4.0 Townscape and Landscape Character
A Sustainable Urban Extension to the North East of Leicester : Design & Access Statement 23 4.0 Townscape and Landscape Character
24 Introduction 4.2 The analysis of the townscape context does, inevitably, focus 4.1 Townscape and landscape are on the established places. An a combination of cultural and important part of the process of physical characteristics, or creating a new place is to look components, which give rise at the design principles of these to patterns that are distinctive older environments rather than to a particular locality and simply copy the appearance help defi ne a “sense of place”. of the buildings. The design Locally distinctive townscape principles, such as mix of uses, evolves as a place over the enclosure of space (taking many years, with layers of into account height and width development laid down over ratios), provision of linkages, time - refl ected in the street incorporation of open spaces layout, built form and character. can all be a sound basis for Looking at local townscape modern design. This accords can identify traditional forms with the NPPF that encourages and patterns of development. development to understand and Refl ecting these in a masterplan refl ect surroundings but without for new development can “…discouraging appropriate reinforce familiarity which, in innovation” (p58(4)). turn, helps to integrate the new 4.3 The way in which the context into the local area. analysis has informed the overall masterplan and, in particular, the more detailed design of the character spaces in the NEoLSUE are described in subsequent Sections.
A Sustainable Urban Extension to the North East of Leicester : Design & Access Statement 25 Barkby and west of the village the brook runs partway alongside a Barkby Thorpe footpath at the edge of green 4.4 Barkby and Barkby Thorpe corridor south of Brookside. The have a strong relationship to a water course and green corridor countryside setting. The majority are local references that could of the village and hamlet are inform the green corridors and a designated Conservation SuDS within the NEoLSUE. Area. Barkby Thorpe occupies a 4.7 Within Barkby, the buildings are hilltop location with Barkby on a short run of relatively densely lower ground to the north. The grouped terraces set close to villages are linked by Thorpe the back edge of the pavement, lane and parkland estate of farmstead groups of cottages Barkby Hall. and outbuildings connected by 4.5 The parkland estate of Barkby walls, and detached buildings Hall runs north to south through within large plots. Within the middle of this character Barkby Thorpe the buildings are area and makes a signifi cant clustered around King Street contribution to the landscape and maintain a farmstead character. The parkland consists grouped appearance. of pasture with individual 4.8 Building form and use is of mature trees and iron estate simple but regularly repeating railing boundaries. There are local materials (such as stone wooded areas to the periphery and brick, timber and slate) and of the estate that create the provides a consistency in overall framework for Barkby. feel even though the design 4.6 Barkby Brook and its associated of buildings is quite varied. trees and vegetation run Buildings, walls and outbuildings through Barkby. There are serve to enclose short sections footpaths located along the of the main street space and brook. It is generally overlooked part of the adjacent lanes and by cottages and detached streets, turning the corners and extending along the plots. Away dwellings in large plots. To the 1 2 from the main street the density of built form rapidly decreases.
26 Pond 77.1m Def
Guided Post
Barkbyby Thorperp 78.3m Pp Pond
Thorpe Farm 1
81.4m 81.4m Manor Farm
82.3m 82.0m
80.4m Issuesssues
76.8m
Barkby Barkby Thorpe © Civic Studio © Civic Studio
3 4 5 © Civic Studio
A Sustainable Urban Extension to the North East of Leicester : Design & Access Statement 27 4.9 Properties are predominately a WEST BARKBY mix of terraced and detached STRUCTURE PLANTING th 17 century properties that AGRICULTURAL USE are mainly two storey red brick with grey slate roofs and red brick garden walls. In the
western part of the village there PRIVATE OPEN SPACE are a number of 20th century houses and bungalows. St.
Mary‘s Church and its spire are DEEP PLOTS ST. MARY'S CHURCH prominent within many local BARKBY HALL EAST BARKBY views. DEEP PLOTS
DEEP PLOTS 4.10 The plan shows a general transition from terrace to detached and semi-detached houses towards the edges A
DEEP PLOTS of the built area. The block A
pattern is largely defi ned by PUBLIC OPEN SPACE THORPE LANE development along large but B
narrow blocks addressing Main TREE-LINED AVENUE BARKBY BROOK Street. The only completely TREE-LINED EDGE developed perimeter blocks are
CRICKET GROUND
defi ned by Main Street and the BEEBY ROAD N brook.
Barkby LEGEND © Civic Studio Block Edge
Plot Edge
Building Frontages
Building Rears
Country Passage
Public Footpath
Barkby Brooke
Agricultural Land Use
Private Open Space
Landmark Tree/ Tree Cluster
A Courtyard Cluster
B Perimeter Block
Landmark
28 LEGEND
Block Edge TO BARKBY Plot Edge
Building Frontages
THORPE LANE Building Rears
Focus Point
Vehicular Route TREE-LINED AVENUE Country Passage
TO Public Footpath MELTON ROAD Agricultural Land Use
STRUCTURE PLANTING Landmark Tree/ Tree Cluster
Landmark
Private Open Space
TREE-LINED EDGE
PRIVATE OPEN SPACE
AGRICULTURAL USE DEEP PLOT
INWARD-LOOKING FOCUS
PRIVATE OPEN SPACE
BARKBYTHORPE ROAD
KING STREET
TO LEICESTER CITY CENTRE Barkby Thorpe © Civic Studio
A Sustainable Urban Extension to the North East of Leicester : Design & Access Statement 29 Woodgate
4.11 Woodgate is a distinct character area off Barkby Lane and Barkbythorpe Lane, between Syston and Thurmaston. It is an area of large detached properties with relatively large gardens containing many mature trees creating a distinctly wooded feel. Part of the land is also given over to nursery stock production and horse paddocks. 4.12 Within this area is Barkby Lodge, a large three storey, red brick, Victorian property with distinctive chimneys. It is visible from the southern edge of Syston. Old Thurmaston Hamlet
4.13 South of Woodgate is Old Thurmaston, a hamlet of cottages and a semi-detached house with farm buildings clustered around a junction on Barkbythorpe Lane and at a former duck pond. Mature trees frame the buildings.
30 A Sustainable Urban Extension to the North East of Leicester : Design & Access Statement 31 Queniborough
Main Street 4.14 The nearby villages of Queniborough and Syston demonstrate how in traditional settlements, mixing uses creates attractive and vibrant centres for a community. 4.15 Along Main Street, towards Croxton Road, buildings are generally set along the back- edge of the pavement. There are areas of grassed verges and pockets of open space, generally located at or near junctions. The layout creates clearly defi ned streets with Queniborough Main Street relatively few gaps between buildings.
TO MELTON ROAD
4.16 The street gently widens out MAIN STREET A to create a small pocket of
open space, overlooked by A DEEP PLOTS the buildings that frame it. This example demonstrates the effectiveness of modest sized A DEEP PLOTS
A BUILT FORM / spaces in creating variety within A COUNTRYSIDE EDGE an urban area and an ‘event’ or focal point along a street.
DEEP PLOTS
4.17 The development along Main A A Street generally consists of long A
perimeter blocks broken by the A connecting lanes, with buildings ST. MARY CHURCH aligned along the street and not GREEN VERGES BUILT FORM / BUFFER HOUSES COUNTRYSIDE EDGE MERE LANE FROM THE STREET completing a ‘perimeter block’. A CROXTON ROAD
DEEP PLOTS
32 Stoneygate
Knighton Road 4.18 This is an established area with a strong character, demonstrating that a rich and varied fabric, with high quality, well-designed houses and a strong landscape are attractive and can be valued by their communities. It is a medium density residential area. Signifi cant dimensions between buildings across the streets and mature landscape have a signifi cant role in creating the character within a relatively dense area. Stoneygate Knighton Road
Cental Avenue 4.19 North of Knighton Road is a contrasting area of dense Victorian terraced houses forming urban blocks, with small rear gardens and narrow streets adequate to park cars on both sides. In places, buildings are located along the back edge of pavement, elsewhere shallow front gardens create some private space between house and street. Planting is incidental. The plan form is effi cient in terms of land take/density and demonstrates one way to provide smaller houses but each with some private amenity space. Stoneygate Central Avenue
A Sustainable Urban Extension to the North East of Leicester : Design & Access Statement 33 Syston Broad Street 4.23 This study area consists of 4.20 Syston is located to the largely Victorian/Edwardian north of Thurmaston. It is a houses. The fi gure-ground predominantly residential area drawing shows the continuity with industrial estates located of the houses in plan and the adjacent to the A607 and the relatively narrow street. Street railway line. trees shorten the vista and 4.21 Barkby Brook runs through softens the built form. Also, Syston but is largely enclosed shallow front gardens provide by development. Notable green space for some planting and spaces are the village green, privacy for residents. Deville Park to the east and 4.24 This area demonstrates how sports pitches to the right of the the NEoLSUE could incorporate railway line. terraced houses and, with 4.22 Outside of the conservation appropriate landscaping, how area the majority of relatively dense development properties are c20th with can be successfully designed. new development to the east High Street and Bath Street off Barkby Road and south 4.25 The fi gure ground drawings off Barkby Lane. The recent illustrate clearly delineated development off Barkby Road streets with buildings to back has an integrated sustainable edge of pavements. Streets urban drainage system (SuDS) lead to/from a small square that also forms a natural buffer that forms a focal point, clearly zone between development identifi able as a central feature. and the countryside. Elsewhere The scale is relatively ‘human’ limited vegetation results in a and not over powering (in more abrupt transition between terms of building heights and land uses. height/width ratio – sense of enclosure), giving an indication of the size of a space required to create a focal point within a centre/village. Also, the uses along the High Street are varied including shops, offi ces and residential units.
34 Broad Street
High Street and Bath Street
A Sustainable Urban Extension to the North East of Leicester : Design & Access Statement 35 Thurmaston Melton Road 4.28 Melton Road provides a variety 4.26 Thurmaston is located on the of building footprints, lengths northeast edge of Leicester and of blocks and set backs/ is predominantly a residential projections with numerous gaps area with some small scale between blocks – suggesting industrial and employment a disjointed environment. In units. The character area is places such as Canal Street and physically split into three areas part of Melton Street there is by dominant transport routes. consistency (scale, materials) The A607 dual carriage way and but with variety in terms of the Midland Mainline railway building detail. route runs north to south Colby Drive through Thurmaston. 4.29 The urban area around 4.27 Thurmaston is set out in a Colby Drive and Colby Road, regular and rectilinear pattern immediately to the west of the with predominantly a mix of site, is predominantly an area single and two storey mid to late of low density but high plot c20th properties. Many of the ratio bungalows. In terms of properties have large gardens scale, this provides a transition but there is a lack of street trees between built form and open and other vegetation in the space. The density is at 22dph public domain. The main open with 17% plot coverage at Colby green spaces are Elizabeth Park Drive. Sports Centre and Thurmaston Cemetery that are located centrally off the A607.
Melton Road
36 EARLS CLOSE
46
5 9 55 10
Mast (Telecommunication) 29
COO KE CLOSE El Sub Sta Mast SANDIACRE DRIVE 3
26 43 KNIGHT CLOSE 68.9m
Mast (Telecommunication) SM
19
36
29
9 28 1
BEACON AVENUE
10
8b
8 10b
6b
6
12
4b EARLS WAY
4 2b
2 31 38 31 24
34 46 9
176
DUKES CLOSE 183
30a
11 42 El Sub Sta
30 Church Hill C of E
Junior School 31 23
26 64.9m 19
8 9 10 164
22 7
25 162 173
20 18 15 32
16 2 169
154
3
142 167
GREGORY CLOSE 1
Mast 16 11a
% 23
Church Hill 11 26 Infant School
21
10 1a
18
161 24 1b
El 146 1c FIELD VIEW 3 Sub Sta
12 3 Garage 1
61.6m 33
1 5 128 6 130 10 3 COLBY DRIVE
136 1
WAY 31
140 1a
71 1b
69 2 PRICE APPLEBY ROAD 19
4 12 151 81 LB 138
6
32
87 34
CHURCH HILL ROAD
91
1
101
2 15 102
El 134 3
95 109 Sub
Sta 7
127
11
131 123
164 DICKINSON WAY %
35 1
143 172
129
55 141
76
149 24 153 20 91 174 3 89 10 2
180 171 2 29 4 94 182
DOVEDALE ROAD 135 21
118
19 SILVERDALE DRIVE 133 17
MP THE
15 23
53 102.5 1 70
84 6 COPPICE 1
87 1 CHURCH HILL ROAD
181 13 129
196 196a 79
COPPICE COURT 131a 24
IVYDALE ROAD LANGDALE ROAD
87 187 85 127 3
89 7 131 20
51 LB
THORNDALE ROAD 15 127b
2
197
DOVEDALE ROAD 127a
112 14
101 125a
19 10
71
60
120
111 12
49 114 82
10
110
113 11
17
130 67
56
142 123
45
78 2 16
33
140 108
4 2 Orchard 10 35 Court 1 CLOSE
106 115 SHENTON
57
7 102
59 LAWN CLOSE
7
El Sub Sta 37 8
109
69 20 68
9 5
23 100
44
40 114
42 81 21 3 11 FERNDALE ROAD
1
% 105 65
54
95 24 106 4 108 ORCHARD GARDENS
IVYDALE ROAD 65
56
6
94
01
104 1 23 19
102 92
62 61 58 13
57
117 96 88 1 100 121 98
2 32 82 57 57 6
97 12 84
LODGE CLOSE
0 1 14
80 26
1 112
Community
7 EVERETT CLOSE
76 55 Centre 10 2
55 ELLIOTT DRIVE
47 66
11
22
2 1
74 1
54
87 52
74
50 11
48 1 82 1 2 3
25 13 5 85 1 4
3 OFFRANVILLE CLOSE 6 7 4
8 56 PARKDALE ROAD 64
58
OVERDALE ROAD RIDGEWAY DRIVE 8
37 45 79
72 % 2 8
46
22
2 HOLLYBROOK CLOSE 4 8 2
15
COLBY DRIVE
76 31 to 50 to 31
3
6 5
1 9 to 30 to 9
35 74
43
38 19
9 21
72a
KILN AVENUE 72 62 SILVERDALE DRIVE 13
2 16 70a 37
70
27
7
71 Auster Industrial 16 23 8 HARTSHORN CLOSE Estate 1 13
BLOUNT ROAD
CRESSWELL CLOSE 9
53
1 1 5 52
2 64 36 67
11 Keightley Walk 65
17 45
6
10 20 52
10 %
59 30 8
9 8
57 43
% 35
11
25 4 Surgery 28
MP 102. 25 23
170 19
44 172
168a 2 168
1
40
31
TCB 21 16 16 Scrap Yard
182 11
17 11
15 14 153
33
1 47 41
El Sub Sta
61.9m 49 6 45
1
CLAYTON DRIVE 192 18 SMITH AVENUE
32
43
12
4a 4
2a
28 5 51 2
HUMBERSTONE LANE
10
41 WALKER ROAD WALKER
1 2
28
63 37 %
198
7
38 6
200
11 9
54
200a 15 4 15
PARTRIDGE ROAD 202 40
7
2
29 4
202a 4a
204 20 63.1m 12
23 % 2
208 12 25
16 GREENWOOD CLOSE4
2a 1
23 18
33 14
14 20 4 8
10 24
16
19 GRIFFIN CLOSE
10
3 2 5
Warehouse 17
12
11
15
11
22 30 19
FF 34 7
Works 210 11 50 63.4m 2
46 74 15 1 to 6 COLBY ROAD
68a 21 66 68 60 70
56 62
25
171
27 80
31
33 35 COLBY ROAD
Def
35a
37
75
179
39 FF 77a FF
62
76 37
61 218 67
Def 181
El Sub Sta Boro Const & UA Bdy 49
FF
Co Const Bdy
89
91 79
62 Def
Def 101 187
228 103
Def FF 97 Co Const Bdy 2
52 87 FF 99 25 27 Def 1.22m RH 1.22m RH Boro Const & UA Bdy Def 1.22m RH FF 12 FF FF 50 FW 35 FW ONYX CRESCENT 33
50 G V House 24 230
19 23 HERRICKS AVENUE 36
18 28 40 2 16 90
189 1 52 66 78
Colby Drive 100 11 11 JUNE AVENUE 61.3m 77
MP 102 19
75
21
242
65
37 15 1 13 25
35 51 1 © Civic Studio
A Sustainable Urban Extension to the North East of Leicester : Design & Access Statement 37 7
6 1
0 C
31 72
31 71
33
30 15 Hamilton 1 TUXFORD ROAD
73
1 5
75
45
37 101
Business Park 17 to 9 77
43 HILLTOP ROAD
81 82
47 Troon Industrial Area
4.30 The business park is located WENLOCK WAY
1
TCB 1 7 40 north of Thurmaston Lane. There 53 88 11
1 30 92
54 Hamilton Business Park
CANNOCK STREET
20
is a network of estate roads 96
77
79 81
60 83 100
with associated lighting and 19 102
El Sub Sta
54 87
108 Drain 104
signage with incidental areas of HU RMASTON BOULEVARD
Drain
51 HIGHCLIFFE ROAD Tank 14
grass, shrub and tree planting. 106
Hamilton Business Park
The estate is densely developed 40 7
301 WATERSIDE ROAD 350 with small to medium units and Garage
THURMASTON LANE
areas of car parking located 30 Cycle Path
El Sub Sta to the south, and larger units, El Sub Sta Car Park
15
PROGRESS WAY including a paper mill, to the El Sub Sta El Sub Sta
north opposite the Melton Brook Ward Bdy
corridor. The mix of modern Path
7 and established industrial units El Sub Sta Hamilton Business Park (South) SANDHILLS AVENUE providing a range of sizes for
BELLFL 1
O GVC occupiers. © Civic Studio
38 LEGEND
4 Block Edge
Plot Edge
Building Frontages 110M Building Rears 2 Focus Point 50M 40M X 10M Vehicular Route
Country Passage
Public Footpath
Agricultural Land Use
Landmark Tree/ Tree Cluster
Landmark
2 Private Open Space HAMILTON COUNTRY PARK 1 Roadside Retail (Car Dealership, Petrol Station)
3 2 Smaller Units / Tighter Grain 4 3 3 Medium Units / Varied Grain
4 Larger Units / Looser Grain
TO A6 Unit Measurements
WATERSIDE ROAD
1
TO HAMILTON 1 THURMASTON LANE
SANDHILLS AVENUE
VICTORIA ROAD EAST
N TO HUMBERSTONE TO HUMBERSTONE
© Civic Studio
A Sustainable Urban Extension to the North East of Leicester : Design & Access Statement 39 Market Harborough
4.32 A market town to the south of Leicester, it has a busy main street that extends for about 2km between two ‘arrival’ places. The defl ections in the alignment of the High Street, the enclosure of the street space, role of prominent buildings (landmarks) inclusion of spaces (nodes) and degree of connectivity to the surrounding residential area are all principles that can be considered for inclusion in the NEoLSUE. Leicester
New Walk 4.33 A walkway opened in the 17th century that provides a traffi c free environment for people in the core of the city. It is also used by cyclists. The variety of land uses, incorporation of ‘pocket’ parks and public gardens, the modest width of the ‘street’, interaction with roads and parking area, enclosure formed by 2-3-4 storey public and private buildings all combine to create a highly memorable, convenient and ‘human scale’ public space. New Walk could be a model for a central part of the NEoLSUE.
40 A Sustainable Urban Extension to the North East of Leicester : Design & Access Statement 41
4.36 At the north eastern residential 13 SNAPE CLOSE 10 2
Hamilton 20
9 18 1
TOLLERTON CLOSE
edge there is an abrupt 41
24
21 16
9
51 7 % 39
transition between development 16
4.34 At Hamilton North, buildings 12
6 7 31
27
30
25 19
45 TIMBLE ROAD 13 4
are arranged in a structured and countryside due to the 1 2 COPGROVE CLOSE 26
2 23
3
43 11
1 63 59 21 45 53 developments elevated position 43 block layout around open space 51 BROMPTON ROAD 108
23
41 15
%22
52
50
48
34 114 32
44
46
30
36
38 and relationship of the built form 20 corridors stepping up the hill % 110
El Sub Sta 27
42 37 17
26 28
100
40 10 to the open space. The detached 24
and away from the site. Hamilton BROMPTON ROAD
26 18
13
22 17
9 Country Park is to the west of houses, adjoining garages 14 6
2 23
SWINTON CLOSE 4 9 N ROAD
TO 10
and a lack of space between 11 the residential area and adjoins 15
15
1 3 1
3 % 5 KEPWICK ROAD
7 1 2
dwellings, coupled with small 8 the industrial estate. 88
7
6
11 27
12
14
Flats 1 to 10 2 8
25
plots with minimal set back from SOCKBURN CLOSE
250 22
84 4.35 This area is situated in an 10 SANDHILLS
AVENUE
the pathway, maintains a relative 29 32 30 HERITAGE WAY 42 elevated position above the 78 urban edge to the countryside 12
HAMILTON CIRCLE Pond 251 4
52 Melton Brook corridor which lies PICKHILL ROAD 28 %
beyond, especially when the 1 54
to the north. The development is 7
9
18
built edge is viewed obliquely 62 Boro Const & UA Bdy 62
set out in a regular pattern with 16 Co Const Bdy
149 2 % and the built form visually 157 56
network of small neighbourhood 31 19
merges into one continuous 1.22m RH 158 154 17 13 50 roads. A sustainable urban 11
12 CARTY 21 17
152
5 edge. ROAD 13 9 15 19
46 drainage system that links 144 1
6 BAKERS WAY
14 8
1
4.37 Predominantly 2 and 3 storey 1 136 2
to Melton Brook is integral 44 7 2
134 17 4 El Sub Sta dwellings, the building layout and 3 130
to the open spaces within 2
AVENUE 5 40 ORE ROAD 10 HM
128 2 %1 the development, although alignment, for the greater part, MAIDENWELL
MALTINGS
118 THE 5 connectivity for people is limited. reinforces and defi nes the street 13 1 11 MASON ROW Pond 5
1 4 WAINWRIGHT AVENUE 2
WAY
14 layout. Within this extensive 2
2 24 20
32
116 estate there are also a great % HERITAGE 110
8 Hamilton 28
1 18 24 3
102
variety of parking solutions, 5
EMERALD WAY including rear parking courts. Pth © Civic Studio The local centre is at a high point and defi ned by four storey apartments: it is therefore a prominent part of the settlement. 4.38 The general built densities for the adjacent residential areas are around a uniform 36dph and plot coverage is around 23%.
© Civic Studio
42 Landscape This character area lies on Brook, and occasional large 2. carefully manage elevated and undulating land mature hedgerow trees. The development in prominent character above the low lying fl oodplain of undulating land rises from the locations to minimise the Melton Brook to the north. The low lying fl oodplain of Melton impact on the undulating Melton Brook and land east of Hamilton landscape comprises of areas Brook to Barkby Thorpe on a character of High of scrub grassland, mature prominent hill/ridgeline. Leicestershire 4.39 This landscape area is trees and blocks of woodland, characterised by a medium Borough of Charnwood 3. conserve the built a large lake, sports pitches and to small scale landscape that Landscape Character character of villages the property of Humberstone comprises primarily arable Assessment July 2012 by using materials and Farm. There are fi shing pegs fi elds and pasture land. The 4.42 This character assessment colours that complement by the edge of the lake and character area is set within the provides guidance on how to the surroundings, such a children’s play area next to low lying fl oodplain of Melton protect, conserve and enhance as ironstone and red Sandhills Avenue. A network Brook with land gently rising to the landscape character of brickwork of tarmac paths surrounds the the south. This character area the Borough. The site falls 4. conserve existing tree lake and travels north within has a diverse array of distinct within the character area cover in woodlands, the park. Less formal access landscape features including ‘High Leicestershire’, and hedges and along stream routes occur to the north of Melton Brook and its associated encompasses a small part of valleys and around the character area including trees and vegetation, areas the ‘Wreake Valley’ to the north settlements and enhance a bridleway that connects of wetland, well-maintained and ‘Soar Valley’ to the west. with similar planting in to Melton Brook and the hedgerows and hedgerow open sections countryside beyond. High Leicestershire trees, and the remaining historic 5. include tree planting and 4.43 This character area is landform of the medieval village Land south of Barkby Thorpe small woodlands in and described as “undulating rural of Hamilton. Due to these 4.41 This character area comprises around new development; countryside of mixed farming landscape features and its more an undulating landscape with with a sparse settlement 6. enhance tree cover intimate scale this character a mix of predominately arable pattern of small villages and by planting copses on area feels unique and rural, fi elds with some pasture near isolated farmsteads”. The ridgelines and upper although some areas of open to Barkby Thorpe. This area is relevant characteristics include: slopes space are affected by the close intensively farmed with well- undulating ridge and valley 7. conserve and enhance the proximity of the residential area maintained hedgerows creating landscape, and the urbanising well-treed character with of Hamilton and the Hamilton a strong fi eld pattern. Within this infl uences of Thurmaston and new spinney planting that Business Park. character area there are some Leicester City which affect the has informal fl owing edges distinct landscape features Hamilton Park western and southern area. following the landform such as the prominent group of 4.40 This is an area of public open 8. create habitats where mature trees on Barkbythorpe 4.44 Guidelines for the character space that lies between there are opportunities to Lane, the fi eld pond and trees area seek to: Hamilton Business Park strengthen the countryside of Abbot’s Spinney, the small and the residential edge of 1. mitigate the harsh urban character of the High watercourse/ditch that runs Hamilton. This area has been edge of Thurmaston and Leicestershire landscape. from Abbot’s Spinney to Melton designated as a green wedge. Leicester City
A Sustainable Urban Extension to the North East of Leicester : Design & Access Statement 43 Wreake Valley Local Materials 4.49 Renders are also a traditional 4.45 The ‘Wreake Valley’ lies and fi nish within the district. They encompasses a small part of Strategic Stone Study, A have a limited range of natural the site to the north. Relevant Building Stone Atlas of earth colours, lime white, pink Leicestershire April 2012, characteristics include: the and ochre. urbanising infl uences of 4.47 With regard to this study, many 4.50 Common roofi ng materials Leicester City and Syston; of Leicestershire’s buildings include plain tiles and pantiles limited valley crossings, with are of brick, but in eastern (used predominantly on single the A46 and A607 roads on Leicestershire and Rutland storey or out buildings). Slate engineered embankments; warm brown Jurassic ironstone roofs are common on deeper areas of mixed arable and is a common material. In the plan urban terraces with narrow pasture farming; some extreme east of Leicestershire pitch roofs. Stone slates are neglected and lost hedgerows and in Rutland, the Lincolnshire much rarer. and hedgerow trees; and limestone is reached and this is settlements located on valley refl ected in the building stone. slopes with churches marking 4.48 Charnwood Forest is a major villages. area of quarrying for building Soar Valley stone with the Mountsorrel granite and Swithland slates 4.46 The ‘Soar Valley’ encompasses (Precambrian) being used. a small part of the site to The use of stone is also noted the west. It is described as as being characteristic of the essentially a fl at fl oodplain northern part of the Nene with rising valley sides. With Valley. It is typically mellow grey Loughborough to the north and limestone though elsewhere Leicester City to the south it is one can fi nd dark iron rich the most urbanised area of the carstone. Borough of Charnwood. The relevant characteristics include: fl at wide river fl oodplain which experiences regular fl ooding; visible, built development on well-defi ned rising valley slopes; farmland and wildlife.
44 A Sustainable Urban Extension to the North East of Leicester : Design & Access Statement 45
5.0 Constraints and Opportunities
A Sustainable Urban Extension to the North East of Leicester : Design & Access Statement 47 5.0 Constraints and Opportunities
Introduction Landscape and topography 5.5 The development area rises 5.1 A constraints and opportunities relatively steeply in parts to analysis aims to record those the east which may have an characteristics of the site to impact upon the suitability for help establish the framework development and recreational for future development. The open space. An area of following points were identifi ed fl oodplain extends along the to inform the design rationale northern edge of the site, this and subsequent development will defi ne the edge of the of the NEoLSUE masterplan. development area. Constraints 5.6 The site adjoins and envelopes a small part of the Green Access Wedge between Syston and 5.2 The capacity for access into the Thurmaston. Development site is limited and will require within the green wedge is highway improvements to acceptable in principle as achieve the delivery of 4500 long as the scheme maintains dwellings. separation between settlements and enhances public access 5.3 Footpaths and bridleways that for walkers, cyclists and horse- cross the site will need to be riders. accommodated within the development. 5.7 In addition to topography, development areas will need 5.4 Development will also need to be defi ned taking account to consider the impact of of the landscape setting of the new access roads upon site. Determining the extent of existing properties and land the built edge and the density holdings along Barky Lane and of development along that edge Barkbythorpe Lane, and Colby and the location of recreational Drive and Colby Road. open space will be important to achieve an appropriate east to west transition, from countryside to existing urban area.
Landscape and Topography Plan
48 KEY
Approximate site boundary
Conservation Area
Scheduled Ancient Monument
Public footpath J10
Bridleway J7
Cycleway
Woodland
Sensitive hedgerows
Ditch/watercourse J34 Indicative floodplain J6 Railway line J10 J7 Existing urban areas J8
Green Wedge
J49 Indicative floodplain J13 J11 J12 and Green Wedge
J9
Constraints and Opportunities Plan
A Sustainable Urban Extension to the North East of Leicester : Design & Access Statement 49 Historic Built Environment Opportunities 5.15 Approaching along Barkby 5.8 Development will be infl uenced Lane, a view corridor was by the setting of the recognised Integration identifi ed that could be retained designated and non-designated 5.12 The area of Thurmaston to maintain the clarity of the heritage assets, and including around Colby Drive, between setting of Barkby. the conservation area of Barkby the railway and site, has few Access and movement and the setting of the medieval facilities and limited links to the 5.16 Convenient access points may village to the south-east. main retail area of Thurmaston. be able to be provided including A signifi cant opportunity exists Noise connections into and from to integrate existing residents 5.9 The principal sources of noise Thurmaston. The opportunity for by providing access to the will be from road traffi c and a public transport link may exist facilities of the NEoLSUE. trains on the railway line, to the in Colby Road. In Colby Drive Accordingly, the proposals west. an opportunity may exist for a for the site need to consider time controlled vehicle link. In Existing built edge links through to Thurmaston both locations the opportunity 5.10 The western boundary is in determining the layout of for cycle/footpath links should overlooked by adjacent urban blocks, the buildings and be fully explored subject to dwellings predominantly location of open spaces. agreement with the Highways bungalows, and the south Sustainability Authority. western boundary overlooked 5.13 The site lies within a sustainable 5.17 Due to the site location, by 2 storey dwellings. The effect location - on the edge of a signifi cant potential exists to on residential amenity will need city with multiple facilities. The create sustainable transport, to be taken into account in site area is large enough to including bus routes, and a preparing the masterplan. accommodate a mix of housing network of cyclepaths and Utilities and other uses, balancing the footpaths, including links to 5.11 Subject to capital investment for landscape and environmental Leicester City. constraints. These aspects new infrastructure, there are no Landscape and ecology constraints associated with gas, present an opportunity to create 5.18 The fi elds that form the vast electricity, telecoms and water a Sustainable Urban Extension. majority of the site are low infrastructure. An existing 11kV Views and Topography quality in terms of ecological overhead cable which crosses 5.14 The topography of the site interest. Hedgerows, trees and the site, and a pole mounted means that there is an some small water bodies within transformer between Barkby opportunity to keep Barkby the site are features to retain Lane and Barkbythorpe Lane, visually separate from the new and add to. A double hedgerow are affected by way-leaves. development. This especially adjacent to and south from applies to the central and Barkbythorpe Lane, defi ning a eastern part of the NEoLSUE. track has potential to form a footpath/cycleway.
50 5.19 To the south, the Hamilton to Watermead Country Park Country Park is a potential and the design of NEoLSUE feature (generator) for a green presents an opportunity to corridor running into/through create the link from Hamilton the development site both to Country Park to the new provide accessible open space corridor to Watermead. and create links with Leicester 5.23 The visual impact of the Paper City. Part of this Country Park Mill is readily apparent and an is of poor quality space and opportunity exists to introduce presents an opportunity for additional landscaping/planting upgrading. to ameliorate the visual impact 5.20 While the site incorporates a of the industrial units on the number of footpaths there is no development site. substantial area of open space Drainage/Floodrisk (beyond Hamilton Country Park), an opportunity exists to 5.24 The topography of the site, and provide open space that could presence of Barkby Brook (to be used/accessed by existing the north), Melton Brook (to the neighbouring residents (as well south) and Thurmaston Dyke as new residents) for various (west) indicates the need for activities. drainage to be accommodated in three areas. The extensive 5.21 Overall, the opportunity exists site presents an opportunity to signifi cantly enhance the to provide Sustainable Urban ecological interest of the area. Drainage (SuDS) and this can The woodland blocks and be planned at the outset of the hedgerows around the edge of development, probably requiring the site have the potential to be a scheme that achieves at least key elements in a framework of ‘greenfi eld’ run-off rates. “wildlife corridors” around the site. 5.22 The extent of the site also presents an opportunity to provide a variety of green space in terms of form and function (e.g. sports pitches, allotments, community orchards). The CBC and CSLP propose green infrastructure to link
A Sustainable Urban Extension to the North East of Leicester : Design & Access Statement 51