As part of a series of articles showcasing examples of projects that The Design Review Panel has reviewed, we are pleased to share details of a planning approval for up to 550 dwellings, a 62-bed care home, allotments, play areas, community car park, public open space and over 16 hectares of suitable alternative natural greenspace (SANG) which was approved by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council’s Planning Committee earlier this year. The applicant was Richborough Estates, and the design team and planning agents were Savills.
In total the site is circa 45 hectares. It adjoins existing development to the south and is bounded by the river Stour to the north. At the eastern end of the site is the Canford Magna Conservation Area and the Grade 1 Canford School (formerly Canford Manor House), with its former carriage drive bisecting the site. To the west is the further Conservation Area of Oakley Lane and a mix of residential and some commercial buildings.
There are several listed buildings within the vicinity of the site including some Lady Wimborne Cottages, a style associated with the former Canford Manor. There are various Tree Preservation Orders within the site boundary and part of the SANG area is within the floodplain.
The Illustrative Masterplan proposes varied densities, building patterns and street designs to create four distinct character areas, each inspired by the sites surroundings and local Dorset vernacular. Extensive work was undertaken to ensure the layout and design of new green space integrated existing landscape features and characterised areas of the development, providing enduring buffers to the adjoining Conservation Areas and carriage drive.
Richborough Estates and Savills engaged with The Design Review Panel as a key part of the early pre-application design discussions. During the summer of 2018 the design team and local authority met with The Design Review Panel to undertake a site visit and place making review of the masterplan. Alternative layout approaches were considered to key parts of the site. In particular the review considered the best layout for the interface with Canford Magna conservation area. This resulted in the estate cottage approach to the four eastern ends of the proposal. The Design Review Panel session also considered how the streets leading to the Carriage Drive, could be articulated. In the western part of the site, options for the arrangement of streets and blocks around a central green space as well as the definition of linkages to Cruxton Farm were reviewed.
Chris Odgers from Savills Urban Design said:
“The design review panel’s site visit and subsequent discussion were instrumental in providing re-assurance to both officers and members that the emerging scheme was an appropriate response to a sensitive site.”
The Design Review Panel welcomed the early engagement, the logical and well considered approach to design and the benefits the site visit delivered to the process. The DRP considered the site presented a great opportunity and, subject to further design consideration, felt the proposals would provide a well design place that was of a high design standard.
The Case Officers Planning Committee Report states:
“Policy PP27 Design sets out the overarching design framework and requires all development to be of a good standard of design … In response to the Policy requirements, the applicant undertook community engagement to inform the planning application, presented proposals to the predecessor Council’s Member Engagement Forum and undertook pre-application advice with the Council. The applicant also took part in an independent design review as encouraged by Local Plan Policy PP27 Design (3), the outcome of which helped to shape the submission.”
Richborough Chief Executive, Paul Campbell, said:
“We are delighted to have secured resolution on this former Green Belt site. We and our consultant team have worked extremely hard from the initial identification of the site, achieving its Local Plan allocation for residential development. Cala are a fantastic development partner who pride themselves on delivering new homes of the highest quality, and we look forward to Reserved Matters being submitted this summer and seeing the much-needed delivery of family and affordable homes”.
Full details for the planning application can be seen on the local authority website by clicking here ...
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