HARPER GREEN Garden Village

October 2018

Vision Document Bloor Homes and the Department of Health are pleased to present this vision for a Garden Village at Harper Lane, Radlett. We believe this is a unique opportunity to create a healthy place to live with a strong sense of community and of the highest design quality that reflects all of the Garden City principles.

A Bloor Homes Development Contents

1 The Opportunity 6

2 The Strategic Opportunity 8

3 The Components of a Garden Village 12

4 The Components of a Healthy Town 16

5 Our Commitment to the Delivery of Harper Green Garden Village 18

6 Our Vision 24

7 Our Masterplan 32

8 Our Principles for Place-Making 36

10 Summary and Conclusions 48 Page

1 The Opportunity

Introduction The Site The land at Harper Lane, Radlett offers an exciting and The site covers an area of approx.135ha (333.6 acres) and is unique opportunity to deliver a 21st Century Garden Village located 1.4km to the north east of Radlett and 1km to the that provides a wide range of high quality housing and north west of Shenley. The site is immediately adjacent to community facilities in a sustainable location. and encloses a development site for 206 dwellings that are currently under construction. The proposals set out in this Bloor Homes and the Department of Health are committed document seek to build on this approved development to to the delivery of vibrant new communities comprising create a larger mixed use development with the critical mass quality homes and we are excited and passionate about to deliver community facilities and services. The site is 2.5km this opportunity to deliver a new Garden Village for from Radlett Railway station which is served by regular trains Hertfordshire, with potential to support growth in St Albans to St. Pancras station, a journey time of 27 minutes. The and Hertsmere. We have a track record of delivering high extents of the site provide the opportunity to design into the quality developments and are proud of our achievements. proposals a permanent “stop” in the form of a well-defined We see this as an opportunity to create an exemplar new green edge to protect the setting of Shenley and Radlett and settlement that embodies the principles of Garden Cities and prevent any potential for future coalescence. The topography Healthy New Towns. rises up towards these settlements visually containing the site. Gently sloping terrain, rising up towards Shenley In this document we set out our initial vision and proposals for Harper Green Garden Village together with a set of commitments that would ensure the delivery of a transformational healthy new community. We have taken time to carefully consider the potential of the site, its strategic influences and the benefit that a Garden Village in this location could bring. Importantly, we have also reviewed what is meant by “Garden Village” and “Garden City” principles both today and historically in order to consider how these can be genuinely and meaningfully applied to this location. We have identified what we believe are the essential components to delivering a genuine Garden Village. We have also identified the elements and features that will make this a healthy town with reference to the NHS Healthy New Towns Initiative. We set out our vision for Harper Green Garden Village in Chapter 3 with Radlett train station approximately a 20 minute walk Former Harperbury Hospital undergoing demolition details of our masterplan in Chapter 4. from site Page

M25

London Road B5378 Colney Street Employment Area Approved Bloor Homes development

Kingsley Green Hospital The Site Lime Way

Harper Lane B556 Equestrian Centre Shenley

300m

500m

Potters Park Golf Club

Railway Station

Radlett Page

2 The Strategic Opportunity

The Strategic Opportunity The plan presented on the opposite page shows the key The landownerships provide the opportunity to create a strategic influences and drivers for the Harper Green Garden new, well-defined and permanent green edge to the new Village. These include; community to ensure that the new community is well- contained and that the physical separation with Radlett and »» Radlett Railway Station (1.5km from the site) offering Shenleybury is protected. This green edge will ensure that the regular services to London, St Albans and beyond. Garden Village has ample opportunity to provide community »» The M25, B5378 and B556, allowing the Garden Village gardens, allotments and leisure facilities. to be connected to the wider context »» Existing employment opportunities at Colney Street Hertfordshire Business parks and Kingsley Green Hospital. »» Existing Public Rights of Way, enhancing walkability to neighbouring settlements and the railway station. »» The approved proposed re-development of part of the hospital site for 206 dwellings by Bloor Homes. »» Existing nearby schools and other community facilities and the potential to provide more on the sites. These will all contribute to the foundations for a thriving new community.

View along the B556 outside the entrance to the current Bloor Public Right of Way along from the east Radlett Town Centre Homes development Page

9 Page

The Route to Radlett Town Centre and Train Station There is an existing direct walking and cycling route made up of existing Public Rights of Way and quiet neighbourhood streets from the site to Radlett town centre and the train station, which together make for a pleasant and scenic route. The S106 for the committed development provides a financial contribution to improve this route. See plan below and views along the route opposite. On foot the route takes about 20 minutes to walk or 10 minutes to cycle. There are opportunities to make improvements to this route in the form of surface treatments and lighting to optimise its attractiveness as a route for pedestrians and cyclists. Page

1. Foot/Cycle path along Lime Way 2. Intersection of Foot/Cycle paths to other parts of site 3. Foot/Cycle path through southern part of site

4. Follow path through woods 5. Turn left along The Warren 6. Follow path along The Avenue

7. Along Shenley Hill across the bridge from Train Station 8. View of Town centre along Watling Street on your left 9. Arrive at Station Page

3 The Components of a Garden Village

If Harper Green is to truly be a ‘Garden Village’ and reflect the qualities of historic garden cities and suburbs it is useful to reflect on what the key principles of Garden Cities are and how the Government sees them applied to new developments.

The View of MHCLG The View of the TCPA Paragraph 72 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2018) states: The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) which started out as the Garden City Association states: “The supply of large numbers of new homes can often be best achieved through planning for larger scale development, such as new settlements or significant extensions to existing villages and towns, “At the heart of the Garden City ideals is the development of holistically planned new settlements provided they are well located and designed, and supported by the necessary infrastructure and which enhance the natural environment and provide high-quality affordable housing and locally facilities. accessible jobs in beautiful, healthy and social communities.” Working with the support of their communities, and with other authorities if appropriate, strategic The Hertsmere Local Plan Issues and Options Consultation (September 2017) suggests that policy-making authorities should identify suitable locations for such development where this can help new required housing could be delivered in part through “Garden Suburbs” and “Garden to meet identified needs in a sustainable way. In doing so, they should: Villages”. - ensure that their size and location will support a sustainable community, with sufficient access to services and employment opportunities within the development itself (without expecting an unrealistic level of self-containment), or in larger towns to which there is good access; - set clear expectations for the quality of the development and how this can be maintained (such as by following Garden City principles), and ensure that a variety of homes to meet the needs of different groups in the community will be provided; ”

High quality homes at Letchworth Garden City A tree-lined street at Letchworth Garden City Page

Letchworth

Bloor Homes Developments Page

Welwyn Garden City - attractive houses set within landscaped streets

The Garden City Principles The TCPA lists 9 key Garden City principles which are set »» Development that enhances the natural environment, out below: providing a comprehensive green infrastructure network and net biodiversity gains, and that uses zero-carbon and A Garden City is a holistically planned new settlement which energy-positive technology to ensure climate resilience. enhances the natural environment and offers high-quality affordable housing and locally accessible work in beautiful, »» Strong cultural, recreational and shopping facilities in healthy and sociable communities. The Garden City walkable, vibrant, sociable neighbourhoods. principles are an indivisible and interlocking framework for »» Integrated and accessible transport systems, with walking, their delivery, and include: cycling and public transport designed to be the most »» Land value capture for the benefit of the community. attractive forms of local transport. »» Strong vision, leadership and community engagement. »» Mixed-tenure homes and housing types that are genuinely affordable. »» A wide range of local jobs in the Garden City within easy commuting distance of homes. »» Beautifully and imaginatively designed homes with gardens, combining the best of town and country to create healthy communities, and including opportunities to grow food. Page

The Relevance of Garden Cities Today The original Garden Cities were radical, socialist experiments characterised primarily by land ownership on behalf of the community. This model in its purest form is unlikely to be realistic or viable today although there are opportunities and examples of how this can be incorporated. The original Garden Cities, which sought to combine the benefits of the country with those of the town, were a potential solution to overcrowded slums and city squalor. Whilst this is no longer a key driver, there is a general desire to see the delivery of high quality new communities and the Garden City model remains highly relevant today. Our site at Radlett offers the potential to create a garden village that integrates the housing sensitivity into the landscape setting. Almost all of the original Garden City principles remain relevant today.

Howard’s “Three Magnets” diagram showing how the new Garden Cities would combine the most attractive elements of both the town and the country. A similar diagram could be produced for Harper Green Garden Village with the benefits of high quality and affordable homes being as attractive as the connections to the countryside and accessible open spaces Page

4 The Components of a Healthy Town

Harper Green Garden Village is immediately adjacent to In order to meet the NHS England objectives for a “Healthy »» Promote walking and cycling through clearly defined Kingsley Green Hospital (formerly Harperbury Hospital). New Town”, we would: routes around the site and connecting to local sustainable modes of transport. In the NHS’s Five Year Forward View, a commitment was »» Liaise with NHS England and develop a series of made to dramatically improve population health, integrate interventions to ensure Harper Green optimises the »» Provide a community hub based around the primary health and care services into new developments and promote opportunity for its residents to be fit, healthy and happy. school. independence and social inclusion in the ageing population. »» Provide health and social care facilities for the »» Provide clear way-finding via the alignment of primary In addition, the Department of Health set a target of 26,000 community within the new village at an early phase of green corridors connecting to an outer green edge that is homes to be built on NHS land in the “Healthy New Town” the development. easy, enjoyable and safe to use. programme. »» Build ‘Smart houses’ with built in monitoring and »» Provide for a strong social infrastructure to minimise information access. social isolation »» Design homes specifically for the elderly and infirm. »» Provide community gardens and allotments to encourage interaction, healthy eating and ‘green-gym’ exercise. »» Promote sports and recreation including play-spaces and parkland to encourage social inclusion at the heart of the village.

Clearly defined walking and cycling routes, lined by Legible and open streets allowing for Informal public space in the form of community green infrastructure. maximum visibility. gardens, suitable for all age groups. Page

Healthy New Town Principles Would this be delivered at Harper Green Garden Village? Actively promoting and enabling community leadership and participation in planning, design and management of buildings, facilities and the Yes surrounding environment and infrastructure to improve health and reduce health inequalities. Reducing health inequalities through addressing wider determinants of health such as the promotion of good quality local employment, affordable Yes housing, environmental sustainability and education and skill development. Providing convenient and equitable access to innovative models of local healthcare services and social infrastructure, with the promotion of self-care and Yes prevention of ill health. Providing convenient and equitable access to a range of interesting and stimulating open spaces and natural environments providing informal and formal Yes recreation opportunities for all age groups. Ensuring the development embodies the principles of lifetime neighbourhoods and promotes independent living. Yes Promoting access to fresh, healthy and locally sourced food (e.g. community gardens, local enterprise). Yes Encouraging active travel, ensuring cycling and walking is a safer and more convenient alternative to the car for journeys and providing interesting and Yes stimulating cycle/footpaths. Creating safe, convenient, accessible, well designed built environment and interesting public spaces and social infrastructure that encourages community Yes participation and social inclusion for all population groups. Embracing the Smart Cities agenda by incorporating and future-proofing for new technology and innovation that improves health outcomes across a Yes range of areas both at an individual level and within the public realm. Ensuring schools, sports and leisure facilities, the public realm and open spaces are well designed in ways which promote an active and healthy lifestyle, Yes including regular physical activity, healthy diet and positive mental health. Page

5 Our Commitment to the Delivery of Harper Green Garden Village

Our Commitment to the Delivery of Harper Green A development of this scale requires strong local leadership and Bloor homes are committed to working with the local authorities, the health trust and the other landowners to take a strong lead in the design and delivery of the Garden Village. Our 5 key commitments to the delivery of the Garden Village are set out on the page opposite. These are based on the established principles of Garden Cities. Over the following pages, we have then set out 20 deliverables which clearly demonstrate how each of these commitments can and will be met by Bloor Homes and how we will meet each of these commitments with reference to specific measures and initiatives.

A Bloor Homes Development Page

19 Page

Holistic We will deliver a holistic, balanced community by: We will provide for a diverse range and innovative housing types by: »» Undertaking an ongoing comprehensive community consultation exercise including collaborative design »» Providing for all sectors of society including older exercises and workshops and an interactive website to downsizers, young families, couples and singles. ensure that the existing local community have genuine »» We will provide for advanced housing technologies involvement in the formation of the community. and with the incorporation of ‘smart’ technologies »» Providing for carefully phased delivery to ensure facilities in the home, potentially within a dedicated ‘smart and employment are provided at an early stage neighbourhood’ where new innovative technologies can be showcased »» Providing for day to day self-sufficiency of the community with a health centre, school, shops and »» We will provide for the provision of bespoke larger homes employment provided as architectural landmarks within the new community which will be architect designed. »» Providing for at least 5% of highly accessible “Lifetime Homes” Page

We will deliver affordable homes by: Delivering a “Healthy New Town” »» Delivering a wide range of affordable housing types »» Meeting the NHS England objectives for a “Healthy including: Social Rent; Starter Homes; Shared New Town”. We would liaise with NHS England and Ownership; Help to Buy; Build to Rent; Community develop a series of interventions to ensure Harper Green Land Trusts. optimises the opportunity for its residents to be fit, healthy and happy. »» Providing a range of genuinely affordable houses for local people. »» Provide health and social care facilities for the community within the new town at an early phase of the »» Providing for a wide range of housing tenures. development. We Will Provide for a Healthy Community by: »» Build ‘Smart houses’ with built in monitoring and Creating a Walkable Community information access. »» We will design the Garden Village as a walkable »» Design homes specifically for the elderly and infirm. neighbourhood with direct and attractive walking and cycling routes for residents between the housing areas »» Provide for a strong social infrastructure to minimise and the village centre and employment. All homes will be social isolation. within a 10 minute walk of the village centre. »» Provide opportunities to grow food locally. »» Journeys by car will be made to be less direct to »» Provide a community hub based around the primary encourage healthy modes of transport. school. »» Routes to the village centre and employment areas will be designed to be safe, attractive and overlooked. »» As well as routes within green corridors, a network of quieter streets will provide a choice of alternative routes to the village centre and employment areas. Page

Providing a Green Place We Will Deliver a High Quality Place »» We will ensure that accessible useable public open space We would ensure that the quality of architecture is is within 5 minutes’ walk of every home. significantly higher than the current usual development »» We will provide a wide range of play and sporting »» We would use local natural building materials. facilities for all ages including children’s play, outside »» Incorporate Lower Harper Green Farmhouse listed gyms, trim trails, tennis courts and bowling greens. building sensitively so that this contributes to the quality »» Wherever possible homes will be designed to look onto and sense of place. either open spaces or street trees to have a beneficial effect »» We would reflect locally distinctive architecture in the on mental well-being. new homes and other buildings to reinforce the sense of Create a Happy Town place. »» Provide access to strong local, cultural, recreational and »» We would seek to deliver innovative ‘Smart Homes’. leisure facilities within walking distance. Harper Green Garden Village would be highly sustainable »» Provide for a strong sense of community through the »» We would promote for a walkable community that is well introduction of a governance structure that puts the connected by sustainable transport. residents at the heart of the community. The landscape design and public realm would be of the »» Introduce public art in the form of a public arts trail highest quality along key routes which tells the story of Harper Green Garden Village area reflects the history of the area. »» We would use natural, high quality surface materials in the public realm. »» Generous planting of trees including street trees along the majority of streets. Page

The mix and arrangement of uses would create a vibrant We will provide for a landscape-led settlement with exemplar place with a sense of vitality green infrastructure »» A wide range of community and commercial uses would Network multifunctional green infrastructure be provided. »» A generous network of open space for play, amenity, »» Pubs, cafes and restaurants would provide for a vibrant sport, ecology, habitat creation and sustainable drainage. social life. »» Incorporation of key views » » A community hub would be provided in the centre of the »» Comprehensive mitigation strategy for biodiversity. new community at the village school. »» Retention of existing trees, hedgerows and woodland. We will provide for self-governance and for land value capture and stewardship and a viable development »» Provide for a net biodiversity gain. »» We would involve the existing and new community from »» Provide front and rear gardens. the earliest stages in the development of the masterplan. Community food production »» We would facilitate the development of community »» We will provide allotments with a community building; governance arrangements. a community orchard as well as grow patches within »» We would explore opportunities to transfer some residential parcels. elements of the Garden Village to the new community »» Provide a community forest garden by extending the through a Community Land Trust or similar. existing woodland. Exemplar green spaces and green infrastructure »» Green Space linked to the wider natural environment including a mix of public and private networks of well managed high quality gardens, tree-lined streets and open spaces. Page

6 Our Vision

Harper Green Garden Village will be an attractive and This, combined with the radial structure of the settlement The original Garden Cities and Garden Suburbs were based sustainable community of the highest quality set within will ensure that the village centre is within walking distance on a strong spatial model and we have developed a model for a network of attractive green spaces and places framed by of every home. Walking and cycling routes would permeate Harper Green Garden Village that is presented here: beautiful and innovative homes. The Garden Village will the community along a central tree-lined radial, linking to »» A radial form centred on the existing proposal from have a strong sense of community with a balanced mix of PROWs and other routes, which would be within 400m Bloor Homes. With a tree lined avenue connecting all housing types, a local centre catering for everyday needs (5-minute walk) of every home. The site also lies within green corridors and open space. The radical structure will and a primary school. The Garden Village is located next Watling Chase Community Forest, and therefore the Watling encourage walking and cycling to the centre. to many existing local employment opportunities such as Chase Community Forest SPG, where community forests are Colney Street and Hertfordshire Business Parks and Kingsley defined as, “not continuous areas of closely grown trees but »» A well-defined and positive green edge to the Garden Green Hospital, as well as being located within a 20-minute are instead intended to be ‘a rich mosaic of landscape, within Village will be provided, forming a transition between walk to Radlett Train Station, providing regular service to which land uses include farmland, woodland, villages, leisure the Garden Village and open countryside, as well as London and St Albans. In addition, local amenities will offer enterprises, nature areas and public open space.” The SPG maintaining a defined boundary between neighbouring some employment. Other sustainable transport modes exist, specifies that development must have a focus on enhancing settlements and the Watling Chase Community Forest including a regular bus services to all the surrounding local public access for non-motorised forms of transport, providing SPG guidelines. towns in the form of the 358, 602, 658 services. Current a network for walkers, cyclists and horse riders of all abilities »» A vibrant mixed-use high street comprising high/low bus routes will be integrated into to the site allowing for to encourage sustainable commuting to school and work and density housing and local amenities catering for day- maximum usage.The diagrams on the opposite page present to provide opportunities for leisure. This is in accordance today needs. our spatial model for Harper Green Garden Village, which with Watling Chase Greenways Strategy (2003), which aims like Howard’s original idea is based on a circular concept. to provide a network of “car-free, off-road routes connecting »» An integrated, multi-functional Green Infrastructure Whilst Howard’s model was based on efficient vehicle people to facilities and open spaces in and around towns network comprising parks, playing fields, woodlands, movement to the centre ours seeks to provide for a walkable and cities and to the countryside”, in order to help the footpaths and cycleways, with a focus on enhancing and cyclable community that is also well served by regular Community Forest to achieve its full potential, particularly in accessibility to non-motorised forms of transport. public transport. Green wedges and corridors connect the terms of sustainable access. »» An integrated sustainable public transport strategy and centre to the circumference, along which cycleways and improved connections to existing ones, especially for footpaths will run and eventually connect to existing Public pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. Rights of Way (PROW), integrating with the local character. The distance from the village centre to the circumference is around 400m (5-minute walk). Page

Central Sustainable Strong, Legible, Green Wedges Extend to Transport Concentric Structure Surrounding Countryside

Harper Green Garden Village Spatial Concept Radlett Railway Station Page Radlett 26

Woodland

Existing Hospital

New Country Park (to include pitches School Existing Proposed 200 dwellings and play areas)

Village Green

Allotments

Sustainable Urban Drainage Page

This drawing shows the completed Harper Green Garden Village viewed from the north east.

Harper Lane

M25 Page

Constraints and Opportunities

Summary of Design Influences The plan on the opposite page identifies important features »» The gently sloping terrain in the south of the site has that will influence the design of the site for residential been taken into consideration in the design process with led mixed-use development. A summary of the main all the development being situated on the more level considerations is provided below. central and eastern sections. This will define a natural boundary and fix a permanent green edge to the village. »» Targeted retention and enhancement of existing vegetation, particularly Lime Way, could provide wildlife »» Listed buildings located near the site are protected by corridors through the development as well as increased a surrounding green boundary, thus maintaining their legibility and way-finding and community space. character. »» Existing Public Rights of Way crossing the site will be These considerations have all guided the emerging masterplan incorporated into its character and layout, which, by design described in the following sections to ensure that providing defined routes to neighbouring settlements, the development is responsive to both the local context and will encourage walking and cycling. known on-site conditions. »» Development will be set back from surrounding access roads to ensure the areas residential amenity is not affected and that it blends in with nearby settlements.

Potential foot and cycle path along Lime Way Public Right of Way along eastern boundary Page

Constraints and Opportunities Plan Page

Our Concept

The development at Harper Green will establish a »» A sustainable and balanced mix of housing types new community, based on a radial structure which including higher density development located along the will compliment the pattern neighbouring proposed central access routes and lower density housing around development as well as allowing for the design of a walkable the edges; neighbourhood. »» A network of multi-faceted green routes and spaces; The existing green infrastructure will be incorporated into the »» A network of direct and attractive pedestrian and cycle development, creating very strong green links which will cater routes, taking advantage of existing features; for recreation, as well as utilising existing Public Rights of Way allowing for direct links to desired destinations. »» Clear and direct routes to existing modes of transport The various elements of the concept plan include: »» Green corridors and open spaces provide for long distance views to the surrounding countryside and local »» Up to 1,400 new homes (+206 from proposed Bloor’s features; development); »» Retention of important trees and hedgerows into the »» Open space with recreational and community value; development within green spaces, green corridors or »» A local centre providing day-to-day amenities; streets; »» Primary education. »» Important heritage assets will be retained and enhanced; The masterplan incorporates the following key principles: »» The existing football club pitches will be relocated to fit in with the green infrastructure; and »» A legible and permeable network of streets, routes and green corridors which connect the settlement to the wider »» Viability of public transport, a new access road area; connecting to the B5378. »» A mixed use local centre offering basic amenities provided within easy walking distance of all homes; Page

The Concept Page

7 Our Masterplan

This section sets out our proposed masterplan approach and explains how it responds to key strategic constraints and opportunities to create a responsive and sustainable place.

Our masterplan for Harper Green Garden Village is presented on the opposite page. This shows how the radial structure proposed in our vision could be realised in detail. Three strategic green wedges connect the centre of the community and the consented 206 homes to the wider countryside. These strategic green corridors contribute to the creation of a strong, legible structure. The main movement routes reinforce the radial structure with a pattern of broadly concentric streets. The primary school and village centre are provided on the main route in a central location a short walk from every home. 11. School 22. Village Centre 33. New access from B556 44. New access from B5378 55. Village Green 66. Approved development of 206 dwellings 77. Kingsley Green Hospital 88. 60ha of Country Park providing a permanent green edge and separation with nearby settlements Page

Illustrative Masterplan

5 8

6 2 7 1

8 Page

Early Delivery of Community Infrastructure

For a new settlement to successfully achieve a ‘sense of Community Hall community’ it is important that facilities are delivered at an As with the health centre it would be possible to provide early stage so that the needs of the initial residents can be met an early community meeting hall in the form or a modular and so that strong communities are formed. If these facilities building so that the very first residents have somewhere to are not provided at an early stage it is likely that residents will meet and form groups and clubs and a place for community establish patterns of using facilities in other settlements and events such as children’s birthday parties. This would best be this may make it harder to deliver high quality community located close to the primary school to create a neighbourhood infrastructure in the new village. hub. We have developed a strategy for the early delivery of Establish Community Groups and Societies community infrastructure and other facilities to give Harper Green a sense of place and a sense of community from the We would work with the emerging community to develop first day. clubs and societies from an early stage such as children’s football, cricket and rugby clubs, running clubs, scouts and School guides etc. We would endeavour to provide facilities such as On the basis that the local authorities are willing for the cricket pitches to facilitate the creation of this type of club. primary school to open at an early stage, we would work with them to facilitate this. Our masterplan allows for the very early delivery of the school (within the first 200 dwellings) should this be required. Health Facilities Again if it is confirmed that the local authorities would like the required health facilities delivered at an early stage we would work with them to achieve this. It may be possible to provide very early facilities in a temporary or modular surgery for the first 6-18 months as the community is established which would be replaced by a larger permanent facility when the community has grown to a sufficient size and the construction would be more financially viable. Page

Phasing Plan Page

8 Our Principles for Place-Making A Holistic Community

Harper Green Garden Village will be designed and delivered as a cohesive and comprehensive development. Our masterplan demonstrates how the new community can be delivered with necessary community facilities and infrastructure provided at an early stage. Each phase of the development will be developed with areas of accessible public open space and facilities such as schools, shops and employment provided simultaneously with new homes.

»» We will deliver community facilities such as the school at an early stage »» We will deliver accessible pubic open space and play facilities with every phase of homes »» We will provide a variety of genuinely affordable homes, in a mix housing tenures and types, appropriate to local housing needs »» We will provide employment opportunities within every neighbourhood Page

9 The Delivery of the Garden Village

The five commitments listed below continue to be our key objectives to the delivery of the Harper Green Garden Village.

A Holistic Community We will deliver a holistic community with a balance of jobs and homes

A Healthy Community We will deliver a healthy town based on walkable principles and strong neighbourhoods

High Quality We will provide for a landscape-led community with exemplar green infrastructure

Self Sufficient We will provide for the day to day needs of the community.

Sustainable We will deliver a sustainable town which minimises the carbon footprint Page

A Healthy Community

Harper Green Garden Village will be designed to and delivered to provide a healthy lifestyle for all residents. Our masterplan places accessible public space and local facilities at the heart of the proposals, with every home within 5-minutes’ walk of usable open space and a 10-minute walk of the village centre. Each neighbourhood will have easily accessible direct walking and cycling choices along routes that are safe, attractive and overlooked. Our masterplan and phasing strategy will ensure that health and social care facilities are provided alongside new homes at all stages of the development.

»» We will deliver Public Open Space that is accessible to all residents »» We will provide community facilities to encourage a strong social infrastructure »» We will encourage healthy lifestyle choices through the provision of direct walking and »» We will provide opportunities for residents to have fit, healthy and active lifestyles, with cycling routes NHS Healthy New Town principles embodied within the development proposals »» We will provide a wide range of play and sporting facilities for all ages, through both »» We will provide access to local, cultural, recreation and leisure facilities formal and informal provision »» We will deliver homes that overlook public open space wherever possible Page

High Quality

The proposals for Harper Green Garden Village will deliver a high-quality place with a generous green infrastructure that enhances the landscape setting of the new village. The new village will feature a diverse mix of dwellings, tenures and types. Our masterplan proposals are landscape-led, and focus on providing meaningful green infrastructure that encourages the long-term use of spaces. The creation of a sense of place will be developed in the delivery of high-quality design, through the careful consideration of materials and legacy, particularly within the public realm.

»» We will provide a range of diverse and innovative housing types »» We will deliver landscape-led proposals with an exemplar accessible green infrastructure »» We will provide a commitment to high-quality development through the design process »» We will deliver a carefully designed public realm, encouraging use by all and the careful consideration of aesthetics, materials and legacy »» We will provide an integrated public art scheme that promotes interaction and discussion, »» We will provide an architecture that reflects the locally distinctive architecture and and enhances the Harper Green Garden Village principles character Page

Self Sufficient

The proposals for Harper Green Garden Village aim to deliver facilities that will contribute to a sense of community and self sufficiency such as allotments. Undertaking an ongoing comprehensive community consultation exercise will ensure that existing local communities have a genuine involvement and that their needs are identified. A productive landscape will encourage a sense of community cohesion and long-term interest in the proposals.

»» We will provide for the day-to-day self-sufficiency of the community with local facilities within easy walking distance of new homes »» We will deliver accessible community allotments and orchards »» We will encourage the involvement of the local community in the development of the proposals Page

Sustainable

»» An accessible bus service will be provided »» The creation of a walkable neighbourhood with all facilities within a 5 minute walk »» ‘Walking Bus’ schemes to and from school for primary age children, incorporating »» EV’s catered for through integrated charging points ‘stations’ around the site and within the school »» Integration with guidance from Watling Chase Community Forest (4.2 / 6.1) & Watling »» ‘Scoot to School’ with scooter parking at school Chase Greenways Strategy, which aims to enhance public access for non-motorised forms of transport »» A well integrated network of walking and cycling routes Page

Landscape and Green Infrastructure Strategy The masterplan and design approach has been ‘landscape-led’ and informed by the natural »» The creation of new biodiversity habitats environment. The objective is to provide for accessible open space within walking distance »» The provision of tree-lined streets throughout the Garden Village of every home. The landscape strategy complements the objectives for creating a framework for healthy lifestyles. The green infrastructure network will provide trim trails, outdoor gyms, »» The provision of community orchards, allotments and a community park sports facilities (including those suitable for older members of the community), equipped play »» The creation of a well-defined and permanent green edge to the development through and informal play space. delivery of an extensive community park that will prevent further development or the A multi-functional green infrastructure network provides an attractive setting for the Garden encroachment towards Radlett or Shenley Village as well as extending the existing surrounding landscape into and through the new »» A generous amount of open space for play, amenity, sport, ecology, habitat creation and community. The landscape strategy presented on the plan opposite shows the key landscape sustainable drainage and ecological features that have informed the masterplan: »» The incorporation of key views »» The retention and incorporation of existing trees, hedgerows and woodland including » existing areas of woodland, Lime Way and the belts of trees crossing the site and also » The protection of the more prominent areas of open space such as the rising ground along Community Forests, in accordance with Watling Community Forest SPG the southern boundary »» The creation of green wedges and corridors that connect the village centre to the circumference »» Provision of strategic cycle and walking routes along the green routes »» Retention and incorporation of existing Public Rights of Way Page

Green Infrastructure Strategy Plan Page

Access and Movement Strategy National and local policies seek to encourage the use of sustainable transport modes first. Harper Green Garden Village is within a 20 minute walk / 10 minute cycle of Radlett station, from which London is less than 30 minutes away. The masterplan structure seeks to encourage trips by train by providing direct, safe and attractive routes connecting to the public rights of way that lead to the station in accordance with Watling Chase Greenways Strategy objectives (2003, pp.6). A central loop will be provided as part of the movement network within the garden village which will provide for a bus service that is easy accessible to all with bus stops within a 5 minute walk of every home. Walking and cycling routes connect the proposed development to the approved development of 206 homes as well as to the local networks of Public Rights of Way and lanes which connect to local facilities at Radlett and Shenley as well as local employment facilities. The plan on the opposite page shows how a permeable and legible network of pedestrian and cycle routes can be provided that connect to the existing public rights of way and provide direct routes to Radlett station. A central bus loop will be provided with bus stops within a 5 minute walk of every home including those already approved on the hospital site. Secondary streets provide direct connections into the hospital site and provide for direct movement through to Harper Lane. The main access points of vehicles will be from Harper Lane with a new secondary access from London Road as shown. Radlett Station Page

Access and Movement Strategy Plan Page

Density and Built Form The plan on the opposite page shows how built form can respond to and reinforce the proposed development structure with higher density development generally provided along the main routes and in the central areas with lower density development on the edges. The transition with the approved development on the hospital site will be resolved though medium density development.

The highest densities will be provided along the central street Medium densities will be provided in the central part of The edge of the Garden Village will be defined by low and close to the local centre. the development. density housing. Page

Density Strategy Plan Page

10 Summary and Conclusions

This document has set out our vision and concepts for the delivery of a sustainable and healthy Garden Village. We have demonstrated our commitment to delivering a community of the highest design standards that truly reflects the principles of garden cities. Our aspiration is that this would be a benchmark for other Garden Villages in this region and across the country. We believe the opportunity offered by two communal landowners with a shared objective to deliver high quality homes in a sustainable location means that Harper Green can demonstrate a step change in the quality of new settlements in the U.K. Bloor Homes and the Department of Health are committed to building homes and communities of the highest quality and believe we have the track record and experience to realise the vision set out in this document. We have devised a robust radial spatial concept and set out 5 commitments which have been informed by the NHS Healthy New Towns Initiative, Watling Chase Community Forest SPG and Greenways Strategy, as well as Garden Village principles.. This will provide for a walkable neighbourhood with all community facilities within an easy, attractive and safe walk of all residents. A tree-lined street is provided centrally within the radial structure and strategic green wedges connect the wider countryside to the heart of the new community. New pedestrian and cycle routes running though these green wedges connect to the network of existing routes to nearby destinations including Radlett Station. Page

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Barton Willmore / 101 Victoria Street Bristol BS1 6PU / tel: 0117 929 9677 email: [email protected]

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© The contents of this document must not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of The Barton Willmore Partnership. All plans are reproduced from the Ordnance Survey Map with the permission of the Controller of HMSO. Crown Copyright Reserved. License No. 100019279.

Date 05.10.2018 Status Final Rev D Page

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