Page 54 Page 55 Chapter 3 SITE ANALYSIS Chapel Pill - Draft Concept Statement - November 2011 Chapel Pill - Draft Concept Statement - November 2011 Page 56 Page 57 SE IT CONSTRAINTS A comprehensive analYSIS of the site has been undertaken and THE findings have been evaluated to identifY keY constraints and OPPORTUNITIES relevant to the development of the site. THIS will ensure THAT the development is as responsive to the site as possible and will HELP enable delivering A development with A strong sense of place. The existing development constraints are There is a linear pond to the north of the to the top north eastern corner abutting the River Avon and part of it is liable to integrate and provide new cycle routes summarised here as follows: site which is used for fishing. River Avon. The land on the west of flood. Areas near the fishing lake and within the site. the site is generally levelled with gentle Markham Brook Woodlands are also • Land use and features It is important that the development There is potential for a new Rail halt and slope towards north. There are few high identified within the flood plain. responds sensitively and appropriately re-use of the currently disused Historic • Topography points on the north and north east of site. to these existing land designations and Due to the agricultural nature of the Pill and Ham Green train stations. These higher points are visually exposed • Flood Risk & Drainage public rights of way so that their character area there is a limited physical drainage but also provide views across the site and is protected. These existing features will infrastructure with surface water typically Heritage & Archaeology • Access & Movement surrounding settings of Leigh woods. provide useful cues for the character and running towards these identified site There are number of listed buildings • Landscape & Ecology form of the development. There are hedgerows with few mature features. around the area of search, their setting trees along public rights of way to the • Landscape Visual Assessment The existing woodland setting, historic will be an important consideration in the west of the site. There are also occasional Access & Movement: buildings and their setting, watercourses masterplanning process Land Use & Features mature trees to the east of the site, part of A number of Public Rights of Way, a and riverfront in the surrounding context The historic Leigh court within Leigh the historic settings of Leigh woods. Sustrans route and a historic Rail line cuts The plan on the opposite shows a number provides an opportunity for connections Woods is listed and currently identified as through the site. The masterplan should of existing land uses and designations and integrate with the proposed green a registered parks and garden within LDF. Flood Risk & Drainage seek to retain them and incorporate new on the site. These include the area of infrastructure. The masterplan will consider its historic The landscape to the west of the site is connections into the strategic transport registered park and garden and a number setting and restore with planting wherever There are also small local centres and defined by Markham woodlands with strategy. of existing public rights of way. possible. shops and services at Pill and employment land gently sloping towards north. The There are a number of public rights of Markham Brook Woodland, which a areas at Ham Green. woodlands run from south to north There are no archaeological sites or way along field boundaries with planting Site of Special Scientific Interest and through the centre of the site. The flood monuments within the area of search. Topography on the west of the site connecting to Pill a Wildlife Site runs south-north in the plain associated with the woodlands village in the north. These routes will be centre of site The site forms a ‘Dumbbell shape’ with shown in the plan is well contained within retained and integrated further with new roughly two equal halves on either side of it and as such poses no flood risk to the There is a historic railway route currently direct connections to Pill town centre. used for freight only, running through the Markham Brook Woodland which runs greater area. The north eastern edge abuts north west of the site. south- north in the centre. A sustrans route passes through north of the site and there is an opportunity to The topography on the east of the site is undulating with further steep slopes Chapel Pill - Draft Concept Statement - November 2011 Chapel Pill - Draft Concept Statement - November 2011 Page 56 Page 57 Chapel Pill - Draft Concept Statement - November 2011 Chapel Pill - Draft Concept Statement - November 2011 Page 58 Page 59 SEIT Opportunities TEH future development opportunities are summarised here. Topography The setting of Leigh Court and Leigh Access & Movement Woods will be respected through There is an opportunity for future landscaped view corridors. There is an opportunity to incorporate development to use the natural new bus links through the new topography and intrinsic values Markham Brook Woodlands will be development via Cross Lane which and deliver a unique and distinct integrated by introducing new green links further connects to existing bus routes on neighbourhood. to the west. Pill Road. Landscape & Ecology New planting along A369 Martcombe Existing Public Rights of Way to the Road will soften views of the development west will be retained and new pedestrian The south-eastern part of the site is within from SSSI and Wildlife setting to the cycle links will be introduced to the east designated historic Parks and Garden south of A369. connecting to Chapel Hill Lane and the area, there is an opportunity to restore A number of public right of ways and existing employment park and enhance the historic settings of this important hedgerow/vegetation will area. There is an opportunity to improve the be retained and integrated within the traffic flow at the intersection of A369 There is an opportunity to introduce development. Martcombe Road and Pill Road by a new strategic recreational facility to Retained trees and vegetation, including introducing a new roundabout further the north east of the site enhancing the those with TPOs where possible and north. historic setting and access to the River. desirable will add maturity and vitality to Development in this location could also There is an opportunity to introduce new the development. help deliver the desired Portishead to green corridors along Rail line providing a There is an opportunity for slow food Bristol rail link. buffer to noise from Rail movement. production by extending existing allotment area to the North West corner of site and to build on the success of Leigh Court Farm organic food production. Chapel Pill - Draft Concept Statement - November 2011 Chapel Pill - Draft Concept Statement - November 2011 Page 58 Page 59 Chapel Pill - Draft Concept Statement - November 2011 Chapel Pill - Draft Concept Statement - November 2011 Page 60 Page 61 S TATUTORY DESIGNATIONS S TATUTORY DESIGNATIONS ON the site are summarised here. There are a number of statutory Conservation Areas Sustrans National designations both within the site and in the immediate context that are relevant The eastern boundary of the site which Cycle Network to the development proposals. These follows the banks of the River Avon forms Sustrans Cycle Route 41 which connects are identified on the plan opposite and the edge to a number of conservation Portishead and Bristol via a mostly summarised below. areas which cover the river, parts of off-road direct route, runs east-west to Shirehampton, Sea Mills and Stoke the north of the site. Part of the route Registered Park/Garden Bishop. runs through the site in the east before The eastern part of the site forms part The character of these conservation areas following the river bank towards Bristol. of the original Country Estate of Leigh and any key views from them towards the This route provides the potential for Court and is a Registered Park/Garden. site will need to be considered as part of direct bike journies of 25 minutes from Although there do not appear to be any of the design process. the site into Bristol city Centre along the original landscape fetures within this Public Rights of Way car-free routes. Access to it for cyclists area it is important that any development should therefore be maximised and any respects and protects the setting of Leigh There are a number of public rights of potential to make the route more direct or Court. way crossing the site, especially in the area attractive to cyclists should be explored. to the south of Pill. These routes which Listed Buildings provide for direct pedestrian movement There are a number of listed buildings to the centre of Pill will be protected in the local context. The most important and incorporated into the development of which is Leigh Court, which is visible wherever possible. from some parts of the site. The setting This existing network of routes will of this and other listed buildings will provide a structure for the movement need to be carefully considered as part of network of pedestrians and cyclists. developing a concept for the development of the site. Chapel Pill - Draft Concept Statement - November 2011 Chapel Pill - Draft Concept Statement - November 2011 Page 60 Page 61 Chapel Pill - Draft Concept Statement - November 2011 Chapel Pill - Draft Concept Statement - November 2011 Page 62 Page 63 L ANDSCAPE CONSTRAINTS & Opportunities A LTHOUGH the site does not have anY specific landscape designations OTHER than the area within the REGISTERED PARK and GARDEN it is important THAT anY development respects the landscape setting and character OF THE conteXT.