1 Document Control Check by: Originated by: Name of person & qualification: Name of person & qualification: Paul Silcock CMLI Graham Trewhella MRTPI Job Title: Job Title: Associate Director Signature: Signature: Project Number: Report Reference: Issue Detail: 1556 DA-001 11/2020 2 Contents 1 Introduction and Design Objectives 2 Placemaking Principles 3 The Site and the Local /Settlement Context 4 Constraints and Opportunities 5 The Planning Policy Context for Design and Access 6 Access 7 Meeting Design and Access Objectives 8 Conclusions Figures 1 Location Plan 2 Context Plan 3 Opportunities and Constraints and Plan 4 Access and Parameters Plan 5 Development Framework Plan 6 Illustrative Masterplan 3 1 Introduction 1.1 This Design and Access Statement relates to land on the northern side of Town Lane in Whittle-le- Woods (the site). It will show how the land has been analysed and how this analysis has influenced the approach to new development. Its main purpose is to explain the way in which decisions on design principles, layout and access have been arrived at. The location of the site is shown in Figure 1. 1.2 The Statement supports an application for outline planning permission and so much of the detailed design information will be presented at a later stage in the planning process. Nevertheless, it is important that clear and appropriate parameters are put in place now in order to provide a framework for new development. There are key principles that will flow through all stages of design. These will be one of the key outputs of this document. Objectives 1.3 There are key objectives for new development on the site which will have a bearing on design decisions and the essential character of the new development to be delivered. These are: 1. Housing Diversity The site is at a scale which allows for a mix of house types. There should be variety and choice in the accommodation provided, incorporating affordable housing which is geared towards meeting local needs. 2. Character To use existing and new landscape features in combination with housing blocks and routes through the site to provide a distinct identity on a site which sits in a varied context with a river valley along the western edge, the M61 motorway to the east and Town Lane along the southern edge. 3. External Spaces To include spaces and routes into the new housing development that have a clear function and that are safe to use. 4. Movement Ease of movement through the development is important. This is for all modes of travel – pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles. People should be given priority over traffic. 5. Legibility The routes through the new housing development and the layout and orientation of houses should assist in helping people to find their way around. 6. Continuity To create streets where there is a continuous frontage of buildings which overlook routes and spaces. 7. Enclosure To ensure that there is a clear distinction between public and private spaces using walls and hedges to give a strong sense of enclosure. 4 Figure 1 – Location Plan 5 2 Placemaking Principles 2.1 Place making in the context of this Design and Access Statement is the way in which the combination of streets, landscape, open spaces and landscape treatment shape the place in which people will live and enjoy their leisure time. There is a physical dimension to place making but there are also less tangible qualities such as the way in which a new development will improve the overall wellbeing of a community. 2.2 The National Design Guide (2019) states that well-designed places influence the quality of our experience as we spend time in them and move around them. They are enjoyed by occupants and users but also by passers-by and visitors. Well-designed places have been shown to affect health and well-being, feelings of safety, security, inclusion and belonging, and can create a sense of community cohesion. 2.3 For this site the design quality of buildings and public spaces is fundamentally important. They provide the framework for an attractive environment. 2.4 The following design principles will help with securing a consistent, high standard of environment and a distinct sense of place: 1. To deliver a development which recognises and responds to the varied context of the site and which takes its place in the urban expansion of Whittle-le Woods. The layout of development including the way in which green infrastructure is handled and the orientation of buildings will need to account for the varied character of the land at the margins of the site. The long northern boundary is next to the valley of the River Lostock which is a visual and recreational resource for the local community as well a valuable habitat for wildlife. In contrast the eastern boundary is near to the M61 motorway where noise is a constraint to be carefully considered in the design approach. The southern boundary along Town Lane harbours intermittent development. Along the edges of the site new housing should address the river valley, the motorway and Town Lane in a positive way with buildings looking outwards and green infrastructure used to form links with neighbouring areas. 2. To encourage innovation and sustainability in design The quality of the houses to be delivered will turn on the design details and the materials that are selected but it also includes less visible attributes such as the sustainability measures that are embedded. Both are important. Innovation and sustainability also stretches to other aspects of the development. The open spaces and pedestrian routes will be a recreational resource but they also have a role in providing new habitats and ecological corridors. Similarly, a sustainable approach to surface water drainage will provide important attenuation for the runoff of surface water but will also add to the visual qualities of open spaces and give biodiversity benefits. 3. To encourage a well-connected and welcoming place The approach to design must have well connected routes which provide access for all forms of travel and help define the boundaries between public, semi-public and private space. The key objective of this is to create a safe, secure and welcoming place. This 6 should be achieved at the site by recognising the benefit and amenity provided by the public rights of way that cross and border the site. These should be treated as positive attributes. In turn, a network of new routes for pedestrians and cyclists should be incorporated into the new development and connected to existing routes, providing a place which is both accessible and easy to move around. 2.5 By applying these principles of placemaking the overall aim is to raise the standard of design quality in the built environment and to create a successful and sustainable urban extension at the edge of Whittle-le Woods. 2.6 The place making principles that have been set out above resonate with the urban design approach developed by Redrow Homes and known as Redrow 8. This approach is founded on eight key urban design principles which influence how places function and how they look. As the detailed housing layout is brought forward these eight principles will provide valuable guidance. They are: 1. Listen to learn: Connecting with communities and stakeholders to identify local concerns that could influence development. 2. Keeping it local: Designs to reflect what is important locally, detailing development to sensitively fit into an area. 3. Easy to get around: New and improved connections between new development and existing communities. 4. Places to go and things to do: Locally tailored community infrastructure which provide opportunities to interact and socialise. 5. Nature for people: Creating new or enhancing existing wildlife habitats and better connecting people to them. 6. Streets for life: The importance of the street as an essential part of safe, attractive and friendly places to meet. 7. Homes for all: Diverse mix of housing types and tenures to create sustainable communities. 8. Built to impress: Inviting entrances to buildings and building distinctive homes. 7 3 The Site and Context 3.1 The site is well contained by strong features in the landscape. The northern and western boundaries follow the valley of the River Lostock which is characterised by linear groups of woodland interspersed with areas of open land. There are signs of the former print works which once occupied the valley in the form of buildings and a reservoir. 3.2 The eastern boundary of the site is near to the M61 corridor. The motorway is at a similar grade to the site. The highest site level is along the motorway boundary. From there the land falls towards the River Lostock valley to the west and towards Town Lane in the south. 3.3 The southern boundary is formed by Town Lane. There are two groups of residential buildings on the northern edge of Town Lane which do not form part of the site. Town Lane is a link between the A6 and the A674 at Wheelton. Along this route it passes under the M61 and over the Leeds-Liverpool canal. 3.4 The carriageway of Town Lane varies in width between 5.5 metres and 7 metres. There is a footway which runs in part along the southern side of the road and in part along the northern side. 3.5 Three public rights of way cross the site. Two are along the northern edge (reference 9-22- FP14 and 9-22-FP16) to provide a pedestrian link from Town Lane to Hill Top Lane (crossing the River Lostock) and the other bisects the site (reference (9-22-FP15) to emerge onto Town Lane near to the Lucas Lane strategic pedestrian and cycle route.