church street and paddington green infrastructure and public realm plan key strategies and design

88 Pages·2015·8.91 MB·English

CHURCH STREET AND PADDINGTON GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC REALM PLAN
KEY STRATEGIES AND DESIGN CODES
Submission to : Westminster City Council
CPS370-DR-2-01 REV01
July 2013
In collaboration with: Buro Happold, Biodiversity by Design, Davis Langdon, Thomas Lister, Ackroyd and Harvey

FOREWORD
The intention of this document is to establish a set of Key Strategies
and Design Codes for the Church Street and Paddington Green area
infrastructure and public realm. These strategies and codes aim to
set out the approach to creating a truly liveable neighbourhood
based on the principles of a climate change - adapted public realm.
This document should be used by Westminster City Council as a key
reference document against which any future detailed development of
the Infrastructure and Public Realm Plan can be assessed against.
OTHER DOCUMENTS
These Strategies and Codes apply local Council policies to form part
of the Church Street and Paddington Green Infrastructure and Public
Realm Plan. The contents of this document follow and build on the
Vision set out in the Executive Summary. The proposed implementation
process, costing and financial model are described in the Implemention
Plan and Cost Plan and Financial Model documents respectively.
In collaboration with: Buro Happold, Biodiversity by Design, Davis Langdon, Thomas Lister, Ackroyd and Harvey
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CONTENTS
PAGE
FOREWORD

1.0 KEY STRATEGIES
INTRODUCTION 8
1.1 Public Consultation 10
1.2.0 Key Strategies : Introduction 12
1.2.1 Key Strategies : Green Infrastructure 14
1.2.2 Key Strategies : Blue Infrastructure 24
1.2.3 Key Strategies : Social and Economic 30
1.2.4 Key Strategies : Movement 40
1.2.5 Key Strategies : Materials 48
1.2.6 Key Strategies : Grey Infrastructure 56
2.0 DESIGN CODES
INTRODUCTION 62
2.1 The Civic Street 64
2.2 The Green Spine 70
2.3 Strategic Streets 80
2.4 Traditional Streets 82
2.5 Mews 84
2.6 St Mary’s Gardens 86
In collaboration with: Buro Happold, Biodiversity by Design, Davis Langdon, Thomas Lister, Ackroyd and Harvey
CHURCH STREET AND PADDINGTON GREEN : INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC REALM PLAN : KEY STRATEGIES AND DESIGN CODES 17/06/2013
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KEY STRATEGIES
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
THE APPROACH TO CREATING THE ‘MOST LIVEABLE NEIGHBOURHOOD IN LONDON’
“My ambition is to put the village back into the city. What I mean by realm both in terms of its extent and character in order to maximise the
this is that we can improve the quality of life for Londoners by ensuring opportunities for different uses and activities; improved market spaces,
that we focus our efforts on delivering a cleaner and greener city with informal play, gardens, spaces for wildlife, car-free routes. The approach
stronger and safer communities through our work to make the city more taken is therefore rooted in the Council’s spatial strategies, contained
sustainable and preserving its prosperity for decades to come.” within the Local Development Plan1.
Boris Johnson - Mayor of London The neighbourhood will be a beacon for the benefits of city living with
an emphasis on sustainability, amenity and safety. The existing green
The Church Street Futures Plan is an opportunity to create London’s spaces and gardens on estates will be connected by a rich mosaic of
most liveable neighbourhood with an enduring legacy not only for its green streets and public spaces, reconnecting the neighbourhood.
residents but also for London and other UK cities. The greening of the We aim to enhance the existing streets and landscape, recognising
neighbourhood will create a strong identity for the neighbourhood, that each block has its own particular shape and character; ensuring
making it a unique part of London, as well as bringing a host of social, everyone has ready access to quality green space and activities such as
economic and environmental benefits. gardening, food growing and play. It is intended to provide something
for everyone.
The Infrastructure and Public Realm Plan sets out how we can create
cleaner, safer and greener spaces, which are sustainable for future In addition to better streets and spaces, plans are being developed to
generations, and which contribute to the neighbourhood’s existing introduce district - wide heating to supply hot water and heat to new
community and economic life. homes, and where possible existing homes, more sustainably and
efficiently. Improvements to waste collection infrastructure will be
To meet these aspirations the new public realm should become the made to make it easier to recycle and to help keep streets cleaner.
leading climate change - adapted neighbourhood for Westminster,
London and the UK. London, like other cities around the world, is
facing the challenges of improving the quality of urban living and
making the city more sustainable, a key part of which endeavour is to
respond to the anticipated challenges of climate change. There are a
number of issues that need to be tackled; clean air, drainage, flood and
drought, space for play and nature, comfort and health, economy and
infrastructure. The Infrastructure and Public Realm Plan will address
these and other issues through the development of strategies and key
moves.
“Our climate is changing and further changes are expected. Together
we need to prepare for warmer, wetter winters, hotter, drier summers
and more frequent extreme weather. Timely action will bring positive
benefits, including jobs, investment, economic security and an improved
quality of life. If we don’t act, we are likely to face an increasing risk of
floods, droughts and heat waves.”
(Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, Mayor of London, 2011)
The area is quite unique in that the land ownership of the streets and
many of the buildings and associated garden spaces fall under the
ownership of Westminster City Council. One of the key moves proposed
in the Infrastructure and Public Realm Plan is to redefine the public
1. HTTP://WWW.WESTMINSTER.GOV.UK/SERVICES/ENVIRONMENT/PLANNING/LDF/
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REPRESENTATIVE POLICY AND GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE INFORMED THE KEY STRATEGIES OF
THE PUBLIC REALM AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN
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1.1 PUBLIC CONSULTATION
RESPONDING TO THE RESIDENTS’ WISHES
Westminster City Council believe that to successfully develop this There have been a number of reports undertaken previously for 26 MARCH 2013
area the existing community need to be part of the decision -making Westminster City Council that analysed the area and its issues. For A public consultation event held from 2 to 8pm at the Library on Church
process. The Infrastructure and Public Realm Plan is a complementary example, there is a document undertaken by Publica that assesses the Street. The main purpose of this consultation was to introduce the
study to the Futures Plan and in its development has sought to respond existing quality of the public realm in the Church Street and Paddington idea of redefining the extent of the public adopted areas through the
to the wealth of community consultations and studies that have Green area, concluding that the area suffers from poor quality of paved transferring of some areas of estate garden into the public realm. The
previously been undertaken. surfaces, significant visual clutter and an over-abundance of various presentation material and models illustrated the ideas of how these
railings. There are a number of recommendations in that document that spaces could be used in beautiful and useful ways for the benefit of the
PREVIOUS RESIDENT CONSULTATION are integrated into the proposals in the Infrastructure and Public Realm residents and wider community.
There has been extensive analysis of the area through desktop studies Plan.
and resident consultations. These have highlighted many of the issues 10 AND 11 MAY 2013
with the area and how they are perceived by the community. COMMUNITY CONSULTATION DURING THE STUDY Attendance at part of the week-long public exhibition for the Futures
During the six month commission the study team has engaged in Plan and Residents’ Vote. The public realm was exhibited to illustrate
Throughout the consultation process the residents and other a number of public consultation events and presentations to the some of the future benefits that will come with the proposed Phase 1
stakeholders of the area have clearly defined the issues with the Futures Steering Group. This consultation has been valuable in order to development if the Plan is approved by the residents.
existing public realm and their aspirations for the neighbourhood. The understand the underlying concerns and aspirations that the residents
wishes of the residents have been summarised below: hold, as well as understanding those aspects of the community that are VITAL REGENERATION
particularly special and cherished. Vital Regeneration are appointed by Westminster City Council to
• Create green streets and places for nature undertake the community liaison during the Futures Plan. They have
The following is a list of the consultations and presentations conducted a long association with the Church Street and Paddington Green area,
• Provide greater opportunities for play and for a wider age group by the team during the study: with their offices based in the Greenside Community Building in Lisson
Gardens. Vital Regeneration’s presence has been invaluable in terms of
• Provide welcoming spaces for people simply to meet, sit and enjoy 14 DECEMBER 2012 coordinating the consultation events.
a sunny day A public consultation event held from 10am to 4pm on Church Street
and in the Library. The purpose of the consultation was to inform the
• Create a beautiful and attractive environment with a consistent community of the proposed changes to the public realm, introduce
harmonious identity the team and its initial thoughts and question what they saw as the
priorities in their neighbourhood public realm.
• Provide an inclusive environment for all
21 JANUARY 2013
• Define a clear hierarchy of spaces and routes; protect residents’ Presentation to the Futures Steering Group Committee of the concept
privacy in dwellings design for the public realm based on the developed ideas contained in
the team’s tender submission.
• Create a people-friendly environment, one that is not dominated by
cars 18 FEBRUARY 2013
Presentation to the Futures Steering Group Committee of the developed
• Accommodate car parking in a creative manner in order to maintain concept design for the public realm and initial scheme design ideas of
the current level of provision but without it dominating the the key spaces.
residential areas
26 FEBRUARY 2013
• Improve the management of waste both in Church Street and A public consultation event held from 2 to 8pm at Greenside
within the estates Community Building, Lisson Gardens. The purpose of the consultation
was to gather people’s feedback on the developing public realm
• Reduce the amount of railings and area of inaccessible open spaces proposals, with particular emphasis on the key spaces of Church Street
and the emerging idea of the Green Spine.
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