Green and Blue Infrastructure
The green space strategy for the site centres upon a new Linear Park focused upon the Lidsey Rife and will be the defining landscape, hydrological and ecological feature of the settlement. This forms an integral part of green space network and will be supported by a Green Link and Green Corridors. The Green Link will arch around the eastern edge of the new settlement providing green connections with the Linear Park in the north and south. It will integrate access routes, activity provision such as play areas and ecological enhancement with an interactive landscape.
The Green Corridors constitute the ‘capillary network’ taking residents from their front door to the Green Link, Linear Park or key destinations within the new settlement and surrounding communities. This approach has and will continue to focus the design on permeability, movement and importance of open space forming the structure of the masterplan.
Play provision will be distributed across the site so that every child is within walking distance of a play area. Sports pitches will also be provided as part of the masterplan which is currently intended to include a cricket pitch in the north and a sports hub with pitches in the south adjacent to the Linear Park.
Click on the above image to zoom in
The blue infrastructure strategy responds to the topography and proposed development areas of the site. The masterplan has therefore been designed to accommodate a network of above-ground sustainable drainage features including attenuation ponds and basins, swales and wetland areas to support the drainage system and alleviate flood risk.
Opportunities to maximise the amenity and biodiversity of such features will be explored as part of the detailed design stage. In addition, it is proposed to reinstate the School Stream above ground, which is currently a culverted watercourse which passes from the public footpath south of Barnham Road under the railway line before opening up to the south. This will provide significant improvements to the watercourse both locally and further downstream, complementing the drainage strategy by encouraging areas of open water throughout the Framework Masterplan.
Green and Blue Infrastructure
The green space strategy for the site centres upon a new Linear Park focused upon the Lidsey Rife and will be the defining landscape, hydrological and ecological feature of the settlement. This forms an integral part of the green space network and will be supported by a Green Link and Green Corridors. The Green Link will arch around the eastern edge of the new settlement providing green connections with the Linear Park in the north and south. It will integrate access routes, activity provision such as play areas and ecological enhancement with an interactive landscape.
The Green Corridors constitute the ‘capillary network’ taking residents from their front door to the Green Link, Linear Park or key destinations within the new settlement and surrounding communities. This approach has and will continue to focus the design on permeability, movement and importance of open space forming the structure of the masterplan.
Play provision will be distributed across the site so that every child is within walking distance of a play area. Sports pitches will also be provided as part of the masterplan which is currently intended to include a cricket pitch in the north and a sports hub with pitches in the south adjacent to the Linear Park.
Click on the above image to zoom in
The blue infrastructure strategy responds to the topography and proposed development areas of the site. The masterplan has therefore been designed to accommodate a network of above-ground sustainable drainage features including attenuation ponds and basins, swales and wetland areas to support the drainage system and alleviate flood risk.
Opportunities to maximise the amenity and biodiversity of such features will be explored as part of the detailed design stage. In addition, it is proposed to reinstate the School Stream above ground, which is currently a culverted watercourse which passes from the public footpath south of Barnham Road under the railway line before opening up to the south. This will provide significant improvements to the watercourse both locally and further downstream, complementing the drainage strategy by encouraging areas of open water throughout the Framework Masterplan.


