4.36: White City Green: Indicative Masterplan Including Wood Lane
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White City Opportunity Area Planning Framework Chapter 4 urban design strategy Mayor of London 71 ChapterChapter 0404 Pedestrian & cycle bridge Strategic pedestrian link Pedestrian route Improved existing roads Pedestrian areas Public Park Opening up railway arches Strategic green link Pedestrian crossing Figure 4.35: Precedents for the proposed White City Green Figure: 4.36: White City Green: indicative masterplan including (Source 3D model:Z Mapping) Wood Lane station and Central Line crossing 72 White City Opportunity Area Planning Framework areas, toilet facilities and space for performances Design objective: Local Open Spaces, public or temporary events such as film screenings realm and inclusive environments and specialty market space. Opportunities to incorporate public art and create a setting for hierarchy of quality public and private spaces temporary cultural events, tying in with local comprising formal parks, allotments, urban squares, creative industries could also be pursued. communal open space, private open space and 4.68 The design of the Green must adopt wilderness corridors. These will allow for a range the principles of inclusive design effectively from of recreational and leisure opportunities which will the outset, making spaces accessible, easy and benefit the health and wellbeing of the community. convenient to use for all groups of people, with 4.26 Large scale residential, mixed use and particular attention to thinking about the needs of employment developments will be expected to disabled persons or older people. consider how their proposals can contribute to 4.69 Consideration must be given to the the provision of strategic open space to serve the function that this space would provide late at needs of the wider area, particularly the provision night, with detailed lighting, other secure by design of White City Green. techniques and management arrangements to 4.27 These will need to include formal and ensure security and safety for all users. informal play facilities and space for informal 4.70 The Green would also perform an ball games for various age groups that are easily important contribution to the wider sustainable accessible to families. drainage objectives for the OA, with opportunities 4.28 The creation of successful lifetime to provide SUDS within areas of soft landscaping. neighbourhoods and high quality public realm 4.71 The area along the West London Line should be the objective for all developments. embankment should incorporate more dense Open spaces should integrate features to ensure vegetation appropriate to its designation as a they are welcoming for people who may otherwise SINC (site of importance for nature conservation), be excluded or feel less comfortable using the providing a part of the corridor of green space that space. Spaces should be clearly defined as private would run alongside the West London Line railway or shared amenity space and smaller areas of to encourage biodiversity but also provide a barrier open space will enhance local character and between the open space and the West Cross Route. distinctiveness. Hammersmith and City Line viaduct arches Ecology coridor 4.72 The railway viaduct arches that sit centrally 4.30 The embankment of the West London in the Green will need to be partially opened up Line should provide for an ecological corridor, to to provide for multiple north-south openings encourage further biodiversity in the area and allow between the two sections of open space, with some movement to and from the Nature Conservation could be used as cafes and or other activities that Area which is designated along the embankment could be integrated with the Green. Areas of hard to the north of the site at Imperial College. The landscaping to provide a high quality setting for site has been designated a green corridor in the uses such as local cafes, restaurants, shops and Core Strategy and is a SINC (Site of Importance community spaces that integrate well with the open for Nature Conservation) in the London Plan. space. Denser vegetation along this railway line would also provide benefits by providing a barrier from the 4.25 Local open spaces are essential to busy train line and the noise and pollutants coming enhancing local character and distinctiveness. from the West Cross Route. The richness of the area will be enhanced by a White City Opportunity Area Planning Framework Chapter 4 urban design strategy Mayor of London 73 ChapterChapter 0404 Figure 4.38: The scale of White City Green is similar to that of Brook Green Aprox. 75m x 300m & 40m x 200m Figure 4.39: The eastern end of White City Green, looking towards RBK&C (Source 3D model:Z Mapping) Figure 4.40: White City Green from Wood Lane looking to the east (Source 3D model:Z Mapping) 74 White City Opportunity Area Planning Framework 2. Maximising connectivity and promoting a healthy lifestyle by reducing traffic congestion which in turn helps reduce CO2 Design objective: Improved Routes and emissions, air quality, noise and dust. Connections 4.37 New development is expected to achieve Improved routes and connections are needed the highest standards of accessible and inclusive within the OA; and between it and the design. Development must adhere to the principles surrounding area to overcome major transport of lifetime neighbourhoods: places where people infrastructure and large impermeable throughout their lifetime have access to a range development sites. The OA must deliver: of services, infrastructure and facilities- all easily reachable by foot, wheelchair, mobility scooter, bike East-west connections under and over major and public transport. transport infrastructure between White City East, Wood Lane and RBKC; and 4.38 TfL and Network Rail own or control areas which are essential to achieving many of these North-south connections from the town improved connections, including the Hammersmith centre through as far north as the Imperial and City Line viaduct, the Central Line cutting, the College Development north of the Westway. Westway and the embankment to the West London Line. They must be engaged as key partners in 4.34 The Core Strategy policy for White City masterplanning and throughout the application east says that ‘development must be permeable process to ensure the principles in this framework and well connected both within and outside the can be delivered. area, especially for pedestrians and to overcome the barrier effect of the West London Line/ A3220 and New and improved connections A40’. This OAPF chapter addresses the challenge of connecting the OA to its wider context, drawing 1: Wood Lane communities together, creating links between parks and spaces, buildings, businesses, institutions and 2: New street grid destinations and provides options on how these may be best delivered. 3: Connections through Westfield 4.35 Key to the success of these 4: Hammersmith and City Line viaduct arches neighbourhoods will be providing a network of 5: North-South connections under the A40 tree-lined routes, streets and paths, open areas to improve legibility, bridges and underpasses; all 6: Pedestrian bridge over A3220 which will improve permeability and connections within the OA whilst improving linkages with 7: Pedestrian underpass of West London Line surrounding communities. Routes that provide 8: Connections through BBC easy access to key landmarks, jobs, community and leisure facilities, the town centre and public 9: East-West linkages to White City West transport are central to the framework’s design objectives. 4.36 Vehicular, pedestrian and cycle routes will all be delivered, with an emphasis on improving conditions for pedestrians and cyclists whilst reducing traffic congestion. New connections will impact positively by integrating new and existing communities to help with social integration, better access to community, leisure facilities and jobs, encouraging walking and cycling in the area White City Opportunity Area Planning Framework Chapter 4 urban design strategy Mayor of London 75 ChapterChapter 0404 New linkages New public realm / open space 7 5 9 2 6 1 4 8 3 Figure 4.33 New linkages Cities Revealed® copyright by The GeoInformation® Group, 2001 and Crown Copyright © All rights reserved. 76 White City Opportunity Area Planning Framework 2. Maximising Connectivity Green, underneath the Westway/A40 and into the Imperial College site, will act as the key connection North South connections through the new developments which is referred to 4.49 Improving north-south connections as White City Lane in the indicative drawings. The includes providing an active rear entrance to road will reconnect with Wood Lane to the north Westfield so that it connects with the area north of the Westway and is intended to be winding at of the existing shopping centre and encourages its northern section to discourage motorists from movement through White City Green. Provision for using it as an alternative to Wood Lane, but should railway viaduct arches to be opened for passage will include a cycle priority route. provide the opportunity to join up to one of two 4.54 New streets which have been called new key routes up to the site north of the Westway. Wormwood Way and Reith Row in the indicative New development will be required to create a high drawings will act as a secondary north-south quality transition between the town centre and new connections, which should not attract through- development areas. traffic and therefore will not provide a direct link Wood Lane through the area. 4.50 Wood Lane is currently the only north/ 4.55 These roads should be designed to south route that exists in the OA and one which adoptable standards, be generous to both cyclists could benefit from improvements to its public and pedestrians and be shaded by trees. Preferably, realm. A revitalised BBC TV Centre will enhance two north-south and three east-west streets should the experience for pedestrians along Wood Lane, be provided with two-way traffic, with generous particularly at the section which will face White City on street parking and street planting with the Green.