NORTH ESSEX GARDEN COMMUNITIES West of Braintree
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NORTH ESSEX GARDEN COMMUNITIES West of Braintree CONCEPT FRAMEWORK MAY 2017 Project reference / Project number (optional) XX Month Year Document reference (optional) North Essex Garden Communities - West of Braintree Concept Framework NORTH ESSEX GARDEN COMMUNITIES West of Braintree CONCEPT FRAMEWORK FINAL REPORT 2 AECOM North Essex Garden Communities - West of Braintree Concept Framework Section 1.0 Section 2.0 Section 3.0 Section 4.0 Section 5.0 Appendix Introduction Approach and Concept Framework Delivery Stakeholder Concept Engagement 1.1 About this report 2.1 The ambition and vision 3.1 Framing principles leading 4.1 Infrastructure 5.1 Draft Policy SP10 - Options appraisal to a preferred option requirements Consultation responses evaluation criteria 1.2 Previous studies 2.2 Existing site context received 3.2 Preferred spatial structure 4.2 Implications for Policy 1.3 Key findings 2.3 Key design drivers SP10 5.2 Masterplanning ie 3.3 Land use, capacity and 2.4 Consideration of workshop placemaking alternatives 5.3 Stakeholder consultation 3.4 Access and movement 3.5 Infrastructure and sustainability 3.6 Green/ blue Infrastructure AECOM 3 North Essex Garden Communities - West of Braintree Concept Framework This chapter sets out the project objectives and the purpose of this report. 4 AECOM North Essex Garden Communities - West of Braintree Concept Framework 01 Introduction 1.1 About this report 1.2 Previous studies 1.3 Key findings AECOM 5 North Essex Garden Communities - West of Braintree Concept Framework 1.1 About this report AECOM has been commissioned by Braintree District, Colchester Borough, Tendring District, Uttlesford District and Essex County Councils to Report Structure produce a Concept Framework for the proposed The Concept Framework is set up across the following report structure: Garden Community for West of Braintree. 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Approach and Concept 3.0 Concept Framework 4.0 Delivery 5.0 Stakeholder Engagement Audience and baseline The North Essex Councils are assessing the potential for a Garden Community at West of Braintree and are the intended audience for this report. In that respect, it assumes The Concept Framework Provides a synthesis of existing A clear spatial illustration of Breakdown of proposed option A summary of initial engagement a high level of background knowledge and does not repeat the baseline analysis will support the Councils in contextual baseline analysis as the Framework, together with a phasing and associated impacts with the local communities, contained in previous reports, most notably the ‘Concept Feasibility Study’. This was the preparation of a sound well as key design drivers. suite of accompanying guiding on infrastructure and draft policy. community action groups and prepared by AECOM during the first half of 2016 to help inform the Councils’ selection evidence base and inform the framework plans and principles. key stakeholders on the nature, of Garden Communities to take forward through Preferred Options consultation. ongoing preparation of Local scale and key design parameters It drew together opportunities and constraints, capacity analysis, infrastructure Plans in respect of the Garden of the Garden Community. appraisal, deliverability and viability assessments. The study process also included the Communities and their defence preparation of a North Essex Garden Communities (NEGC) Charter, which sets out the at Examination in Public in 2017. level of ambition and key guiding principles that should underpin the further evolution of proposals. The evidence base documents that have led directly to this report are This chapter provides context to the A re-assertion of the North Essex Land use, capacity and placemaking Indicative infrastructure associated A review of consultation responses shown in Figure 1. commission with a demonstration of Garden Communities Charter and illustrating the proposed broad with the preferred option. received under the consultation the supporting evidence base. the vision / ambition of the North disposition of land uses including period of the draft Local Plan and Essex Councils. preferred locations for housing; A review of how current proposals specifically associated to Policy Spatial scope jobs and employment; new schools would impact on Policy SP10 of the SP10. A synthesis of existing context and and other community facilities; new draft Local Plan. The emerging policy for a Garden Community West of Braintree had assumed that, in baseline findings that influence the mixed use district/local centres; A synthesis of key findings at an addition to the homes planned for the area in Braintree District, a number may also be direction of the Concept Framework. formal/informal open space early workshop with Local Authority planned for in an adjacent area in Uttlesford District. However, work on the Uttlesford typologies and provision. representatives. Local Plan has been paused whilst the evidence base is reviewed and so this report A demonstration of the key design A summary of the two engagement only considers land in Braintree. This has a number of implications for the planning and drivers that combine to deliver Access and movement setting events held with Local Parish the framing principles and overall locations for proposed vehicular Councils and other stakeholders. concept design of a Garden Community West of Braintree. concept. access, routes and key footpaths, cycle tracks and/or bridleways as well as guidance on how these Status of findings and further work routes will align through and around the site connecting to surrounding The content of this report is high level and intended to offer an initial evidence base to settlements. determine the appropriateness of a Garden Community in this location. Infrastructure and sustainability Other studies have been commissioned alongside this work and must be read in proposals to demonstrate the new community would be appropriately conjunction with conclusions drawn. These include: serviced. − Transport: the findings will need to be tested and verified by Jacobs, the A green and blue infrastructure County Council’s retained transport consultants, including high level traffic network to demonstrate the incorporation of key landscape and modelling and an exploration of the potential for Bus Rapid Transit along the site features, proposed landscape A120 corridor that will influence options for sustainable travel. buffers, watercourses and an open space hierarchy are incorporated. − Economy: SQW and Cambridge Econometrics have been appointed to make recommendations to provide a basis for the employment land elements of the A consideration of phasing and Concept Framework. deliverability of site specific proposals consistent with Garden City Principles. 6 AECOM North Essex Garden Communities - West of Braintree Concept Framework 1.2 Previous studies Evidence Base Volume 1: Baseline, June Evidence Base Volume 2: Opportunities Evidence Base Volume 3: Options and North Essex Garden Communities Draft Interim Concept Framework, Final Concept Framework, April 2017 2016 and Constraints, June 2016 Evaluation, June 2016 Charter, June 2016 December 2016 This report provides a comprehensive synthesis A collation of existing data covering Providing a synthesis of the key Identifies two high level site options for The Charter sets out 10 placemaking This report set a draft interim framework of all work relating to the consideration of a a wide range of social, economic and opportunities and constraints arising the West of Braintree broad search areas. principles developed to articulate for comment by the Councils to inform Garden Community at West of Braintree. It environmental themes. The report from the analysis and understanding A high-level indicative development the Councils’ ambition for the Garden direction within which to finalise the provides sufficient technical detail to form part provides a contextual oversight for the of the evidence base presented in the capacity is provided based on a series of Communities, and help drive forward their Concept Framework for Testing. of the evidence base for plan making as well as common assumptions, with the options development. These are based on the highlighting areas that need to be supported West of Braintree broad search area. Baseline Compendium. subsequently evaluated using a Site Town and Country Planning Association’s by subsequent DPD policies in order to achieve Appraisal and the Garden Cities & Large (TCPA) Garden City Principles, but the quality of development envisaged against Sites Financial Model (originated by adapted for the specific North Essex Garden City Principles. ATLAS). The outcomes of each evaluation Context in the 21st Century. is presented but no conclusions drawn. Concept Feasibility Study Concept Framework Figure 1: North Essex Garden Communities- Previous Studies AECOM 7 North Essex Garden Communities - West of Braintree Concept Framework 1.3 Key findings Design drivers Consideration of alternatives Preferred Option framing principles There are a series of design drivers and framing principles that influence the proposed The Concept Framework has been formulated through an iterative process. Three The preferred option has been informed by a number of framing principles. These concept design approach, particularly in terms of extent and scale of development. options were prepared within the context of the integrated structure, with each option comprise an appreciation of: These are the outcome of a considered approach