Aylesbury Gardenway Landscape Strategy South (Section 3)

Section 3 includes two key areas across two landscape types:

- Environs and AGT1&2 (LT4) - Stoke Brook at Southcourt / AGT2 (LT3&4)

Plan for Section 3 1 Gardenway Landscape Strategy South (Section 3)

Existing view looking north at Southcourt greenspace

These images show ‘before’ and ‘after’ views of the Gardenway route as it passes through Southcourt greenspace on the east side of Stoke Brook.

Artist’s impression of how the Gardenway could be integrated into the greenspace at Southcourt 2 Aylesbury Gardenway Landscape Strategy South (Section 3) - Stoke Mandeville environs & AGT1/2

View across fields south of Stoke Mandeville Hospital

Gardenway route Vision Between Road and the Aylesbury to Create as seamless and as inclusive a Gardenway Princes Risborough Railway, the Gardenway route and linear park as possible, despite the route navigates across arable fields, crosses range of variable conditions and develop clear the mainline railway, integrates with a future landscape types and settings that respond new neighbourhood at AGT1, crosses Lower positively to future scenarios of change. Road and the planned South East Aylesbury Link Road (SEALR) and is shown passing through the Landscape strategy principles eastern extents of AGT2 and crossing beneath - Assess the future of existing arable fields in the Aylesbury to Princes Risborough Railway. relation to SEALR, eg, land west of Wendover Road The context is therefore one of adaptation and may benefit from woodland expansion and potential change, in light of infrastructure and planned new ‘Country Park’ type treatment with a mosiac of Country Park mosaic of habitats including black poplar landscape Opportunities for the linear park to integrate with AGT1 neighbourhood development areas. hedgerow, wooded copses, species-rich grassland, etc, and expansion of the black poplar landscape in Route type relation to wet and low-lying areas. Further work is required to plan the exact - Conserve and enhance the existing hedgerow route type in relation to infrastructure and new network and manage. developments, but the aspiration is to acheive - Integrate views towards the Chilterns into future the most accessible advantageous Gardenway plans. type(s) possible, particularly in relation to the - Create strong links with Stoke Mandeville proximity of Stoke Mandeville Hospital and a desire Hospital, Spinal Inujuries Unit, and Station, for the greatest possible accessibility. A green and ensure that the Gardenway linear park and bridge is being proposed as the best method for a connecting links are inclusive and suitable for connection across the the London to Aylesbury line. people of all mobilities. At AGT1, and AGT2 the Gardenway can provide a - Define an identity, scale and structure for the Memorial groves for victims of Covid-19 significant green infrastructure corridor depending Gardenway in relation to new development, the on route alignment, integration and relationship architectural and urban design language, and with development. Within fields, the route is likely maximise integration of GI benefits. to be either Gardenway maximum or minimum. - Provide thresholds and transition points as appropriate that anticipate changes in condition to Landscape integration adjacent streets, crossing points, etc. - Further work is required to determine how the Gardenway as a linear park will be integrated Facilities across several different variables in this part of the - Accessible exercise, gardens, play, and growing southern area of the route. spaces for people of all mobilities. - Seating, wayfinding and interpretation, lighting.

Importance of links and accessibility with Stoke Mandeville Hospital Therapeutic environments 3 Aylesbury Gardenway Landscape Strategy South (Section 3) - Stoke Brook at Southcourt / AGT2

View looking south along Stoke Brook corridor

Gardenway route Vision From the Princes Risborough Railway towards An expanding ecological and neighbourhood park Oxford Road, the proposed Gardenway route is centred around a revitalised Stoke Brook corridor situated between the existing urban edge and with capacity to integrate both existing and future proposed new AGT2 development. For much of this communities. route it follows the Stoke Brook stream corridor crossing between the east bank and Southcourt’s Landscape strategy principles neighbourhood green space, and the west bank - Implement localised re-profiling of banksides to related to the planned new AGT2 development. improve marginal vegetation and access to Stoke A little further west is the proposed HS2 railway Brook and define new crossing points co-ordinated alignment. with movement patterns. - Transform the current ‘backs’ of housing edge Route type at Southcourt to create a hedge and tree-lined Gardenway maximum, gardenway minimum. eastern edge. - Plan new wetland/wet woodland areas to the Landscape integration wettest ground in proximity to Stoke Brook and - Allow a minimum 10m margin between the Stoke include black poplar along the watercourse. Brook corridor and siting the new Gardenway route - Convert substantial areas of amenity grassland to protect the watercourse and plan the interface to species-rich meadow and create ecological between the park zones and new development to transition between Stoke Brook and adjacent green ensure succcessful coordination. space. - Link adjacent communities to the Gardenway route with a new path network and extend ‘green fingers’ into the neighbourhoods to become ‘healthy streets’ environments. Provide thresholds Trees, hedgerows and new species-rich meadow create a framework for different uses with connecting paths to all crossing points, including Oxford Road. - Create a patchwork of zones and spaces suited to the linear spatial quality of the site for social, play and fitness activities, and quieter reflective spaces. Enable playful crossing of Stoke Brook. - Link to Healthy Living Centre and a new community hub.

Facilities - A range of play and fitness facilities and better access across Stoke Brook. - Seating, wayfinding and interpretation. Expand wetland areas related to the Stoke Brook catchment Provide a range of different types of recreational spaces - Bat-friendly lighting. 4