Rhossili car park improvements Design and Access Statement 2 RHOSSILI CAR PARK IMPROVEMENTS comprising: engineering operations and associated hard and soft landscape works, the installation of cycle racks, electric car charge point and erection of 6no. pay-&-display machines DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT THE NATIONAL TRUST Bronwen Thomas Landscape Architect 1 06/11/15 Rhossili car park improvements Design and Access Statement 2 CONTENTS: INTRODUCTION CONTEXT AND ANALYSIS: A. SITE ANALYSIS B. CONTEXT ANALYSIS C. POLICY CONTEXT DESIGN OF PROPOSED WORKS: DESIGN OBJECTIVES ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSED WORKS D. MOVEMENT E. ACCESS F - J. CHARACTER K. COMMUNITY SAFETY L. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Bronwen Thomas Landscape Architect 2 06/11/15 Rhossili car park improvements Design and Access Statement 2 INTRODUCTION The Proposed works This statement has been prepared by Bronwen Thomas Landscape Architect in support of the application for planning permission for proposed improvements at Rhossili car park. The works for which planning permission is being sought are the engineering operations and associated hard and soft landscape works, the installation of cycle racks, electric car charge point and erection of 6no. pay-&-display machines. The works are confined to the existing car park (referred to as 'the main car park' throughout this DAS) with some improvements within the adjacent field used for overflow parking (referred to as 'the overflow field' throughout this DAS). In summary, the project seeks to improve and upgrade the existing parking facilities to provide a more fitting welcome at this iconic visitor destination. The application site is the existing car park at the western end of the village of Rhossili. The application site is within National Trust ownership. National Trust and Gower The National Trust is a leading conservation charity with 4 million members. Established over 115 years ago, its primary statutory purpose is to promote the preservation of special places for the benefit of the nation. To achieve this aim we manage over a quarter of a million hectares of land, more than 700 miles of unspoilt coastline and estuary, several hundred historic houses, gardens and parks, and 6 World Heritage Sites. More than 100 million visits are made every year to the properties in our care. The project is related to the National Trust's wider ownership and management of coastal and common land in Gower. The National Trust is Gower's biggest landowner, owning 2,229 hectares of Gower, including 42 kilometres (almost three quarters) of Gower’s coast. This land includes Rhossili beach, repeatedly voted the best beach in Britain and ninth best beach in the world according to users of Trip Advisor. It also includes the iconic Worm’s Head peninsula and the Vile, one of the most significant remaining examples of a medieval strip field system in Britain. Bronwen Thomas Landscape Architect 3 06/11/15 Rhossili car park improvements Design and Access Statement 2 This specific application relates to the upgrading of the existing car park at Rhossili that came into National Trust's ownership in 2015. This complements the existing land ownership of the National Trust which includes land at Rhossili, Worms Head and The Vile. Design and Access Statements Design and Access Statements (DASs) have been a statutory requirement for most planning applications in Wales since 1st June 2009. Guidance on statements has been published by the Welsh Assembly Government and the Design Commission for Wales. Tan 12 - Design, explains the requirements of design and access statements. Statements should also set out how the development reflects the objectives of good design set out in Tan 12: achieving environmentally sustainable design solutions; sustaining or enhancing local character; promoting innovative design; promoting successful relationship between public and private spaces; promoting high quality in the public realm; ensuring ease of access for all; promoting legible development; designing for future adaptability; and promoting quality, choice and variety. This DAS is submitted to promote wider understanding and importance of the project at Rhossili car park. This DAS follows the structure prescribed in the City and County of Swansea's guidance on the preparation of Design and Access Statements. Bronwen Thomas Landscape Architect 4 06/11/15 Rhossili car park improvements Design and Access Statement 2 CONTEXT AND ANALYSIS A. SITE ANALYSIS Broad location The application site lies at the western edge of the historic village of Rhossili, on the periphery the historic agricultural land known as the Vile, and adjacent to the coastal common land of great scenic and natural heritage importance. The application site lies at between approximately 60m. and 80m. AOD, towards the edge of the gently rolling coastal plateau at the western extremity of the Gower peninsula. This plateau is formed of Carboniferous limestone, overlaid with varying depth of glacial till in heavy clay and shattered limestone. It slopes generally from east to west, giving a westerly aspect. Its coastal location means that it is windswept, restricting tree growth. Although the area does not experience many frosts, it is subject to heavy downpours but also experiences high sunshine levels. The site Site location plan to be inserted The application site outlined with a red line is xxxha. Access points: The vehicle access point is in the north east corner, directly from the minor road that runs through Rhossili. Access to overflow fields beyond the main car park is via field gates from the main car park. Pedestrian access is through gaps in the north boundary wall and from the toilet block. Current site uses: The site has been used as a car park many decades. The main car park accommodates approximately 200 vehicles, including several coaches and disabled spaces, and is heavily used throughout the year. The grass fields are used for overflow parking (800-900 vehicles), mainly during the summer months, and are grazed by sheep at other times. The parking is used by visitors to Rhossili Bay, the Coast Path, Worms Head and Rhossili Down. The car park also serves the village facilities of cafes, shops and hotel, plus the public toilets and National Trust shop. Local residents and hotel guests also use the car park, including overnight, and it is used by service vehicles and it provides a larger turning area beyond the bus terminus at the end of the B4247. As the main car park is un-gated it is also used by joy-riders to a small extent, and by overnight campers. Gates and 'dragon's teeth' prevent this occurring in the overflow fields. Current site features: Main car park: Rough, pot-holed tarmac entrance area with NT car park sign. Rough tarmac and gravel surfaces for roadway and parking, badly eroded and uneven, with no drainage. Stone boundary wall alongside northern edge with gaps for pedestrian access to Worms Head Hotel and footpaths. Stone boundary wall to cafe and residences to east. Bronwen Thomas Landscape Architect 5 06/11/15 Rhossili car park improvements Design and Access Statement 2 Grass parking and roadway in southern part which becomes eroded and muddy during heavy usage, and after heavy rainfall, also used by coaches, minibuses, camper vans and other vehicles requiring more space. Traditional clawdd bank forming southern boundary. To west - 5-bar timber railing forming boundary to overflow fields, with a timber field gate and recently-installed traffic flow plates giving access to the overflow fields. Also to west - stone wall forming boundary to toilets, with gap giving access to steps and ramps to toilets (not NT) and to the Coast Path and National Trust shop. In corner behind toilets a roughly triangular piece of land (not NT) of grass and crushed stone is used as a bin store. Small timber hut near the entrance. Two recently-installed pay-& display ticket machines and associated signage. Interpretation panels and notice boards near the toilets. Overflow fields (part of which is included in application site): Ryegrass surfaces throughout. Traditional clawdd banks to east, south and west, and between the two fields. Stone wall, partially retaining, alongside northern edge adjacent to the coastal path, with gaps for pedestrian access at either end. Bank and fence boundaries to Coastguard Cottages to north east. Constraints and opportunities The planning constraints are noted in the Policy Context section of this DAS. The two major characteristics of the site to be retained and enhanced: Informal field parking: The site of the main car park is basically a field used for parking that has gradually been adapted for higher usage over the decades. This type of car park is typical of Gower (Mewslade, Port Eynon for instance). This rural character, especially with its links to the Vile's historic pattern of fields, is of major landscape value and the retention of the character is of prime importance. Informal field parking Bronwen Thomas Landscape Architect 6 06/11/15 Rhossili car park improvements Design and Access Statement 2 Spectacular first views of Worms Head and Rhossili Bay: The first views of Worms Head are revealed just before entering the site, and throughout most of the site it can be seen with the clifftop coast path leading to it. From the north west part of the car park, the first views of the extent of Rhossili Bay come into view and this is one of the most popular 'photo opportunity' sites. These two views provide the first frisson of excitement when visiting Rhossili. Worms Head and Rhossili Bay, seen from the car park The site's continuing use as a car park is one of the most important visitor facilities in Gower, providing access to the spectacular countryside and coast. Lack of maintenance over the years prior to the National Trust's ownership has meant that the car park is now in a poor state of repair and does not provide a facility appropriate to its location and use.