At a high level, the aims and objectives are cited in the Vision Statement. What the concept starts to explore is how that vision is delivered.

Fundamentally, the concept layout is underpinned by the following aims and objectives:

• Echo the tight-knit, higher density and intimate Urban Grain of the existing Historic Core of Newbury Conservation Area and the c.1880’s map.
• Creation of many new pedestrian routes through the site in a North-South and East-West axis, reconnecting the site to the Town Centre as it was historically.
• Reflect the historic massing that once occupied the site.
• Creation of Carriage Arches, Ginnels and Passageways that serve Courts, Yards and Places.
• Reflect the historic juxtaposition of forms, scale and roofs.
• Provide for both permeability and security.
• Deliver, broadly, larger scale buildings to the perimeter of the site (along the main movement network) with smaller buildings behind.
• Reflect the local architectural language and
   character.
• Deliver creative, attractive and desirable landscaping and amenity that complements and enhances the architectural character of the development.

Critical to the success of this scheme is the meticulous design of each individual dwelling. In such a tight-knit urban environment, each dwelling has been carefully crafted in a bespoke fashion to create unique, and delightful residential accommodation.

• With the exception of apartments, each dwelling will have it’s own front door onto the public realm frontage.
• Every dwelling has access to unique and high quality amenity space.

In addition, a key component in the definition of high quality is the feeling of light and space within a dwelling.

Therefore, each dwelling, especially those that are single aspect, have been designed to accommodate;

• Modern open plan living.
• Generous window openings on the main facade.

A generous quantum and size of roof lanterns, some of which may be coupled with internal glazed partitions to allow light to flood through the dwelling.

Site Plan

This drawing is the Ground Floor Plan for the site (click Plan to enlarge). The drawing tells the story of building formations that create a tight-knit environment with interconnected yards, passageways, and places. The spaces created are enhanced with a rich and verdant landscaping scheme, ensuring the spaces offer amenity value and are welcoming places to be.

CURRENT OS MAP

Built area – 6.1 acres (2.5 ha) 98% 

Site Boundary area – 5.6 acres (2.3 ha)

Unbuilt area – 0.1 acres (0.05 ha)

1880’S HISTORIC MAP

Built area – 2.7 acres (1.1 ha) 61% 

Site Boundary area – 4.4 acres (1.8 ha)

Unbuilt area – 1.7 acres (0.7 ha)

PROPOSED SITE

Calc Inc. Car Park And Cinema.

Built area – 4 acres (1.6 ha) 70% 

Site Boundary area – 5.6 acres (2.3 ha)

Unbuilt area – 1.7 acres (0.7 ha)

Calc Exc. Car Park And Cinema.

Built area – 2.6 acres (1.05 ha) 61% 

Site Boundary area – 4.2 acres (1.7 ha)

Unbuilt area – 1.6 acres (0.65 ha)

LANDSCAPED FAÇADES

Any concern over the perceived close proximity of built form from opposing building forms can easily be softened by the use of landscaping that can successfully climb and grow up and along dwellings.

LANDSCAPED FAÇADES

These examples of hanging creepers and pleached trees within raised planters are award winning examples of enhancing architecture with vibrant landscaping. This adds valuable landscape character to the built environment.

PRIVATE BALCONIES

Modest balconies are a traditional and long established means to offer some outdoor space. Successful balconies are those designed to accommodate outdoor seating and/or landscaping.

AMENITY PLAN

This roof plan (click to enlarge) illustrates the proposed site complete with hard and soft landscape. The spaces between buildings are designed to offer amenity value and space in addition to the individual amenity spaces afforded to each dwelling.

LANDSCAPE & AMENITY

For a tight-knit urban environment to succeed, landscape, both hard and soft, needs to be of the highest quality. In order to ensure the quality proposed will succeed, the Design Team researched successful, award-winning, landscape schemes for key principles, which are articulated below. At ground floor level, landscaping is proposed to serve two purposes – to ensure a public realm of the highest quality and to allow for the creation of defensible and private amenity space. The landscaping incorporates tree planting, street furniture and raised beds creating interest for people passing through, and providing places to sit and relax. Pots, railings and other landscape features are used to create defensible spaces outside dwellings, to allow for more semi-private areas for residents to enjoy. Private amenity space is incorporated wherever possible in the form of gardens, roof terraces, balconies and communal gardens.

Key Landscape Principles:

• A high quality, traditional, surface treatment.
• Robust tree planting irrigated to ensure longevity and to thrive.
• Opportunity for defensible landscaping to dwelling threshold.
• Opportunity for railings.
• Opportunity for ‘green verticality’ to offer solar shading, opportunities to gather and to break up the built form massing (i.e. trees, climbers and/or raised planting beds.
• Opportunity for sensory planting.

Examples of such high quality landscape are illustrated.

A variety of amenity typologies are proposed, comprising:

• Spill-out areas at ground level.
• Walled/railed frontages.
• Private rear gardens.
• Balconies.
• Roof terraces.
• Communal gardens.
• The landscaped courtyards and mews themselves.
• Community Hub (Rooftop gardens).

Some of these amenity typologies are spread over different floor levels, designed to offer dwellings different qualities of amenity, varying outlooks, views and ambience. All dwellings have access to more than one typology of amenity provision. For example, many Mews Houses have access to frontage spill-out space and a roof terrace.

ROOF TOP AMENITY

On the roof of Edward House and Pellow House (along the Market Street frontage), is a shared amenity provision accessible by the whole development.

The roof-top is proposed to accommodate the following:

• Landscaping.
• Awning (for shelter from the elements).
• Personal Facilities (WC’s).
• Community Meeting Space, and kitchenette.

SEMI-PRIVATE FRONTAGES (SPILL-OUT SPACE)

Dwelling thresholds will be defended and defined with landscape in the form of potted plants. Theses spaces will allow residents space to sit out at the front of the properties on benches and chairs. Hard and soft landscaping, inclusive of the pots and plants, will be privately managed on behalf of the resident, if needed, to ensure the vision for the spaces are delivered and maintained in perpetuity.

Hard and soft landscaping, inclusive of the pots and plants, will be privately managed on behalf of the resident, if needed, to ensure the vision for the spaces are delivered and maintained in perpetuity.

PROPOSAL

The development proposes the following:

• Greater scale around the existing Car Park and Cinema to screen the blank, bland and unremarkable façades from the development as best as possible.
• Gentle increase of scale from a lower rise in the North to a higher rise in the South as the scheme interfaces with the more modern development. 
• Lower-rise buildings where necessary to ensure that the existing amenity of neighbouring buildings is not unduly affected.
• The predominant scale within the heart of the site is two storeys with a third storey ‘added’ in the form of a roof terrace and access.

The proposed building forms around the perimeter of the site have been carefully designed to blend in and reflect the existing built form of the retained buildings.

• Concierge (7am to 7pm Monday to Sunday).
• Caretaker (Monday to Friday).
• Maintenance of Streets.
• Maintenance of Landscaping (inc. Watering).
• Maintenance Access Systems (Gates and Bollards etc).
• Maintenance of CCTV security systems.

• Rainwater Pump Maintenance.
• General Repairs (adhoc repairs).
• Community lighting maintenance.
• Community Hub maintenance.
• Ground Source Heat Pump maintenance, repair and management.
• External and Internal (communal areas) building maintenance.
• Cycle and Car Parking management.

Old Town Servicing

In addition to the Estate Management and Maintenance, the Concierge facility is designed to offer the following services for new residents:

• BILL-FREE* Heating and Hot Water.
• Dedicated Concierge Suite with Parcel Store/Collection and Meeting Room.
• Primary point of contact.
• Emergency Response.
• Regular refuse collection (potential door to store service).
• Car Club management.
• Support and maintenance emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

SECURITY

Security through design has under-pinned this development proposal, primarily through excellent levels of passive surveillance. In addition to this, the proposal offers the following measures to ensure that Old Town is as safe and secure as possible, offering visitors and residents peace of mind 24 hours a day. The additional measures are:

• Support and maintenance emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• Automated gates securing the pedestrian passageways at night.
• Residents will still be able to use the gates via a keycode or fob.
• Automated bollards at vehicular accesses to prevent unauthorised access.
• 24/7 CCTV coverage.

DWELLING TYPOLOGY

A mix of dwellings are proposed, comprising;

• 1 Bed Apartments x 114
• 1 Bed Duplex Apartments x 6
• 2 Bed Apartments x 6
• 3 Bed Apartments x 2
• 2 Bed Duplex Apartments x 20
• 3 Bed Duplex Apartments x 2
• 1 Bed Maisonettes x 19
• 2 Bed Maisonettes x 23
• 3 Bed Maisonettes x 18
• 2B Coach-house x 3
• 2 Bed Houses x 44
• 3 Bed House x 47
• 4 Bed Houses x 13

CYCLE PARKING

The development contains numerous communal cycle parking facilities around the site.

Each dwelling will have an allocated cycle storage space (or two).

1 bed dwellings have 1 cycle storage spaces.

2 beds dwellings have 2 cycle storage spaces.

The proposed scheme provides 495 (311 in the housing development and 184 in the Kennet Centre multi-storey car park (at ground floor level).

RETAIL / COMMERCIAL UNITS

The scheme proposes 5 new separate retail units, in addition to 2 refurbished units (flexible Class E and to a white box fit out) and 2 existing units as follows;

• Retail Unit 1: 745.4 Sqft
• Retail Unit 2: 1123.2 Sqft
• Retail Unit 3: 807.3 Sqft
• Retail Unit 4: 505.9 Sqft
• Retail Unit 5: 505.9 Sqft
• Retail Unit 6 (V1): 2,707.1 Sqft
• Retail Unit 7 (V2): 5,256.6 Sqft
• Retail Unit 8 (V3): 4,305.6 Sqft
• Retail Unit 9 (V4): 4,789.9 Sqft
• Vue Cinema(7 Screens) : 18,688.3 Sqft

CAR PARKING

The redevelopment site will contain 80 car parking spaces in varying typologies; integral garages, under-croft parking and designated parking spaces on street. Furthermore, a new (additional) storey/level is proposed to be added to the Kennet Centre Car Park, increasing the number of spaces from 415 to 477. These will be in dual use for the public and residents. In total, the scheme will accommodate 557 car parking spaces.