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PAN 44: Fitting New Housing Development into the Landscape

PART B - THE DESIGN PROCESS

THE NEED FOR SITE PLANNING

33 All new development should make a positive contribution to the continuing evolution of our settlements. The necessity of relearning the basic skills of site planning and the successful incorporation of these skills into planning practice is fundamental

34 This part of the manual reviews the key principles of site planning, analysis and design which need to be addressed by planners and developers alike in order to ensure that future development is appropriate and well considered. Many of these principles are handled intuitively in the hands of an experienced designer. There is no substitute for skill, It is possible, however, to set them down in an ordered way, as presented here. These principles only provide a starting point. The weight attached to any one and the balance between them is of fundamental importance and will vary according to different site conditions and development objectives.

35 This work draws upon proven and respected techniques and practice, in particular the work of Kevin Lynch which is yet to be surpassed in its clarity and coverage on the subject of site planning.

Site Planning, Kevin Lynch and Gary Hack. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press, ISBN 0-262-12106-9, (Third edition 1985)

36 The process of design must begin with an acknowledgement of the elements of the existing landscape in order to establish opportunities for enhancement and requirements for conservation. Each site has an individual capacity to accept change. Some sites are inherently scenic and may require minimum intervention while others may already be degraded and invite improvement and alteration.

It is important to determine the extent of alteration, if any, that a site can absorb without losing its character and sense of place.

DESIGNING

37 The design process can be divided into two activities - analysis and design. For a housing development, analysis entails an exploration of all the constraints and opportunities inherent in the site under consideration. Design involves ranking these in importance and developing the most appropriate solution to satisfy them.

38 In practice, the process is complex, with analysis and design interacting. Sometimes it is not possible to find a design solution to satisfy all conditions because constraints are so restrictive. On other occasions several feasible alternatives present themselves, permitting a choice. At all times the designer must aim to keep options open until the most appropriate solution has evolved.

39 Design Synthesis is the creative search for a solution which solves all the requirements revealed by the Analysis in such a way that the new settlement fits comfortably into the landscape, enhances the existing settlement, and has the potential to develop into a friendly and stimulating community. It should achieve a sense of place.

40 Much of the design process is based on a personal appreciation of a site and the possibilities that it might offer as a desirable place to live. As such the process of aesthetic and systematic response to a site must be borne along by the sensual information and impressions gained by the designer on visiting the site. There is no substitute for the designer making this initial visit(s) to the site and its environs.

41 With an essential understanding of the environmental, visual and architectural context, the designer will prepare outline sketch proposals to satisfy the development brief. This process tackles many issues on a broad front and uses an integrated approach, perhaps consulting with other design specialist in order to formulate a considered 'scheme philosophy' that will guide the design.

42 A good designer will bring both experience and invention to the opportunities and problems presented at each stage of the project.

43 Sketch proposals will be tested against the brief and may, in some circumstances, modify it. The on-going consultation process will also inform the development as the layout masterplan begins to emerge.

44 The eventual masterplan is the pictorial assimilation of the disparate project components presented by the brief, the site and its relationship to the wider landscape. It should convey a considered organisation of the site that is in balance with its natural features and context.

45 Good design demands knowledge, creative thinking and experienced judgement about desirable places and successful developments to achieve pleasing building forms and comfortable spaces. Visual interest and cohesion requires attention to detail in design and construction, usually with a limited number of materials.

46 The following pages set out some of the steps in this process from the scale of the wider landscape to the detail of the layout Masterplan. A good start is to list and rank the most important points that have emerged from the Analysis.

The Worked Example

The analysis and design activities covered in the following worked example provide a clear illustration of the factors to be taken into account when considering a layout for a particular site. The required level of analysis will, of course, vary from site to site as will the quality of presentation. These drawings are illustrative and are not intended to provide a standard form of presentation or standard solution. Users should be selective and adapt their approach and presentation to local circumstances.

• Analysis processes for the worked example are set out on pages 17 to 33, and an analysis checklist is provided on page 32
• Design processes for the worked example are set out on pages 34 to 52, and a design checklist is provided on page 52.

ANALYSIS A - SITE PLAN AND LAND OWNERSHIP

i The plan identifies an area for housing development in an existing but hypothetical settlement of 200-300 inhabitants. The plan is based on information abstracted from an Ordnance Survey base and shows key elements such as contours, roads and existing buildings.

ii The original village dating from the last century was located near the Auchtyre Water. Post-war development has extended the town to the lochside. A tourist route bypass skirts the town to the south east giving long distance views of the settlement set against the hillside.

iii The site for the proposed housing is typical farming land of some 30 acres under one ownership and indicated in red. It extends north-west from Lochside Road and includes steep slopes and two small hills.

iv The site is located in an area where housing needs have been demonstrated and where services can be provided.

ANALYSIS B - LOCAL PLAN REQUIREMENTS

i It is essential at an early stage to consult the Local Plan. A Local Plan is usually expressed in the form of a map and written statement. The plan provides site specific policies and proposals for housing, industrial and commercial developments, for countryside and nature conservation protection, open space provisions, utilities and public services.

ii The main functions of the Local Plan are to:

• apply in detail the policies and proposals incorporated in Structure Plans
• provide a basis for the control of development
• provide a basis for co-ordinating public and private development

• bring local and detailed planning issues before the public

ANALYSIS C - LANDFORM

i Landform has particular implications for site development. An identification of the characteristics of landform will build up on understanding of relief, slope, aspect and visibility, both within the site and in the wider context. The following techniques are available:

• A contour plan will provide the critical base information for analysis of relief, shape and form.
• A slope analysis diagram can be prepared from a contour plan to indicate aspect and degree of slope.

• Cross-sections identify level changes and are useful to build up an understanding of visibility to and from a site.

ii The purpose is to assist in the diagnosis of those parts of the ground which are capable of accepting development readily without considerable earthworks which in turn would lead to extra development costs as well as being unsightly.

iii Generally, slopes in excess of 1 in 5 are expensive to develop and service, requiring split-level buildings and retaining walls. If the cost can be accommodated and if the building is appropriately designed a change in level can enhance the appearance of a development. Well designed split-level can relate more closely to existing ground levels.

iv In this example the lower part of the site to the southeast, adjacent to Lochside Road, is flatter and therefore easier to develop. To the northwest the topography is steeper culminating in the two small hills.

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