Chapel Pill - Draft Concept Statement - November 2011 Page 1

CHAPEL

L PILL PILL E P

A 1

0 2

R E

B C

O N .

D T R N A E FT M CO TE NCEPT STA THE VISION �� 1 PILL EL INTRODUCTION ��3 P

A 1

Introduction Planning Context 0 2

Strategic Opportunity The Site R E

B Design Approach And Philosophy C M

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D T R N A E CONTEXT ASSESSMENT ��21 FT M CO TE NCEPT STA Context Assessment Local Character Visual Assessment Sneyd Park Historic Context Shirehampton Transport and Movement Pill Facilities and Services Easton-in-Gordano Landscape Character Stoke Bishop Site Sea Mills SITE ANALYSIS ��55 Site Constraints Statutory Designations Site Opportunities Landscape Constraints & Opportunities CONCEPT MASTERPLAN ��65 Design Concept Rail, bus and bike Land Use Park and Ride Illustrative masterplan Landscape Concept Access and Movement Avon Water Park

Clients: Alvis Brothers & Mr. A Hill

PLACEMAKING �� 83 th Issue Date: 4 November 2011 Placemaking Character Areas Document Status: Draft Scale and Density New Parkland Revision: -

Author: Various

CONCLUSIONS �� 99 Checked by: KP

Conclusions Authorised by JdH/SP Page 1

Chapel Pill - Draft Concept Statement - November 2011 Page 1

The Vision T hIS draft Development Brief provides a framework for the delivery of the following vision at Pill. “The development of land at Pill will provide for a sustainable new garden neighbourhood which benefits from sustainable transport links to Bristol, provides for local food production and seeks to improve and restore the landscape setting of the area and provide for a multifunctional green infrastructure network.”

Sustainable new “Garden Sustainable Transport Local Food Production Landscape setting Multifunctional Green Neighbourhood” links to Bristol • Provision of allotments, protected and restored Infrastructure Network • A sustainable form of development • New rail link to Bristol Temple community gardens and private • Original parkland setting of • Connects to existing network based around a new train station. Meads with a new station within gardens for food production. Leigh Court restored. of green spaces 800 metres of most new dwellings. • Attractive and functional • Integrated strategy for food production • Extended recreational green edge • Incorporates ecology, landscape, housing layout based on the • Direct access to a sustrans route which based on vegetable growing, to Bristol through the creation of sport, play, sustainable drainage principles of ‘garden cities’ provides for a direct 20 minute car free fishing and livestock keeping. a community park next to Leigh and food production. cycle route to Bristol City Centre. Court/Leigh Wood which would • Incorporates sustainable • Potential expansion of existing extend recreational and amenity drainage techniques • New and enhanced bus community food production green space for Bristolians. services to Bristol. activities in the area • Encourages trips by bike, bus and train • The proposed development will be • New proposed Park and Ride facility well integrated in the landscape.

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Shirehampton

Pill Introduction

A369

Ttehe Si

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Chapter 1 Introduction

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I nTRODUCTION T hIS DrAFT Concept Statement sets out a vision and draft development concept for a proposed sustainable urban extension to the west of Bristol, focussed around the existing settlements of Pill, Easton-in-Gordano and Ham Green. The vision for the development which is set out at the front of this statement seeks to deliver a sustainable, integrated and holistic development which complements the distinctive character of the surrounding area and provides for an attractive and distinctive place to live and work.

The purpose of the statement is to • A character assessment of distinctive is presented in a series of plans and demonstrate how the development of this places which are characteristic of the explanatory text relating to masterplan area could provide for a sustainable urban local area and has informed initial strategies for movement, landscape, green extension to Bristol which would include principles for layout and appearance. infrastructure, density and phasing. a wide range of benefits for both the new Section 3: Site Analysis This section also includes a set of strategic community and the existing residents of This section presents the results of various principles and strategies to accompany the Pill and Bristol. technical studies and assessments of the masterplan. site, including topography, landscape, Document Structure Section 5: Place-making ecology, access and movement through This section will set out principles for The document is structured as follows: the site. the design, character, appearance and Section 2: Context Section 4: Masterplan and layout of the development. The purpose Assessment Development Principles is to demonstrate how a high quality and This sets out: This section draws on the findings out attractive place that draws on the distinct • The historic context of the in Sections 2 and 3 and on the Vision character of Pill and Bristol will be set out at the start of the development delivered. site and the surroundings. Right: to present a strategic masterplan for the Section 6: Conclusion • Transport connections proposed development. The masterplan Plan showing the This section sets out a summary of the will demonstrate how it responds to the location of the site • The landscape context in terms of main findings and explains how the design landscape and environmental context, in relation to existing character, topography and views principles and masterplan will deliver the the existing movement network, the settlements at Pill, vision set out at the start of the document. • Local facilities; and green infrastructure network and Easton-in-Gordano existing infrastructure. The masterplan and Ham Green

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The Site

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S trATEGIC Opportunity Teh site is strategically very well placed to create a high quality, integrated and sustainable new neighbourhood. The diagram on the opposite page summarises the strategic location and opportunities for connection.

Urban Context Rail of the traffic using this route originates The proposed development would offer A recent bid by North Somerset Council in Portishead (approximately 5 miles to an opportunity to create improvements to Located 5 miles from Bristol City Centre to the Regional Growth Fund re-open the west of the site) and from the M5 the alignment and design of the route to and in close proximity to the existing the Portishead to Ashton line for public Motorway. There is an opportunity to further encourage its use. built-up area of Bristol to the north of the use was unsuccessful and alternative provide a new Park and Ride facility River, the site has an urban context. sources of funding will need to be found. at the junction of the M5 and A369 as Extension of Bristol’s The existing settlements of Pill, Easton- Development at Chapel Pill could help illustrated on the plan opposite which Green Spaces in-Gordano and Ham Green are fund this objective. Part of the proposals would remove some of the long distance The site is immediately adjacent to Leigh immediately adjacent to the site. There is include the re-opening of the station at commuter traffic. This could free up the Woods, which together with Ashton an opportunity to connect directly to the Pill, which would be within a 15 minute A369 for more efficient public transport Court provide a very popular green residential and employment areas within walk of much of the site and within a 25 movements. Existing bus services could recreational resource for Bristolians. these settlements to create a balanced, minute walk of all of it. be diverted through the new development The proposed development provides an mixed-use sustainable community. to provide for efficient connectivity to The availability of a direct passenger rail opportunity to extend this green corridor Bristol. Sustainable Transport service into Bristol taking less than 15 by creating new public parkland in the minutes provides a real, cost-effective Sustrans cycle route 33 area that historically formed the setting of Connections alternative to using the car and this could The popular Sustrans route 33 runs Leigh Court House. provide the basis for a truly sustainable through the site and offers an attractive, Strategically, the site offers a real form of development. direct and car-free route into Bristol City opportunity to provide convenient, direct Centre. A journey by bike form the site and sustainable connections to Bristol A369 bus route to the centre of Bristol takes less than 25 City Centre. The site is immediately adjacent to the minutes making cycling to work in Bristol A369, one of the main strategic vehicle a real option for new residents. routes into Bristol from the west. Much

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P lANNING Context

Planning Policy National Guidance Replacement Local Emerging Core Strategy • CS13 – Scale of new housing; The development plan in this location The following Planning Policy Statements Plan (March 2007) Relevant policies of the emerging Core • CS14 – Distribution of new housing; consists of the RS, adopted Joint Structure and Planning Policy Guidance is relevant: Relevant Policies of the Adopted Local Strategy Publication Draft (February • CS15 – Mixed and balanced Plan for the former Avon Area and the 2011) relevant to the application include: • PPS3: Housing Plan include: communities; Adopted Replacement North Somerset • CS1 – Addressing climate Local Plan – March 2007. • PPS4: Planning for Sustainable • GDP/1 – Location for Development • CS16 – Affordable Housing; change and carbon reduction; Economic Growth; The emerging Core Strategy has reached • GDP/3 – Promoting Good Design • CS19 – Strategic Gaps; • CS2 – Sustainable Design an advanced stage. The Core Strategy • PPG13: Transport contains the and Sustainable Construction. and Construction; • CS20 – supporting a Examination is scheduled for November Governments advice on transport • H/2 – Proposed sites for new successful economy; 2011. The Publication Draft (February and land use planning and promotes residential development. • CS3 – Environmental 2011) of the Core Strategy is therefore a sustainable transport choices. Impacts and FRA; • CS27 – Sport, recreation and material consideration and is considered • H/3 – Residential densities. community facilities; • CS5 – Landscape and below. The Core Strategy once adopted Joint Replacement • CF/1 - Contributions and Historic Environment; • CS33 – Countryside; will set out future strategic objectives, Structure Plan community facilities • CS34 – Infrastructure Delivery strategies and policies for conservation • CS10 – Transport and Movement; Applicable policies within the Structure and Development Contributions. and development in North Somerset up • T/6 - maximum parking requirements; Plan are: • CS11 – Parking; to 2026. • T/10 - Safety, traffic and infrastructure This document is intended to inform the • Policy 1 – Sustainable development; associated with development. Examination currently considering the submitted core strategy document. • Policy 30 – Employment; • Policy 33 – Housing requirement; and • Policy 35 – Design and Density of Housing.

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This area performed well in a strategic Green Belt review of all locations around Bristol to accommodate growth.

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Ttehe Si Teh site is located approximately 5 miles to the west of Bristol and 5 miles east of Portishead. The southern boundary of the site is formed by the A369 and the northern boundary by the River Avon and the existing settlements of Ham Green, Pill and Easton-in-Gordano.

Site Description The topography associated with the entire site rises from the River Avon The site covers an area of approximately in the north at approximately 8 metres 90 hectares and may be described as above Ordinance Datum (AOD) in the comprising two distinct character areas eastern area of the Site accommodating divided by Pill Road. an elevated farm yard in the centre of this The western part of the site, west of Pill portion of the site towards the wooded Road has a different character than the horizon of Paradise Bottom and Oak eastern part of the site. Wood. The western area of the Site rises gently from the southern edge of Pill The western part of the Site is formed reaching an elevation of approximately 45 of small to medium-sized fields with metres AOD at its highest point. hedgerows defining field boundaries and is always seen in the context of or is The southern boundary of the site is perceived to be associated with the urban defined by Pill Road (A369) and the settlement beyond, partly due to the views eastern edge is formed by the Leigh obtained from the busy A369 and several Woods. In the eastern part of the site, PROW that cross this part of the Site. the northern boundary is defined by the sustrans cycle route which follows the The eastern part of the Site has a more River Avon. In the western part of the open character. There are limited site, the northern and western boundaries footpaths in this area. It has natural visual are formed by the existing built up areas and physical containment resulting from of Pill and Easton-in-Gordano. the topographical variation and the strong tree belt along the disused railway line.

Above: The site in context

Right: Aerial photograph of the site

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River Avon

Pill

Ham Green Chapel Pill Farm

Easton-in-Gordano

St. Katerines Secondary School

Markham Farm

Pill Road A369

Markham Brook

Leigh Court

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Shirehampton

Pill

A369

View from the West This view shows how the site is well- A series of fields defined by mature Gordano. The existing Pill allotments related to the Bristol urban area and to hedgerows gives this area a distinct provide an opportunity to extend the settlements of Pill and Easton-in- character. There is an opportunity to local food production into the new Gordano. In the foreground is the existing create a distinctive semi-rural character development as a key element to its urban edge of Easton-in-Gordano formed in this part of the development which character and sense of place. by the backs of low density suburban will reinforce the character of Easton-in- housing.

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Sea Mills

Ham Green

St. Katherines Secondary School

St Katherines School and Ham Green This view shows existing recent housing Residential development on the site The photograph shows the screening and employment development at Ham would be within walking distance of effect of the mature planting following the Green as well as St Katherine’s Secondary both the employment area and the railway line. School. school providing for a sustainable form of development with a strong sense of community.

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Pill

Shirehampton

Chapel Pill Farm

View from the East This view of the site from the east shows There is an opportunity to bring large The photograph shows how the potential how there is potential to develop the areas of existing farmland into use as development would benefit from the lower lying areas of the site to reflect the public open space and to landscape these connectivity by bus, (via the A369), rail pattern of development to the north of the to improve the appearance and character and bike. River Avon. of the area.

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Pill

Leigh Court

Chapel Pill Farm

Setting of Leigh Court This view shows the potential to provide an appropriate landscape setting to Leigh Court on part of the site. Currently featureless agricultural landscape could be replaced with an accessible landscaped parkland.

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Shirehampton

Pill

Easton-in-Gordano

A369

View North This view shows the site in the context of It also shows how the land to the south of major industrial and employment areas to Pill has the potential for radial expansion the west and north of the site. where new housing would be within walking distance of the existing shops, services and facilities in Pill.

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Sea Mills

Shirehampton

Leigh Court

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Dsigne Approach And Philosophy Teh design approach is to create a new distinctive and sustainable extension to Bristol that will bring benefits to the local area in terms of new housing provision, the restoration of landscape features, integration with (and connection to) existing uses and movement corridors, supporting the delivery of new infrastructure and the creation of new employment opportunities.

The vision seeks to provide a sustainable • Make a positive contribution to the extension to the west of Bristol that is well character of the area and provide served by a range of sustainable transport enhancement of the existing landscape modes including direct rail and cycle • Self-sufficiency through routes. local food production and the The diagram on the opposite page integration with existing and new demonstrates how site-specific measures employment and local services. incorporated within the design approach • Respond to and reflect the distinct can contribute to creating a sustainable character of Pill, Easton-in-Gordano community. Key themes to the approach and the suburbs of Bristol are: These key themes have guided the • The creation of a sense of community design process to create a responsive and that builds on existing communities sensitive masterplan. The design process in Pill and Easton-in-Gordano has included a comprehensive assessment • An integrated transport strategy of the context and the site and the findings that builds on the strategic have informed a series of strategies and location of the site and seeks to principles which seek to deliver the Right: Diagram minimise the use of the car vision set out at the start of this concept based on the “Egan statement. Wheel of Sustainable Development

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Context Assessment

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