DRAFT Birchall Garden Suburb Green Infrastructure Strategy October 2016 Birchall Garden Suburb Green Infrastructure Strategy
Prepared for Tarmac Ltd by David Jarvis Associates Limited, 1 Tennyson Street, Swindon, SN1 5DT
October 2016
Maps within this report are based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the controller of Her Majesty’s Sta onary Offi ce ©Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduc on infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecu on or civil proceedings. Reproduced with the permission of the controller of HMSO Licence No: AR189685
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INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND This document has been prepared by David Jarvis Associates Ltd on behalf of A proposal for an extension to Welwyn Garden City, based on Ebenezer Howard’s Tarmac Trading Ltd. Tarmac is a long-term landowner and steward in Her ordshire Garden City principles, was prepared by David Lock Associates in 2007. The and has been promo ng a sustainable extension to Welwyn Garden City on land at resul ng Visioning Statement and illustra ve masterplan were supplied to WHBC Cole Green and Birchall Farm since 2006. and EHDC to inform their Local Plans. Scope The emerging masterplan has been the subject of a number of public consulta on This report describes the Green Infrastructure (GI) strategy for Birchall Garden events hosted by the Company. These included a Community Planning Weekend Suburb (BGS), a proposed urban extension to Welwyn Garden City, Her ordshire. It held in November 2015 and a public exhibi on in March 2016. The BGS site has includes a descrip on of the exis ng green and blue assets within the BGS site and also been the subject of a wide range of intensive environmental surveys over how they connect to the adjoining urban areas as well as the wider countryside. the past few years; informa on gleaned from this process has been used to guide Reference to emerging local plan GI policy is also made. proposed development and inform a GI strategy for the site. The BGS site extends to some 260 hectares of land south east of Welwyn Garden Planning City as shown on Figure 1. It straddles the boundary between the administra ve The emerging WHBC and EHDC Local Plans will set out the planning framework for areas of Welwyn Ha ield Borough Council (WHBC) and East Herts District Council the period up to 2032 and 2033 respec vely. Proposed alloca ons of 1200 and (EHDC). 1350 dwellings respec vely have been proposed for the BGS site. The provision of GI within and across the Borough and District boundaries forms a key component of emerging Local Plan policy. Green Infrastructure The Her ordshire Strategic Green Infrastructure Plan (incorpora ng the Green Arc area) was produced in 2011 and coincided with the publica on of the Borough and District GI Plans. These provide a high level overview of exis ng GI assets and assess the ability of these to provide mul ple environmental, social and economic func ons. The plans defi ne eleven social and environmental func ons that green infrastructure needs to perform. The func ons were mapped and the results analysed to provide strategic GI proposals. Opportuni es for enhancement and crea on of GI were iden fi ed as well as a number of poten al projects at County, Borough and District level: East Herts District Council County level • Project 2- Woodland Arc; Welwyn Ha ield Borough Council KEY The BGS site boundary • Project 5 –Mimram Valley Greenspace, including Panshanger Park;
Other land in the control of the • Project 6- Thames Tributaries, River Valleys and Corridors; applicant Administra ve boundary • Project 9 – Reconnect;
Figure 1 Site loca on plan
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Borough level • Project 2- The Post-Industrial Heritage: promo ng the former rail routes; • Project 3- River Valleys Project - Mimram and Lee; District level • Project 5- Panshanger Park and Mimram Valley Greenspace.
The loca ons of these projects in rela on to the BGS site are reproduced on Figures 2 and 3.
River Quin Hitchin Buntingford ONB
Stevenage
Knebworth Bishop's Stortford Park Hatfield River Beane River Ash River Rib Forest uton River Stort Hoo KEY Harpenden Ware Sawbridgeworth Strategic link Wetland habitat zone River Lee Welwyn Hertford Local link Woodland enhancement/crea on zone bourn Heartwood Garden City Panshanger Forest Park Green infrastructure projects Lee and Stort Chalk valley conserva on zone Valley Harlow GI Plan Hoddesdon Strategic GI Landscape restora on zone Hatfield Harlow Farmland conserva on and enhancement zone Heathland/grassland crea on zone St AlbansEllenbrook Fields Hatfield Broxbourne Country Park Park Woods Figure 3 Regional green infrastructure links (Extracts from the Welwyn Ha ield and East Trees Northaw Against Great Wood Pollution Herts green infrastructure plans) Cheshunt Epping Potters Bar Watling Chase The projects: Radlett Community Forest Epping River Roding River Colne Forest • aim to improve the ecological quality of the river corridors and water tford y Borehamwood River Lee management regimes, including storm water management, in order to Aldenham Loughton Country Park Enfield Bushey Weald contribute to regional and na onal objec ves; Country Park Hainault Forest Brentwood Lee Valley outh Oxhey Country Park Regional Park Chigwell • address the fragmenta on of exis ng woodland, the provision of alterna ve greenspaces, new woodlands and buff er plan ng in order to KEY increase resilience to climate change, protect historic assets and help 1. Grand Union Canal, Colne Valley and 6. Thames Tributaries, River Valleys and Existing Regional Park Enhancements Corridors deliver Forestry Commission aspira ons; AONB 2. Woodland Arc 7. Lee Valley Regional Park Lateral Links • iden fy the need for increased access and interpreta on of environmental Lee Valley Existing GI initiatives 3. Mardyke Valley Greenway 8. Chalk Arc assets par cularly with regard to former rail routes, the River Mimram and
4. Urban GI Heritage (and Urban Greening) Panshanger Park; and 9. Reconnect 5. Mimram Valley Greenspace • aim to reconnect or reinstate public rights of way that have been lost or Figure 2 Regional green infrastructure links (Extract from the Her ordshire Green severed in order to improve the overall green infrastructure network. Infrastructure Plan)
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EXISTING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE The methodology used to build on the strategic GI plans and defi ne how the GI projects apply to the BGS site is summarised below: River Mimram • Desktop research to iden fy a study area and the loca on of exis ng GI WE^,E' ZWZ< assets; • Review of environmental surveys carried out over the BGS site; • GI assets mapped using a GIS-based layer system; t >tzE'Z E/dz • Combining the mapping data to provide a base plan of all exis ng assets; , Zd/E'&KZhZz • Analysis and review against emerging planning policy and site based constraints; and /Z,'Z E • Defi ne a network of green and blue links between the GI assets. > ddz'Z E The study area The study area is shown on Figure 4. It includes the context of east Welwyn, Panshanger Park, the Lee and Mimram valleys and the countryside between Welwyn Garden City and Ha ield. River Lee
Exis ng GI Assets <ĞLJ ZŝǀĞƌƐLJƐƚĞŵƐ͕ŇŽŽĚƉůĂŝŶƐĂŶĚ The principal GI assets iden fi ed are: ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚŚĂďŝƚĂƚ • River systems, fl oodplains and associated wildlife habitat; Figure 4 River systems and fl ood plains • Designated ecological sites; River systems and fl oodplains • Ecological interest associated with the BGS site; Welwyn Garden City is bound to the north by the River Mimram, and to the south • General countryside and woodland; by the River Lee as shown on Figure 4. These fl ow east, joining at Her ord, and • Off -road public rights of way; and together with the River Beane, which fl ows from the north through Her ord, con nue as the Lee, travelling south through the Lee Valley Regional Park into • Amenity provision. London where it joins the Thames at Canning Town.
River Lee fl ood pasture River Mimram
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TEWINBURY SSSI
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P10 G5 M5 M11 P9 M7 A10 B23 M8 B41 G4 B37 W10 P25 B21
P11 B36 P23 KEY B41 G6 P17- P22 B22 DESIGNATED SITES B24 RIVER LEE B34 P24 A15 G10 A11 B43 P12 B38 B39
B35 M9 M4 B44 Figure 5 Designated ecological sites P13 G7 M12 B35 B34 B28 M10 B29 B30 Designated ecological sites G9 G8 B40 A14 The study area contains two designated sites as shown on Figure 5. These are W12 B29 B27 B33 P14 - P16 G8 M3 Tewinbury Site of Special Scien fi c Interest, which lies on the northern border of B33 W11 P27 B27 B31 A12 B25 the study area, adjacent to the River Mimram, and The Commons Local Nature P26 KEY P28 B32 B26 COUNTY VALUE Reserve located on the southern edge of WGC. P29 A13 LOCAL VALUE B26 LOW VALUE Figure 6 Ecological value within the BGS site
Ecological interest associated with the BGS site The BGS site contains ecological interest valued at County, and Local or Parish level. Land of low ecological value is also present, mainly associated with arable farmland and some areas of neutral grassland as shown on Figure 6.
Tewinbury SSSI The Commons LNR
October 2016 6 DRAFT OCT 2016 Birchall Garden Suburb Green Infrastructure Strategy
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General countryside and woodland Off -road public rights of way The rolling landscape between Welwyn Garden City and Her ord is a rural mixture The study area is quite well served by public rights of way. Some of these are of small se lements, agricultural land, woodlands and copses as shown on Figure severed or restricted by major roads and others, such as the Na onal Cycle Route 7. The area is bisected by the A414 dual carriageway which runs between the (NCR) 61, provide good, extensive off -road access as shown on Figure 8. Rivers Lee and Mimram, passing to the south of Welwyn Garden City and Her ord. Public access along the river corridors is poor and there is li le opportunity to reach the rivers themselves. Public access within Panshanger Park is currently The fragmenta on of woodland habitat is clearly evident notwithstanding the available via a mix of established rights of way and permissive routes. strong links provided by the Lee and Mimram river corridors.
Fragmented woodland groups east of Ha ield Informal path
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Panshanger Park contains a mosaic of habitats, and approximately 200
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Moneyhole Lane Park is a much valued local open space with playing fi elds, a RIVER LEE play area, nature trail and KEY general recrea on facili es RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
Figure 9 Amenity provision
Amenity provision Outdoor recrea onal facili es comprise designated areas of Urban Open Land, formal parks, sports facili es, allotments, caravan parks and Panshanger Aerodrome. These are mostly located within the urban areas of Welwyn Garden City and Her ord, the main excep on being Essendon Golf Course to the south of the River Lee. Holwell Hyde Lake. Proposed green links will Panshanger Park, a 404 hectare site owned by Tarmac, is currently being worked improve connec ons to for gravel. Large areas of the site have been restored and approximately 200 Moneyhole Lane Park and hectares are open to the public. The park contains a mosaic of wildlife habitats Panshanger Park such as lakes, river, woodland and reedbed. Tarmac is working with Herts Wildlife Trust and Her ordshire County Council to manage the park.
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PROPOSED GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE Access and rights of way The Lee and Mimram river valley corridors provide the focus for wildlife connec vity New footpaths and bridleways will be created. Apart from providing addi onal within the study area and beyond. The Lee valley corridor is connected directly to access to the countryside, they will link exis ng public rights of way which already The Commons Wood, The Commons Local Nature Reserve and the BGS site via cross the site, including the NCR61 cycle route as shown on Figure 10. These would the Ha ield Hyde Brook. New SuDs related connec ons to this network would be strengthen non-vehicular permeability through and around the developed areas. provided within the BGS site as well as a separate unnamed tributary of the River Major Links Mimram which extends into the BGS site south of Birchall Lane. These will be created by virtue of new connec ons to The Commons, Panshanger The indica ve route of the strategic green corridor, currently depicted in the Park and the NCR61. The new routes will pass through the developed areas, link emerging Local Plans, would be realised via a diverse network of access and wildlife links. These would permeate through the site, responding to the complex topography, the species present and the opportuni es that have been iden fi ed to create new habitats along each corridor. The BGS GI will link exis ng areas of ecological value adjoining the site such as Panshanger Park in the east and The MONEYHOLE LANE PARK Commons LNR to the west. The proposals will: • Iden fy and protect exis ng habitats of value through the use of management plans and appropriate public access regimes; PANSHANGER PARK WELWYN GARDEN CITY • Create addi onal areas of new habitat between The Commons LNR and zE'Z E/dz Panshanger Park, as well as the Lee and Mimram Rivers in order to connect exis ng areas, thus crea ng a more robust ecological network; • Create new public rights of way which connect with exis ng routes in order to provide greater access to the countryside and natural greenspace; • Enhance exis ng points along the A414 where there is access across/under the carriageway for people and wildlife; • Develop new parkland in the heart of the development providing wildlife habitat and a rac ve ac ve and passive recrea on opportuni es such as playing fi elds, children’s play areas and allotments; • Develop ecologically diverse sustainable drainage systems around the periphery of the development to accommodate and manage storm water THE COMMONS LNR run-off from impermeable areas; and
• Enhance the overall landscape character of the area through the provision KEY PROPOSED MAJOR PUBLIC of appropriate plan ng, par cularly woodland, which strengthens and RIGHT OF WAY LINKS
reinforces the local historic landscape character, creates a rac ve gateways EXISTING MAJOR PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY to WGC, Ha ield and Her ord, and improves the overall se ng of these MILL GREEN GOLF CLUB PROPOSED OTHER urban areas. LINKS
INDICATIVE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT Figure 10 Proposed access and rights of way
DRAFT OCT 2016 9 David Jarvis Associates Limited Birchall Garden Suburb Green Infrastructure Strategy to exis ng bridleways within WGC, and provide connec ons across the A414 at Birchall Lane and Holwell Lane roundabouts. Minor Links
New footpaths will be incorporated throughout the site. These will link exis ng 2 routes, connec ng the developed area to the central parkland, the eastern suburbs of WGC, Moneyhole Lane Park, Birchall Wood, Panshanger Park, The Commons 3 LNR and Commons Wood. The new paths will create a framework for circular t >tzE'Z E/dz routes, increasing opportuni es for safe walking, access to natural countryside, and providing health benefi ts. 1
2 Wildlife Links Four links are proposed, shown on Figure 11. These will be of suffi cient width to accommodate the movement of wildlife and will be made as accessible to as wide 3 3 a range of species as prac cable. The links will be robust, providing access to a more diverse range of habitat than presently exists.
4 Link 1 would run south from The Commons, following the boundary of the site to 4 Cole Green where it would connect with a belt of woodland at High Grove. From KEY here, exis ng green connec ons via High Grove Wood would extend the route into Key THE COMMONS PROPOSED WILDLIFE LINKS Panshanger Park. 2 1 A414 WILDLIFE 1 CROSSING POINTS
Link 2 would run north from The Commons, following a tributary of the Ha ield INDICATIVE POTENTIAL WILDLIFE LINK Hyde Brook to reach the eastern boundary of Holwell Hyde Lake. It would then INDICATIVE POTENTIAL reach Rolls and Blackthorn Woods via a woodland belt adjoining Holwell Hyde Lane DEVELOPMENT and a retained fi eld containing ecologically valuable grassland. The link would then Figure 11 Proposed wildlife links con nue northwards via exis ng and recently planted woodland to reach Birchall Wood and Henry Wood in the north of the site and Panshanger Park to the east. uses including: Link 3 would connect woodland within The Commons LNR to the central parkland • Open meadows; via exis ng retained scrub, grassland and new woodland plan ng to the established • Treed pasture; woodland surrounding the margins of Holwell Hyde Lake. • Scrub grassland; Link 4 would connect the unwooded compartment of The Commons LNR to • Woodland; retained areas of grassland within the central parkland. • Low key recrea on; and The BGS GI Strategy is shown on Figure 12 in the context of the study area. • Playing fi elds. Parkland The parkland will provide mul ple links to the network of habitats and green corridors throughout the site. The development of treed pasture will refl ect the The proposed parkland would be located at the heart of the BGS development. At historic parkland character of the locality and provide a dis nc ve and a rac ve some 60 hectares in extent the parkland will be capable of absorbing a variety of se ng for development.
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The park as a whole would incorporate a network of new footpaths connec ng the Sustainable drainage exis ng public rights of way. These will provide a choice of many circular routes schemes will provide a with a endant health benefi ts and access to the wider countryside. This would variety of wildlife habitat fulfi l the aspira ons for PROW users described within the Her ordshire Rights of and contribute to visual Way Improvement Plan. amenity Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) Birchall Garden Suburb will incorporate a range of SuDS techniques including permeable paving, swales and basins, ponds, ditches and wetlands. These will form part of the GI infrastructure, contribu ng to visual amenity and biodiversity. They will connect with exis ng drains and Holwell Hyde Brook. EXAMPLES To illustrate how the BGS GI would work in prac ce, two examples have been prepared, rela ng to wildlife links 1 and 2 (Figure 11).
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Link 1 Swales, ditches and ponds would be used to create new areas of wetland habitat and mi gate storm water run-off from developed areas. Sustainable drainage systems within the developed areas would transfer water to naturally vegetated ditches connected to new and exis ng channels and watercourses. From here, larger SuDS wetland areas and exis ng streams would permit slow infi ltra on of water into the ground and controlled discharge into Ha ield Hyde Brook. New woodland on sensi vely designed bunds running parallel to the A414 would provide visual screening of the new development when viewed from the south and aid in mi ga ng traffi c noise to proper es within the southern por on of the site. Encouraging a diverse mosaic of varying habitats to develop would maximise opportuni es for wildlife to move through the green corridors thus enriching biodiversity through the site and beyond. Link 2 Footpaths, bridleways and green links would be integrated within the development through careful design which would retain habitats of value and reduce poten al
'Z E/E&Z^dZhdhZ >/E<Ϯ d, KDDKE^Ͳd, KDDKE^>K>EdhZ Z ^ Zs Ͳ,K>zt >>WZ<>< Ͳ /Z,>>WZ<Ͳ,K>t >>WZ<tKK y/^d/E'tKK>E^Zh 'Z E^ DE' dK&KZDtKK>E Z ^/ Ed/> t/d,'> ^ s >KWD Ed KW E'Z^^>E>/E<dK &KKdWZ/Ed d, KDDKE^>K> 'Z E^ EdhZ Z ^ Zs Z ^/ Ed/> s >KWD Ed &KKdWZ/Ed 'Z E^ An area of fl oris cally diverse grassland would be retained and form part of the BGS green infrastructure
Na onal Cycle Route NCR61 passing though the Birchall Garden Suburb site would be improved
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DRAFT OCT 2016 13 David Jarvis Associates Limited Birchall Garden Suburb Green Infrastructure Strategy disturbance to wildlife. The crea on and management of new natural areas Bridleway WGC069 would including woodland, wetland and tradi onally managed meadows would be extended to reach strengthen and link exis ng habitats, reinforcing green corridors throughout the Panshanger Park site. In the south west of the site, a footpath would run along the valley side linking The Commons to the new parkland. Exis ng woodland and scrub would be managed to encourage the development of a mosaic of habitats including mature woodland with glades.
PLANNING POLICY The EHDC and WHBC Local Plans are currently in prepara on. They are being developed in accordance with the Na onal Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Land at Birchall Garden Suburb is allocated for development in both the Local Plans Exis ng track and to accommodate approximately 2500 new homes over the plan period. The two proposed bridleway Authori es are working together to ensure that the new suburb is delivered in a linking Birchall Wood to Panshanger Park comprehensive manner. The WHBC Local Plan (proposed submission dra August 2016) Policy SP12- Strategic Green Infrastructure. This policy iden fi es exis ng green assets and opportuni es for their crea on and enhancement. Developer contribu ons are required to support the delivery of four GI projects including one directly applicable to Birchall Garden Suburb- the Welwyn Ha ield Green Corridor. The EHDC Local Plan (pre-submission dra September 2016) Policy NE4 – Green Infrastructure. Policy provides for a diverse network of accessible, mul -func onal green infrastructure across the district. Development The Commons and proposals should avoid the loss, fragmenta on of func onality of the GI network Ha ield Hyde Brook whilst seeking opportuni es to improve it. would form part of the link between the River Policy EWEL1- Land East of Welwyn Garden City, relates specifi cally to the northern Lee and Panshanger Park half of the BGS site and refers to the provision of green infrastructure. In par cular, good access for new and exis ng communi es, protec on of wildlife assets, safe routes for wildlife as well as sustainable drainage and provision for fl ood mi ga on. Policy and BGS GI The dra policy requirements, adapted as appropriate to suit the environmental condi ons prevailing on site, have been taken forward in the development of the BGS GI.
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The BGS GI proposals incorporate an extensive network of diverse habitats linked by an equally diverse range of wildlife corridors. These will be specifi cally tailored to meet the needs of individual species. Public access will be greatly improved and the site will be opened up to members of the wider community allowing people to use off -road paths to roam between the wider countryside and a new parkland set at the heart of development. The new parkland will be designed so as to create a dis nc ve and a rac ve se ng for development. New circular routes will be provided as well as passive and ac ve recrea onal opportuni es, crea ng a rac ve spaces within which people can experience the natural environment. Addi onal woodland will be planted to improve wildlife connec vity between the exis ng woodlands, improve the structure of the landscape and provide a strong green boundary to the A414. The sense of separa on between Welwyn Garden City and Her ord will be maintained and reinforced by this measure. Next steps Tarmac will con nue to develop the BGS scheme, including the GI proposals, to inform the Local Plans and our forthcoming planning applica on. This work will include the supply of a comprehensive evidence base, incorpora ng environmental surveys carried out over the BGS site.
DRAFT OCT 2016 15 David Jarvis Associates Limited David Jarvis Associates Limited, 1 Tennyson Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 5DT Tel: 01793 612173 Fax: 01793 613625 Email: [email protected]