Project Title Former Stelco-Hardy Industrial Site, Blaenrhondda

Proposed Mixed Use Development

Document Design Statement

Client Phoneray Ltd Former Castleton Baptist Chapel Newport Road Castleton Cardiff CF3 2UR

Architect John Wotton Architects Greyfriars House Greyfriars Road Cardiff CF10 3AL

1.0 Introduction: Overview of the context

1.1 The site is located in Blaenrhondda at the top of the valley. Blaenrhondda is a typical 19th century colliery settlement organised in a linear pattern at the valley bottom, following the landscape features such as the mountains and the Rhondda Fawr River. The area is characterized by this river which starts at 1,800 feet and plunges in a series of waterfalls into 1,000 feet. The valley was carved out by a glacier in the last ice age with massive rocks and boulders scattered around.

1.2 The impetus for the settlement was the sinking of Dunraven and Fernhill collieries in the 1859 and 1869. The settlement was constructed over a relatively short period of time, which gives it a uniform appearance. It is predominantly residential in character with negligible commercial development. Blaenrhondda retains a distinctive village identity separate from neighbouring settlements.

1.3 The closure of the Fernhill Colliery in 1978 has resulted in a downward

Fig. 1 spiral in the fortunes of the settlement. There are no major employers Above: View of the general located in the area. Blaenrhondda suffers from decline and depopulation landscape of Blaenrhondda and has been identified as the key strategic site in the Rhondda Cynon Fig. 2 Taff Unitary Development plan for 2006-2021. The council has identified Below: One of the many surrounding waterfalls the potential of the former Fernhill colliery site to accommodate a major development. It is understood that Hepher Dixon has submitted an outline planning application on behalf of Cofton Ltd for a mixed use development comprising of residential development of 650-700 dwellings, leisure, tourism and hotel uses.

2 Site Site

2.0 Site and context appraisal

2.1 The site is located at the bottom of the valley on a plot of land currently occupied by an empty Stelco Hardy factory. The site is bordered by the Ty-Isaf mountain to its west and by the Rhondda Fawr river to the east. Fig. 3 It is mainly flat due to its former use. Above Right: Aerial view of

Blaenrhondda showing the site and its location to its 2.2 A short road to the north connects the site to the village. To the south surroundings there is a pedestrian bridge over the river. Fig. 4 Above: View from the Pen 2.3 The surrounding settlement consists of mainly 19th century terraced Pych Mountain towards the site, showing its relationship housing organised in long terraces along relatively narrow streets to the village running at the bottom of the valley in a predominantly north-south Fig. 5 direction. Many of these terraces are constructed of local pennant Below: New Pen-Pych sandstone with brick surrounding the windows. This gives the settlement Primary School a fairly uniform look.

2.4 Besides the derelict factory, the only bigger building in the village is the new Pen-Pych School which was opened in 1999 and is located in the vicinity of the site. It is distinctively modern in character, but successfully picks out the characteristics of the surrounding housing such as the use of local stone.

3 2.5 A site analysis was undertaken in order to establish the best design strategy for the site. The diagram below shows the existing layout of factory units, roads and the surrounding landscape. This area has been out of bounds to the general public due to its industrial use. There are great opportunities available in opening this area out and linking it with the existing Blaenrhondda village. The strengths of the site are its relationship to its surroundings (both the landscape and the surrounding village) and the views from the site to the landscape beyond. Its weakness at the moment is its dereliction and use for unauthorized social gatherings at the weekend.

Fig. 6 Right: Existing site layout showing the layout of the roads, factory units and the river

3.0 Vision

3.1 The new development proposes a mixed use development consisting of 49 no. of houses and 7 no. of small business starter units. The aim is to create a small village within the village: a family friendly place to live which provides a variety of accommodation types organised around a village square and opportunities for setting up small businesses close to your home.

4 4.0 Character and context

4.1 The layout of the development aims to respond to the conclusions of the site and context analysis and take advantage of the strengths and opportunities provided by the site.

Fig. 7 4.2 The development is organised into 4 distinctive areas. Area no. 1 Above: Proposed site layout showing the aims of the consists of a row of 4 bedroom detached houses with large gardens design organised around their own cul-de-sac road. These houses will be slightly elevated above the rest of the development and will have views

5 of the surrounding landscape. They are screened from the rest of the development by a row of existing trees.

4.2 Area no. 2 consists of 3 storey townhouses with attached garages facing the proposed riverside walk that loops around the site. These houses will have views over the river and the mountains beyond. The form of these houses follows the established pattern of the surrounding terraces, but brings more variation by providing detached houses.

4.3 The plan also illustrates possible flats at the eastern end of the square. This would be a very small development and maximum of 2 storeys high. Instead of flats, two detached houses could be built on these plots.

4.4 Area no. 3 consists of a group of modern terraced houses organised around an elevated communal village green. This green will be the true hub for this community by providing a children’s play area overlooked by the houses, quieter seating area, family barbeque area with picnic tables and a games area with table tennis tables and seating. The parking for these cottages will be provided by secure, semi-underground car parking beneath the green. This parking will only be accessible by the residents living around the square.

4.5 Area no. 4 consists of 7 small business units with their own loading areas and parking. These units will be located in landscaped parkland and allow smaller local businesses to operate locally, creating opportunities for employment.

4.6 The proposed development will provide a variety of accommodation types and sizes, which are linked by their scale and the use of materials. As can be seen in an accompanying sketch the design idea for the development is a modern retake of a traditional terrace. This is evident not only in the scale but in the choice of materials. The wooden window frames and render are not only sustainable material choices, but also allow for the residents to modify the appearance of them to their personal taste and look after them in on environmentally responsible manner.

6 Fig. 8 Right: A sketch showing the scale and materials of the proposed buildings

5.0 Accessibility and Legibility

5.1 The proposed development aims to integrate smoothly into the existing street and movement patterns. A careful analysis was undertaken in order to understand the current movement patterns for vehicles and pedestrians within and around the site. The main access to the site is provided by an existing road that currently leads to the factory. The main road leading to the development is then divided into four cul-de-sacs for vehicles which calm down the traffic within the development, allowing a more family friendly atmosphere.

5.2 The needs of pedestrians are fully taken into account: All parts of the development are accessible by pedestrians and there are shortcuts between different areas, encouraging walking. The residents of the village have requested the pedestrian bridge to be removed to the south of the site, but if kept, it would actually improve the pedestrian movement through site as people taking their children to school from Eileen Place can take a shortcut by the river rather than use their cars. Also, people

7 living on this development would have a short cut to the shops in .

5.3 Each different area within the site has its own distinctive character and orientates around a different feature. This makes the layout very legible and memorable. People can explain that they live by the square or by the river walk.

6.0 Continuity, Enclosure and Public Realm

6.1 There is a clear distinction between private and communal areas within the development. Private areas are clearly enclosed with fences and every house has a front garden. All the communal areas and footpaths are overlooked by houses. The roads are mainly addressed by active frontages, the only exception being the road leading to the business units.

6.2 The houses are designed with generous front gardens, allowing parking in front of the house, away from the footpaths or roads. As mentioned earlier, houses around the square will have their own secure parking underneath the square.

6.3 Parking for the business units will be in front of them. This area could be separated from the rest of the development by a secure fence and gates.

6.4 Left over ground that hasn’t been allocated to a specific use has been avoided.

7.0 Resource Efficiency

7.1 The design of the development has taken a very broad view of the sustainability, aiming to make the development economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.

8 7.2 The proposed development is located on a brownfield site, reusing an old industrial site. Its scale and density follows the scale and density of the surrounding settlement, integrating the proposed with the existing.

7.3 In the heart of the proposal is the creation of a community via communal area and job opportunities. It means that some of the people do not need to move away from the village or commute to work elsewhere. This relieves the pressure and congestion in the big growth areas of Rhondda valleys.

7.4 The development has carefully taken into account the existing landscape within and around the site. Proposed buildings are very much located within the boundaries of the current industrial development with the exception of the 4 bedroom detached houses. The existing green corridors for wildlife will remain on the river verges and on the green bank bordering the road leading to the business units.

7.5 As previously discussed, pedestrian movement has been of paramount concern for this development. Not only is walking better for the environment but it helps to create a better community by people meeting each other and getting to know each other. The aim has been to create Home Zones where the car is secondary to pedestrians. However, it is likely that people living on this development will need their cars in order to access bigger centres for employment and shopping.

7.6 The vicinity of the site next to the river would allow energy to be created from the water. The orientation of the buildings would also allow for the incorporation of renewable energy generators such as solar panels and wind turbines, should these be deemed necessary. The majority of the gardens have a southerly aspect, allowing for passive energy features such as orientating the main living areas to the south. It also allows people to grow their own vegetable in their gardens if they so desire.

7.7 The local materials would be used where deemed appropriate, but especially for boundary walls and hard landscaping. Sustainable materials would be used where possible, such as the main structure

9 which will be timber frame but also wall render, slate roofing, timber cladding, wooden window frames, insulation and interior finishes. The building of the proposed development would provide employment for the local people.

7.8 Consultation with the local people has taken place and their views especially about security were taken into account when developing the design.

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