Planning Inspector: this parkland concept would appropriately form the backdrop to the [listed] large scale school buildings.
The site is in the setting of the listed Bitterne House which sits to the north, forming part of a larger set of school buildings. The proposals ensure that the setting of the listed asset is protected. A new parkland space reinstates the setting of the historic house, drawing inspiration from its original gardens. The residential architecture is deliberately recessive in form and appearance, allowing the landscape setting to take precedence with parkland details and newly planted specimen trees.
The development opens up new pedestrian routes around and through the site, including almost entirely car-free route options through a series of green spaces.
Over half of the site is provided as public open space. A greenway provides walking routes, swales and play-on-the-way trails. A woodland perimeter to the development brings established tree banks into the public realm providing a lush verdant backdrop to streets and spaces throughout the development while enhancing biodiversity on the site by 40%.
A greenway provides walking routes, swales and play-on-the-way trails.
Parking has been designed to be as discrete as possible while still achieving the Local Authority’s standards. Parking is discreetly integrated via well-screened courts accessed from a central spine road, ensuring that streetscapes remain welcoming and human-scaled.
Initially refused planning by the local authority planning committee, the decision was appealed and successfully defended at public enquiry, where the design approach was commended. The planning inspector noted that “the parkland concept would appropriately form the backdrop to the [listed] large-scale school buildings,” and concluded that the scheme “would be appropriate to the site and surroundings and would create a discernible sense of character.”
Williams Lester were happy to defend our designs at the enquiry, as we have every confidence that our holistic approach to heritage, place-making, and urban living stands up to the scrutiny of appeal and cross examination.
