Crowthorne Design Guide
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Crowthorne Design Guide September 2018 Quality information Prepared by Checked by Approved by Emma van der Velde Don Ward Jon Rooney Landscape Architect, Senior Landscape Architect Technical Director AECOM AECOM AECOM Joe Critchley Clara Turlington Heritage Consultant, Principal Heritage Consultant AECOM AECOM Revision History Revision Revision date Details Name Position Draft 07/08/18 Incorporate NP Group Emma van der Velde Landscape Architect Revision A Comments Final 18/09/2018 Incorporate Locality Emma van der Velde Landscape Architect (Francis Shaw) Prepared for: Locality AECOM 2 Prepared for: Locality Prepared by: AECOM Infrastructure & Environment Limited 1 Wellbrook Court, Girton, Cambridge, CB3 0NA UK T: +44 1223 488 000 aecom.com © 2018 AECOM Limited. All Rights Reserved. This document has been prepared by AECOM Limited (“AECOM”) in accordance with its contract with Locality (the “Client”) and in accordance with generally accepted consultancy principles, the budget for fees and the terms of reference agreed between AECOM and the Client. Any information provided by third parties and referred to herein has not been checked or verified by AECOM, unless otherwise expressly stated in the document. AECOM shall have no liability to any third party that makes use of or relies upon this document. Where the conclusions and recommendations contained in this Report are based upon information provided by others it is upon the assumption that all relevant information has been provided by those parties from whom it has been requested and that such information is accurate. Information obtained by AECOM has not been independently verified by AECOM, unless otherwise stated in the Report. The methodology adopted and the sources of information used by AECOM in providing its services are outlined in this Report. The work described in this Report was undertaken in the period March to June 2018 and is based on the conditions encountered and the information available during the said period of time. The scope of this Report and the services are accordingly factually limited by these circumstances. Where assessments of works or costs identified in this Report are made, such assessments are based upon the information available at the time and where appropriate are subject to further investigations or information which may become available. AECOM disclaim any undertaking or obligation to advise any person of any change in any matter affecting the Report, which may come or be brought to AECOM’s attention after the date of the Report. Certain statements made in the Report that are not historical facts may constitute estimates, projections or other forward-looking statements and even though they are based on reasonable assumptions as of the date of the Report, such forward-looking statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results predicted. AECOM specifically does not guarantee or warrant any estimate or projections contained in this Report. Where field investigations are carried out, these have been restricted to a level of detail required to meet the stated objectives of the services. The results of any measurements taken may vary spatially or with time and further confirmatory measurements should be made after any significant delay in issuing this Report. Prepared for: Locality AECOM 3 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Objectives ................................................................................................................................... 5 2. Approach .................................................................................................................................................. 5 3. Context ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 3.1 Location ...................................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Planning Policy Context .............................................................................................................. 7 4. Character Assessment ............................................................................................................................ 15 Key Characteristics ................................................................................................................................. 15 4.1 Area A: Edgcumbe Park Residential Area ................................................................................ 16 4.2 Area B: West Crowthorne ......................................................................................................... 18 4.3 Area C: Crowthorne Centre ...................................................................................................... 20 4.4 Area D: East Crowthorne .......................................................................................................... 22 4.5 Area E: Wellington College/Edgbarrow School ......................................................................... 25 4.6 Area F: Broadmoor ................................................................................................................... 27 4.7 Area G: Transport Research Laboratory ................................................................................... 29 5. Managing Change .................................................................................................................................. 31 5.1 Positive aspects of character .................................................................................................... 31 5.2 Issues to be addressed ............................................................................................................ 33 5.3 Sensitivity to change ................................................................................................................. 34 5.4 Forces for change ..................................................................................................................... 35 6. Design Guidelines ................................................................................................................................... 36 6.1 Design considerations .............................................................................................................. 36 6.2 Design Principles ...................................................................................................................... 37 7. Next steps and sources of further information ........................................................................................ 56 8. References ............................................................................................................................................. 58 Appendix A – Spatial plans ................................................................................................................................... 59 Appendix B The Bracknell Forest Character Areas Assessment (Supplementary Planning Document, March 2010), Chapter 3 Crowthorne ...................................................................................................... 60 Appendix C - Schedule of heritage assets ............................................................................................................ 61 Figures Figure 1. Location Plan .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Prepared for: Locality AECOM 4 1. Introduction This report establishes a series of design principles to guide future change and development within the village of Crowthorne, Berkshire. It has been prepared by consultants at AECOM on behalf of Locality, working with the Crowthorne Parish Council, and is based on an appraisal of the heritage and character of the area carried out through desk study and fieldwork. These design principles recognise that the area, as shown in Figure 1, is likely to evolve over time. This is as a result of changes to the climate, alterations to existing buildings, the occasional introduction of new buildings, and careful and positive changes to the streetscape and public realm. However, certain aspects of the area are sensitive to small, successive changes that may cumulatively erode its character. 1.1 Objectives The main objectives of this report are to: ⋅ Briefly describe the context, character and heritage of the Crowthorne neighbourhood area. Including a review of the existing Bracknell Forest Character Assessment, Chapter 3 - Crowthorne. Confirmation that information within the report is still relevant and update where required (appended to this report); and ⋅ Present design guidelines that new development in Crowthorne should follow, drawing on existing information and guidance. 2. Approach The approach of this study follows well-established character assessment techniques. The detailed desk study and fieldwork carried out to inform this assessment underpins the classification and description of character areas and broadly follows the process set out in the “Approach to Landscape Character Assessment” (Natural England, 2014).This approach has been tailored to meet the specific needs of the neighbourhood planning process and draws on further best practice guidance including: