MALLARDS Buckler's Hard, Hampshire

MALLARDS Buckler’s Hard, Hampshire

DESIGN & ACCESS STATEMENT

Landscape

MALLARDS, BEAULIEU RIVER, HAMPSHIRE COAST Landscape

CONTENTS 6.11 Enrichment of biodiversity ...... 8 6.12 Long-term strategy for maintenance and management ...... 8 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 1 7.0 CONCLUSION ...... 8 1.1 Introduction ...... 1

1.2 Summary ...... 1 2.0 LOCATION ...... 2

3.0 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ...... 2 3.1 Regional context ...... 2 3.2 Local context ...... 2

3.3 Geology and soils, hydrology ...... 3 3.4 Biodiversity ...... 3 3.5 Climate ...... 3 3.6 Landscape Structure ...... 3 4.0 SITE ANALYSIS ...... 4 4.1 General character ...... 4 4.2 Area and dimensions ...... 4 4.3 Topographical analysis ...... 4 4.4 Access ...... 4 4.5 Vegetation analysis ...... 4 4.6 Visual Analysis ...... 5 4.7 Site opportunities ...... 5 5.0 DEVELOPMENT RATIONALE ...... 6 5.1 Brief ...... 6 5.2 Current state of site ...... 6 5.3 Local Authority and Statutory Body involvement ...... 6 5.4 Design Generators ...... 6 5.5 Ecology ...... 6 6.0 LANDSCAPING ...... 7 6.1 Key objectives...... 7 6.2 Character of place and its enhancement...... 7 6.3 Fit with surroundings...... 7 6.4 Relationship between buildings and spaces...... 7 6.5 Rationale for aspect, access, relation to levels, existing buildings, infrastructure...... 7 6.6 Relationship to natural features, vegetation...... 7 6.7 Relationship to indoor spaces...... 7 6.8 Relationship to infrastructure...... 7 6.9 Materials ...... 8 6.10 Lighting ...... 8

0 Balston Agius, Long Barn, Manor Farm Lane, Patney, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 3RB 01380 848181 [email protected] www.balstonagius.co.uk

MALLARDS, BEAULIEU RIVER, HAMPSHIRE COAST Landscape

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 Introduction

Located on the west bank of the Beaulieu River flowing through the New Forest to the Solent, Mallards is a wonderful 17.5 acre tree-clad site with huge ecological and horticultural potential. The proposed classical house, which replaces an existing building, has great distinction. Together, house and site will make a huge architectural, ecological and horticultural contribution to the area.

1.2 Summary

The New Forest is an exceptionally important natural environment. The southern area has a complex but young geology which is low-lying and cut by several small rivers flowing into the Solent. These are tidal at their seaward end supporting a rich and diverse ecology which are designated part of the North Solent SSSI. It has a generally mild climate.

Access to Mallards is via Bucklers Hard Road and Plover Drive to the north-west. The site is approximately rectangular and has a slight slope from west down to the river at the east. Once an oak wood it is now greatly diversified with 19th and 20th century introductions. There is a moderately full tree canopy with a strong underplanting of evergreen shrubs including an abundance of Rhododendron ponticum which should be removed. Dominated by trees and shrubs, views into the site are not really achievable, either from Plovers Drive, or from the Beaulieu River.

Apart from the reorganization of the building fabric, there is a necessity for the inventive management of the abundant water flowing through the site to encourage and enrich the potential wildlife. There is also a major opportunity to promote the native woodland as well as develop an exciting horticulture. The brief develops these ideas to create a coherent strategy for planning, construction, planting and management.

Landscaping proposals will create a suitable setting for the replacement building, the Walled Garden and the Service buildings within the context of the existing topography, hydrology and vegetation. The existing woodland will largely be retained and properly managed. The character of the place will be enhanced and buildings will be located to fit well together and with surrounding properties, trees, woodland and water. Spaces are carefully considered and will be a prime generator with a close fit between internal and external areas. Materials will be high quality and commensurate with the buildings. Plants will be the best specimens available and will be widely sourced.

Figure 1 - Semi-natural planting at Exbury Gardens

1 Balston Agius, Long Barn, Manor Farm Lane, Patney, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 3RB 01380 848181 [email protected] www.balstonagius.co.uk

MALLARDS, BEAULIEU RIVER, HAMPSHIRE COAST Landscape

2.0 LOCATION 3.0 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT 3.1 Regional context

The New Forest is one of the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in Southern England, covering southwest Hampshire and southeast Wiltshire. It is a 29,000 hectare (71,474- acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest. Several areas are Geological Conservation Review and Nature Conservation Review sites. It is a Special Area of Conservation, a Ramsar site and a Special Protection Area.

The site is located in the south-western part of Hampshire, west of Southampton Water. Its Grid Reference is 50°47'50.0"N 1°24'55.9"W. The address and postcode is Mallards, Plover Drive, SO42 7XD. It is about 500m south-east of Bucklers Hard and 900m west of Exbury Gardens across the Beaulieu River. It is 11km south of Southampton across Southampton Water, 11km north-east of Lymington and 7.5 km from the nearest part of the Isle of Wight. The New Forest National Park lies largely to the west and north-west.

3.2 Local context

The Beaulieu River is a small river draining part of the central New Forest area. It rises near Lyndhurst in a basin of many very small streams. They coalesce into the flow southeast and then south across the forest heaths to the village of Beaulieu. There the river becomes tidal and continues to flow south-east through the Forest, passing the hamlet of Bucklers Hard and entering the Solent at Needs Ore. For its final kilometre, it is separated from The Solent by a raised salt marsh known as Gull Island.

2 Balston Agius, Long Barn, Manor Farm Lane, Patney, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 3RB 01380 848181 [email protected] www.balstonagius.co.uk

MALLARDS, BEAULIEU RIVER, HAMPSHIRE COAST Landscape

Below Beaulieu village the river is navigable to small craft. Bucklers Hard was once a significant shipbuilding 3.5 Climate centre, building many types of wooden sailing ships. Since 2000 the navigable channel at the entrance to the river has been marked by a lighthouse known as the Millennium Lighthouse or the Beaulieu River Beacon. Hampshire has a milder climate than most areas of the British Isles, being in the far south with the climate stabilising effect of the sea but protected against the more extreme weather of the Atlantic coast. Hampshire 3.3 Geology and soils, hydrology has a higher average annual temperature than the UK average at 9.8 to 12 °C (49.6 to 53.6 °F),[58] average rainfall at 640–1,060 millimetres (25–42 in) per year, and holds higher than average sunshine totals of around This coastal landscape is underlain by comparatively young tertiary rocks of the Becton and Osbourne beds 1,750 hours of sunshine per year. Average precipitation of 700mm annually (27.5”) in the Solent with average which stretch well into the New Forest. The Barton clays here are a yellow sandy colour (used as the maximum temperature annually of 14.5 ⁰C (58.0⁰F), The highest monthly temperatures are 21.4⁰C in July and traditional local brick material). The whole area is overlain by marine terrace gravels from the Pleistocene. August (70.5⁰F). The low annual average is 8.2⁰C (46.8⁰F) with the lowest monthly average of 2.8⁰C (37.0⁰F) Overlying this are well drained fine loamy acid soils. The coastal plain landscape is cut by several rivers in February. creating a gently undulating topography, generally less than 30m AOD and mostly below 10m AOD. One of these, the Beaulieu river, is a well-wooded 9km tidal estuary which is comparatively shallow varying from 1 to The prevailing wind is from the South West. However, the site is well protected by the rising ground to the 8m. South and the West. It can catch cold north-easterly winds in the spring but the buffer of woodland along the river ensures that the house and garden enjoy a benign climate.

Figure 5 - Intertidal flats

Figure 4 - Geology of the Beaulieu River (Contains British Geological Survey Materials © UKRI 2020 3.6 Landscape Structure http://www.largeimages.bgs.ac.uk/iip/mapsportal.html?id=1001819) The generic landscape in this part of the county has been transformed over the centuries with large-scale 3.4 Biodiversity parliamentary reorganisation which created the Coastal Plain Estates. These are characterised by large, intensively farmed arable fields, although late medieval wavy fields remain in places. However, the ancient Parts of the Beaulieu River area are internationally designated with the Solent Maritime SAC. These structure is much diluted with loss of hedgerows and introduction of commercial coniferous woodlands. But associated sites of coast and estuaries are important for their populations of overwintering and migratory the presence of strong, hedged field patterns in places, along with pre-1810 blocks of woodland, residual areas wildfowl and wading birds, and of national importance for their populations of breeding gulls, terns and of common land, traditional buff brick settlements, parkland estates and historic salterns acting as reminders waders. These coastal areas, and also the parallel river estuaries, are also designated as The North Solent SSSI of the landscape’s historic development and links to the New Forest. The area’s intimate river valleys and and NNR. This SSSI has a remarkable diversity of habitat ranging from coastal mudflats and saltmarshes to large expanses of coastal habitats within the Coastal Fringe landscape type, contribute to this landscape’s sense valley mire, heathland and a range of ancient semi-natural woodlands as well as equally rich and diverse insect of place. More locally, the development of large properties south of Bucklers Hard has created a somewhat fauna. The SSSI lies east from the property boundary. suburban feel with large houses and domesticated gardens. These have eaten strongly into what remained of the riverside woodland creating a landscape quite alien to its historic roots.

3 Balston Agius, Long Barn, Manor Farm Lane, Patney, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 3RB 01380 848181 [email protected] www.balstonagius.co.uk

MALLARDS, BEAULIEU RIVER, HAMPSHIRE COAST Landscape

4.0 SITE ANALYSIS 4.1 General character

The site lies on the west bank of the River Beaulieu on gently rising ground. There are abundant trees, the area at one time having been well wooded. It is open on the river side, overlooking intertidal muds and saltmarsh. The area supports an ecologically rich diversity of habitats ranging from salt marsh to woodland.

Figure 7 - Remains of former woodland

4.5 Vegetation analysis

In the nineteenth century the site was within Clobb Wood which extended from Salternshill to Bucklers Hard. The predominant tree cover would have been oak with small patches of beech and ash on drier ground. In some areas there would have been understorey stands of holly and possibly incursions of birch and small quantities of Scot’s Pine at better insolated margins. But with the Inclosures, and a trend towards Figure 6 - Site and river coniferous planting in the mid nineteenth century, Scot’s and other pines became more widespread along with Spruce and they may have been planted here. Also, exotics such as Pinus radiata was extensively planted, of 4.2 Area and dimensions which many examples survive at Mallards. These were not generally available until the late 19th century. There is now a relatively well-established stock of mixed trees, including a large number of non-native The site is approximately rectangular and about 350m across on the east-west axis, and 240m on the north- conifers, containing a good age spread. south axis. The total site area is 70,690 sq m or 17.5 acres.

Loamy soils with naturally high ground water. A comprehensive Tree Survey has been carried out by Barrell Tree Consultancy outlining species currently 4.3 Topographical analysis on site and their condition. This is summarised in the Report 19248-AA-DC - Arboricultural assessment and method statement - 8th December 2020 and the accompanying plan 19248-BT2 - Tree Protection Plan. There is a marked slope from west to east which is slightly undulating where there are, or have been, water flows. The highest ground to the west lies at 16m AOD while the river edge at the east is 2m AOD. The tree cover has a strong understorey, particularly of rhododendrons, many of which appear to be R ponticum or R ponticum hybrids. These have spread vigorously and have greatly changed the character of the 4.4 Access wood. Not only is it an invasive weed, but also it is a key host of the pathogen Phytophera ramorum, which is highly damaging to many plants. It is known to infect up to 150 species of trees and shrubs in the UK. A The site is approached from the west via Buckler’s Hard Road and Plover Road. To the east is the Beaulieu careful survey of the shrub layer, in particular, is needed to establish whether Phytophera is present, how River which flows approximately north-south. There is a private jetty so that access is available by boat. much of the rhododendron is ponticum or allied and how to establish a control programme.

The herbaceous layer is generally limited, although there is a strong belt of grass along the edge of the river (possibly Spartina maritima). Among the trees further into the garden are large patches of bracken.

4 Balston Agius, Long Barn, Manor Farm Lane, Patney, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 3RB 01380 848181 [email protected] www.balstonagius.co.uk

MALLARDS, BEAULIEU RIVER, HAMPSHIRE COAST Landscape

4.6 Visual Analysis

The site is still dominated by its woodland character, even though the tree content has become markedly exotic. In consequence the views are limited, being short internal views. However, there are 2 key long views over the water. The easterly view from the existing house area looks over the water towards Exbury. However, it is constrained by the trees to being a narrow slot, so it is not possible to see much detail down the view. The second important long view is to the south east from the house towards the dock. Views into the site are almost impossible. Privacy from the river side is not an issue as the site is well screened by existing trees. It is also reasonably well insulated from sites to the north and south. Therefore, any changes to the built form over the site will have no visual impact on surrounding properties or access.

Figure 8 - View from river

4.7 Site opportunities

Beyond the reorganization of the building fabric, the biggest opportunities concern management for a rich and varied ecology and the creation of a woodland garden that harmonizes with what remains of the oak pasture. As part of the management, the control of surface run-off is important, and this creates an opportunity for more open bodies of water that will help diversify the insect life and birds.

Figure 9 - Enrichment of ecology Figure 10 - The Exbury axis from the river

5 Balston Agius, Long Barn, Manor Farm Lane, Patney, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 3RB 01380 848181 [email protected] www.balstonagius.co.uk

MALLARDS, BEAULIEU RIVER, HAMPSHIRE COAST Landscape

5.0 DEVELOPMENT RATIONALE 5.3 Local Authority and Statutory Body involvement

5.1 Brief Comments at Pre-App did not cover landscape issues. However, since the Pre-App a TPO has been imposed on the overall site and subsequently trees to be removed agreed with the Tree Officer following his site visit The brief follows broad principles as set out below: on 7th October 2020. This will lead to a modified Tree Preservation Order agreed with the arboriculturist • Design of hardworks should be functionally appropriate for the new building. Barrell Tree Consultancy and it will form part of their Tree and Woodland Management Plan. • The design should create a suitable setting for the new building providing terraces, and recreation areas similar to the old. 5.4 Design Generators • The kitchen garden should be upgraded from a partly hedged garden to a walled garden. • Full gardening support facilities, including sheds and storage areas for gardening operations should The principal design generator is the new House and pavilion which is broadly sited on the footprint of the be provided. former house. However, it is adjusted to take advantage of the narrow view through the woods and across the • The management of existing woodland should be improved. river towards Exbury. Equally important in the western part of the site is the reorganization of the Machinery store and Cottage, together with the creation of the Walled Garden. Within the gardens themselves, there are • More varied horticulture in domestic areas should be introduced. some key views and a good network of paths which can guide spaces and planting. Also there is an abundant • Planting to support wildlife should be introduced. supply of water in springs and ditches which can be coaxed into a chain of ponds to increase biodiversity. 5.2 Current state of site

The areas around the existing house are adequately maintained in the sense of mowing the grass and picking up leaves and so on. There is a small-scale kitchen garden operation. However, in the more domestic areas, works to trees and shrubs are limited. Maintenance to the woodland areas are less successfully addressed, with trees in need of removal or pruning, and many shrubs out-growing their space. It appears that there is extensive Rhododendron ponticum or ponticum hybrids that need removal. Water throughout the site is complicated, with areas of poor drainage and a network of ditches that do not drain the ground all that well. Consequently, there is marked die-back on several trees and widespread colonization of the garden by damp- loving plants.

Figure 12 - Relation to river

5.5 Ecology

The ecology of the site is already rich, but it has further potential. The ecological status, safeguards and improvements are outlined in the Tyler Grange report, dated 15th December 2020

Figure 11 - Abundant ground water and poor drainage

6 Balston Agius, Long Barn, Manor Farm Lane, Patney, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 3RB 01380 848181 [email protected] www.balstonagius.co.uk

MALLARDS, BEAULIEU RIVER, HAMPSHIRE COAST Landscape

6.0 LANDSCAPING tennis court next to the house which can be rationalised in the new layout. The house and pavilion are also slightly drawn away from the north boundary to give space for existing and future trees in that area. 6.1 Key objectives. The layout of the service buildings and cottage is currently an ad hoc accumulation which is rationalised in the Landscaping proposals will ensure that spaces round the building are manipulated to create an adequate proposals. The new hexagonally planned walled garden occupies much of the same space as the existing setting for the replacement building, the Walled Garden and the Service buildings. This will be done within kitchen garden but is articulated to fit with the service buildings and important existing trees. the context of the existing topography, hydrology and vegetation. The existing woodland will largely be retained and properly managed. There will be ornamental horticulture in the vicinity of the buildings and the 6.4 Relationship between buildings and spaces. introduction of ornamental understorey planting within spaces closer to the buildings. There will be native understorey planting to suit the prevailing ecosystem within the woodland character areas. The setting of the replacement House is of great importance. The proposed high-quality classical building needs space to breathe, particularly to the south. However, it is intended to retain as much of the existing tree canopy as possible so as to retain the wooded character and to restrict ecological disturbance. The woodland to east and west remains largely untouched as does that within the southern sector of the site. The setting of the Cottage and Machinery store is designed to fit with the geometry of the Walled Garden. Outdoor spaces, generally, are designed to provide a variety of scale and to capitalise on views and axes.

6.5 Rationale for aspect, access, relation to levels, existing buildings, infrastructure.

The aspect and orientation of the replacement house and pavilion is largely determined by the Exbury Axis mentioned above. Views through the woodland and across the water are contrived both from the House and the Arrival Court through the pavilion link. The slightly converging axes of these elements gives rise to an interesting geometry expressed in the external works.

The Walled Garden, Machinery Store and Staff Cottage are all linked by a hexagonal geometry and walls and hedges. The Walled Garden is set out from a small existing pool which picks up drainage from the existing service buildings. The pool determines its orientation, while existing trees and a convenient hexagonal grid determine location and dimensions.

6.6 Relationship to natural features, vegetation.

The new buildings disturb the existing site as little as possible in order to maintain the mature character and stable ecology. However, a small number of trees will need to be felled in the demolition zones, and this has been cleared with the Tree Officer.

6.7 Relationship to indoor spaces.

Throughout the ground floor there is easy access from the interior to the exterior. Terraces with sitting spaces Figure 13 - Development of a varied horticulture are organized along the south front and the east and west ends. Similarly, spaces are closely associated with the Pavilion. The arrival court gives easy access into the House and also into the pavilion. From there, it is 6.2 Character of place and its enhancement. also possible to see right through the building towards the Exbury Axis to the east.

The site is dominated by its woodland and its proximity to the Beaulieu River. Topographically, there is a 6.8 Relationship to infrastructure. gentle tilt towards the river that is alive with springs and running ditches. The water runs into the intertidal mudflats along the river’s edge, which is laced with random rivulets. Spartina (Cordgrass) appears to be the In the proposals, the drive remains in its current position. There is, however, a reconfiguration of the arrival predominant vegetation. court to give access to the front door, the pavilion and the parking on the north side of the pavilion. The Within the site, there is now a relatively well-established stock of mixed trees, containing a good age spread. It northern end of the drive is aligned as closely as possible with the old drive to minimise damage to trees. At is intended to retain the feel and the ecology but manage it so that the biodiversity is richer. This should the Western end close to the entrance a branch swings off to the South to give access to the service area and include more open water, removal of invasive shrub species, new tree and shrub planting and general cottage. Again, this can be done with minimal impact on trees. This part of the drive passes through the enrichment of the under-storey layer. service yard and gives access to the garden service area and the southern part of the garden. It also loops back to the south to reach the machinery store. The drives will also be the principal location of ducts carrying 6.3 Fit with surroundings. services.

Occupying the approximate footprint of existing buildings, the relationship with the surrounding gardens and neighbouring properties is relatively straightforward. There are issues such as the illogical layout of the existing

7 Balston Agius, Long Barn, Manor Farm Lane, Patney, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 3RB 01380 848181 [email protected] www.balstonagius.co.uk

MALLARDS, BEAULIEU RIVER, HAMPSHIRE COAST Landscape

6.9 Materials

Stone terraces are planned round the house and pavilion. The swimming pool and gym terrace also will generally be paved in stone. A combination of gravel and stone setts will be used in the Arrival Court and gravel in the north parking area. The drive will be finished with gravel but with additional steel edges. The service yard area and Walled garden will generally be paved with bound gravel or macadam.

6.10 Lighting

In principle, night-time artificial lighting will be used with discretion and focused on task lighting to facilitate safe access. Care will be taken to ensure that it does not cause annoyance to neighbours, or be harmful to wildlife, or to prevent enjoyment of the night sky. There will, however, be adequate lighting for safe passage around the site, particularly where there are roads, paths and steps.

6.11 Protection and Enrichment of biodiversity

The interesting bat population is covered in Tyler Grange’s report, together with steps being taken to mitigate potential loss of existing habitat. This entails the creation of suitable spaces within new structures. There are no other protected species known to be at large on site. The ecology of the mature trees supports significant insect and bird life. With the good flow of water across the site, there is an opportunity to enrich the ecology even more, particularly with the opening up of pools on the ditches and the creation of damp places. New bodies of water will have diverse marginal planting to further encourage insect and bird life. In open areas, close mown lawns will be limited and longer grass with bulbs and grass-tolerant flowers will be encouraged. Figure 14 - Enrichment of biodiversity

6.12 Long-term strategy for maintenance and management

The management of the gardens will depend upon a clear understanding of their purpose and ecology. Key 7.0 CONCLUSION elements in a coordinated management and maintenance strategy start with a well thought through gardens The site at Mallards is extraordinary. Although there are challenges due to the hydrology, it is beautifully wooded and operations headquarters with adequate storage for machinery and tools as well as bulk materials. In addition, well sheltered. The proposed new building is of the highest quality and, together with an imaginative and sensitive there needs to be good propagation facilities. From the centre, a good network of tracks is required to give approach to the site, an exceptional place could be created. However, while the assets are considerable, careful access throughout the site allowing tree maintenance, possibly dredging and other large-scale operations to management is required to make the best of them. There is clearly a determination to pursue the highest quality of take place. Such tracks are partly in place. design and execution which will be reflected in the best materials and well-sourced plants. The scheme has every possibility of becoming a major asset on the West Bank of the Beaulieu River and we commend its adoption. 6.13 Tree protection

The existing tree cover is fundamental to the character of the place. It is therefore, important that trees are protected from mechanical or systemic damage during the construction period. Provisions for protection are set out in the Barrell Tree Consultancy Report SGN Manual - V2.1 Planning Portal - SGN Manual - V2.1 Planning Portal.

8 Balston Agius, Long Barn, Manor Farm Lane, Patney, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 3RB 01380 848181 [email protected] www.balstonagius.co.uk