investigated.
Work Stages F and G: Production Information
and Bills of Quantities All production drawings, schedules and specification of materials and workmanship required for the execution of the work are prepared. Bills of quantities are provided and supplied in sufficient detail to enable contracts to be negotiated or competitive tenders to be invited. Work Stages H and J: Tender Action and Contract Preparation A list of suitable tenderers is compiled, who are invited to submit tenders based on the drawings, specifications and schedules and bills of quantity. Contract preparation happens as the tenders are submitted. The client is advised on the responsibilities of the client, the contractor and the Landscape Consultant under the terms of the contract document. Work Stage K: Operations on Site During Construction and 12 Months’ Maintenance Regular site meeting with the contractor and other consultants will be carried out to monitor the work, advise on site queries, and check and certify contractor’s accounts noting any changes to the value of the works and advise the client accordingly.
Creating Scrapes and Creek
Arrival of Pioneer Species
Work Stage L: Completion Grazing of Meadows
Checks are carried out to ensure the works have been completed as specified. General guidance is given regarding activities after completion of contract.
Salt Marsh Nursery
Salt Marsh Planting
Tree Planting
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Years
Timing of key construction and park development activities
57
Legislation, Regulation Health & Safety The steering group represents all organisations responsible for enforcing legislation and regulations, planning permission and nature conservation. They will be heavily involved in the planning process, which is handled by LafargeHolcimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal team with support from the Landscape Practice.
prevention principles, and that the health and safety plan is taken into account when necessary. They will also organise cooperation between employers in matters of health and safety and check that the working procedures are being implemented correctly as well as ensure that no unauthorised persons enter the site.
Although there are no Ramsar/SSSI designations on the site itself, a full ecological review will be to be done to establish protected species and make action plans accordingly.
DCAN 11 is adhered to in terms of access for people with disabilities.47 At least 4% of parking spaces will be reserved specifically for people with disabilities. These will be provided within 50 metres of a point of entry to the park. Parking bays will be 3.6 metres wide and clearly designated and signposted for use by people with disabilities. The pedestrian route from the parking spaces to the park entrance will be clearly defined.
Health and safety will be in line with the Directive 92/57/EEC - temporary or mobile construction sites, and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.45, 46 A safety coordinator will be present at all times to coordinate of health and safety where several firms are present. Before work starts at the site, a health and safety plan is drawn up and prior notice will be given to the competent authorities before work starts. The safety coordinator on the site will ensure that employers and self-employed persons apply the general
58
All pathways will be at least 1.8 metres wide to allow wheelchairs to pass. Path edges will be clearly defined and slip resistant surfaces used. The pathway system will be designed to avoid crossing vehicular routes within the site. Where this is not practicable, â&#x20AC;&#x153;dropped kerbsâ&#x20AC;? and textured surfaces will be used so that the crossing point is suitable for both wheelchair users and people with visual impairments. Disabled toilets will be on site
Bracing walk near the jetty
59
Impression of sea lavender field near the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge, with Tilbury docks in the background.
60
Professional Ethos The Landscape Institute Code of Conduct sets out the responsibilities of the Landscape professional. But being professional is not about just following the rules of a charter; it is also a personal attribute that inspires trust and confidence in others. A professional strives for excellence and acts with integrity. In doing so I believe we must consider the following.
title for a landscape professional. Thinking in plan and elevation are very useful tools for landscape design, but they lack this dimension of time. Time-based drawings should therefore be explored and developed by landscape professionals.
What does the site want to be?
We can’t really know anything without making a model. Whether it be a physical model for determining qualities of scale and proportion, or a digital model simulating site flooding, models allow us to test our ideas and evidence our design decisions, and should be used.
An odd question, maybe, but everything starts with landscape. Asking it ‘what it wants to be’ can bring depth to concept and some humility to design. If we rely just on today’s aesthetics, what we design today will realistically be viewed as ‘dated’ in 25 odd years time. But a thorough understanding of the landscape will ensure our design is at least appropriate and sustainable in the long term. Essence of place Landscape architects work to preserve or enhance the identity and character of places. Understanding the ‘essence of place’ is imperative to ensure the design is relevant to the place, and future generations will continue to use the site. The role of time A building is a clear end point of a design process, with the role of the architect complete. As a product, the building will not further develop, but instead gradually decay until it inevitably ceases to exist. Landscape however, doesn’t have such an end point. It is a process more than a product, and needs to be understood and designed for as it changes with seasons and time. In a way this makes the landscape profession a fundamentally different discipline from architecture. Indeed, it could be argued that ‘architect’ may not be the best
Model making
Wayfinding When the experience of the user is ignored, desire lines will form, defying the lines we drew simply because they looked good on a plan drawing. To use the experience of the user as a starting point, and ‘taking our pencil for a walk’ as it were, we start with how people navigate the topography and interact with views and attractions. This puts the human experience before drawing aesthetics, and enhances the appropriateness of our design. Maintenance as design principle With ever increasing pressures on public spending, public spaces will need to find new ways of maintaining themselves, often with supplementing income from private funding and support from the community. Good design considers this early in the process, enabling low impact maintenance and community involvement. Of course, some privately funded projects may not have a financial issue but even then, considering low impact maintenance will benefit the environment, and should therefore always be considered.
Code of Conduct48 The Landscape Institute requires its members to: 1. Have regard to the interests of those who may be reasonably expected to use or enjoy the products of their work. 2. Uphold the reputation and dignity of their profession and their professional organisation. 3. Actively and positively promote the standards set out in this Code of Conduct. 4. Actively and positively promote and further the aims and objectives of The Landscape Institute, as set down in its Charter, and to contribute to the work and activities of the Institute. 5. Act at all times with integrity and avoid any action or situations which are inconsistent with their professional obligations. 6. Only undertake professional work for which they are able to provide proper professional and technical competence, and resources.
7. Maintain their professional competence in areas relevant to their professional work and to provide educational and training support to less experienced members or students of the profession over whom they have a professional or employment responsibility. 8. Organise and manage their professional work responsibly with integrity and with regard to the interests of their clients. 9. Carry out their professional work with care, conscientiously and with proper regard to relevant technical and professional standards. 10. Only promote their professional services in a truthful and responsible manner and such promotion shall not be an attempt to subvert professional work from another member. 11. Ensure that their personal and professional finances are managed prudently and to preserve the security of monies entrusted to their care in the course of practice or business. 12. Have adequate and appropriate Professional Indemnity Insurance. 13. Promptly and appropriately deal with any complaints concerning the professional work of individual members or their practice
61
Endnotes 1. Environment Agency, Thames Estuary 2100 Plan (London: Environment Agency, 2012), p. 25 2. Peter Neal, Rethinking Parks. Exploring New Business Models for Parks in the 21st Century (London: Nesta, 2013) 3. LafargeHolcim, LafargeHolcim at a glance, <http://www. lafargeholcim.com/lafargeholcim-at-a-glance> [Accessed 15 May 2017] 4. Kent Wildlife Trust, About us, <http://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/whoweare> [Accessed 15 May 2017] 5. Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, About us, <http:// ebbsfleetdc.org.uk/about-us/> [Accessed 15 May 2017] 6. Natural England, About us, <https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england/about> [Accessed 15 May 2017] 7. Environment Agency, What we do, <https://www.gov.uk/ government/organisations/environment-agency> [Accessed 15 May 2017] 8. Nature After Minerals, About us, <http://www.afterminerals.com/about-us/> [Accessed 15 May 2017] 9. RSPB, About the RSPB, <https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/aboutthe-rspb/> [Accessed 15 May 2017] 10. Buglife, About us, <https://www.buglife.org.uk/about-us> [Accessed 15 May 2017] 11. Port of London Authority, About us, <http://www.pla. co.uk/About-Us/About-Us> [Accessed 15 May 2017] 12. Southeastern Railways, About us, <https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/about-us> [Accessed 15 May 2017] 13. Arriva, Introducing Fastrack, <https://www.arrivabus. co.uk/fastrack/?tax=112731> [Accessed 15 May 2017] 14. Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Welcome to your chamber, <http://www.kentinvictachamber.co.uk/> [Accessed 15 May 2017] 15. Natural England, National Area Character Profile: 81. Greater Thames Estuary (London: Natural England, 2013), p. 3 16. Environment Agency (2012) 17. Natural England (2013) 18. Environment Agency (2012), p.6 19. Environment Agency (2012), p.30 20. Jacobs Engineering UK, Gravesham Landscape Character Assessment (2009), p.21 21. SkyscraperPage, Drawings of 380kV Thames Powerline Crossing, <http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?buildingID=61328> [Accessed 23 May 2017] 22. Swanscombe Heritage Park, Interpretation, <http:// www.swanscombeheritagepark.co.uk/interpretation.htm> [Accessed 21 May 2017] 23. English Towns, Swanscombe and Greenhithe, <http:// www.englishtowns.net/swanscombe-and-greenhithe/> [Accessed 21 May 2017] 24. Idem. 25. Idem. 26. Idem. 27. Idem.
62
28. Idem. 29. Idem. 30. BBC News, New station means Eurostar change (2006), <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/5337586.stm> [Accessed 23 May 2017] 31. London Resort Company Holdings, Welcome to London Paramount, http://www.londonparamount.info/ [Accessed 23 May 2017] 32. Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, Ebbsfleet Implementation Framework (Northfleet: Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, 2016) 33. LafargeHolcim, The 2030 Plan. The LafargeHolcim Sustainability Strategy, (Jona: LafargeHolcim Ltd, 2015) p.2 34. Thames Gateway Local Nature Partnership, Improving nature in the Greater Thames, (London: Thames Gateway Local Nature Partnership, 2017) p.8 35. Idem, p. 9 36. Joint Defra / Environment Agency Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management R&D Programme, Saltmarsh management manual, (Bristol: Environment Agency, 2007), p105 37. Malcolm Emery, Promoting Nature in Cities and Towns: A Practical Guide, (London: Croom Helm, 1986) pp. 280-283 38. Buglife, Distinguished jumping spider, <https://www.buglife.org.uk/bugs-and-habitats/distinguished-jumping-spider> [Accessed 23 May 2017] 39. This approach was inspired by Tim Ingold’s chapter Up, Across and Along from his book Lines: A Brief History, (London: Routledge 2007) 40. Appleyard, Donald, Kevin Lynch and John R. Myer, The View from the Road, (Cambridge, The MIT Press, 1965) 41. Dylan Moore, Chalk in Thames Estuary cement manufacture (2014), <http://www.cementkilns.co.uk/thames_chalk. html> [Accessed 23 May 2017] 42. Peter Neal (2013), p.5-8 43. Idem, p.24 44. Landscape Institute, The Landscape Consultant’s Appointment, <https://www.landscapeinstitute.org/PDF/Contribute/ LCA.pdf> [Accessed 17 May 2017] 45. European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, Directive 92/57/EEC - temporary or mobile construction sites, <https:// osha.europa.eu/en/legislation/directives/15> [Accessed 17 May 2015] 46. Health and Safety Executive, Managing health and safety in construction. Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, (Norwich: Health and Safety Executive, 2015) 47.The Planning Service, Development Control Advice Note 11. Access for People with Disabilities <https://www.planningni.gov.uk/index/policy/planning_statements_and_supplementary_planning_guidance/dcans/dcan11-disabled-access.pdf> [Accessed 17 May 2017] 48. Landscape Institute, The Landscape Institute Code of Standards of Conduct and Practice for Landscape Professionals (London: Landscape Institute, 2012)
Image Credits Image Credits: All images are by Stefan Tebbenhoff, except for pp. 12-13: Company logos p.14: LafargeHalcim 2030 Plan artwork pp. 21-23: Satellite images by Google Earth
Acknowledgments Pat Brown – Kingston University London/Landscape Interface Studio Ruth Olden – Kingston University London Vladimir Guculak – Bradley-Hole Schoenaich Landscape Helen Neve – Land Management Services Christoph Lueder – Kingston University London Dimitris Grozopoulos – Kingston University London Fenella Griffin – Untitled Practice Richard Woolf – McDaniel Woolf Architects Ales Seitl – Jonathan Cook Landscape Architects