Landscape Design Strategy and Outline Plant Specification

Transcription

1 HARWOODS GROUP HARWOODS: CRAWLEY JAGUAR LANDROVER MANOR ROYAL, CRAWLEY, WEST SUSSEX LANDSCAPE MASTERPLAN AND ECOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENT STRATEGY Approved By: Joe Jackson Signed:. Position: Principal Date: 12 May 2014 Rev: 01 May 2014 Planning Issue LLD677/KM/ Lizard Landscape Design, 19 Broadwater Street East, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 9AA Tel Fax

2 Revision 01; Date; 12 th May 2014 Planning Issue Page Introduction 1.1 The Harwoods Group has commissioned Lizard Landscape Design and Ecology to prepare a landscape design strategy for the proposed Harwoods Crawley Jaguar Landrover development proposals on Manor Royal, Crawley for the development and construction of car showroom and workshop buildings; with associated vehicular and pedestrian access; and designated provision for customer, demonstration, display and employee car parking. The proposals would be enhanced with frontage planting and internal soft landscape schemes. 1.2 The following report provides a preliminary ecological appraisal of the Harwoods Crawley site development area as a summary and ecological context for the development proposals. The report highlights any habitats of interest within the site, and the assessment of potential for protected species within the existing site, to be retained, protected, and habitats enhanced within the development landscape scheme proposals. 1.3 The report also considers the tree retention and protection proposals for the Harwoods Crawley development site, highlighting the existing tree and vegetation cover suitable for retention and protection within the scheme proposals, combined with the potential for enhancement of the native tree, hedgerow, and shrub cover within the ecological / landscape scheme proposals. 1.4 Based upon the scheme proposals for the Harwoods - Jaguar and Landrover; Manor Royal, Crawley development, the landscape and ecological enhancement measures have been designed and specified with the aim of enhancing species and bio-diversity within the development site whilst providing identity to the development frontage and strengthening of the site boundaries. An outline plant list and specification for each proposed habitat and landscape type has been provided in the following report at Section The landscape and ecological design strategy for the Harwoods - Jaguar and Landrover; Manor Royal, Crawley development has been prepared by Keith Miller (BA (Hons) MALA); Landscape Architect; Lizard Landscape Design and Ecology, Worthing. 2.0 Harwoods: Crawley; Manor Royal Development Ecological Assessment 2.1 A preliminary ecological appraisal and protected species assessment was undertaken of the site area on 06 th March 2014 to appraise the ecology within the proposed development site and the surrounding area. The survey was specifically targeted to identify the existing habitats and also to identify potential for protected species within and adjacent to the site area. 2.2 The survey data and analysis contained within the ecology report was undertaken and prepared by Catherine O Reilly (BSc; Assistant Ecologist, Lizard Landscape Design and Ecology) and reviewed by Mark Vivian (MSc BSc; Senior Ecologist; CIEEM; Lizard Landscape Design and Ecology; Natural England Licence Holder for Bats, GCN and Dormice). 2.3 A preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA) was undertaken of the site on 06 th March 2014 to appraise the existing ecological resource within the site and the surrounding area. The survey has identified habitats of amenity grassland; hard standing; introduced scrub; short ephemeral and tall ruderal with scattered trees to the western site boundary. The vast majority of the area is made up of hard surface treatments and can be considered of low ecological value.

3 Revision 01; Date; 12 th May 2014 Planning Issue Page The mature oak trees to the western site boundary offer the greatest potential for bats yet while no discernable bat roost features were identified the trees should be retained and strengthened within any proposals. It is considered highly unlikely that a population of reptiles would have colonised the site. The site area can be considered to be of low ecological value. No features which would support a population of protected species were identified on site. 2.5 The ecological interest and value of the development area is proposed to be improved within the development landscape scheme with the use of native tree, and hedgerow planting to the site boundaries and native tree with flowering shrub underplanting to the site frontages and car park areas to encourage invertebrates, birds, and bats to the site area. 3.0 Harwoods: Crawley; Manor Royal Development Arboricultural Assessment 3.1 A detailed tree survey was undertaken on site at the West Rise Schools, Chaffinch Road development area during February The results of the tree survey have been detailed within the attached documentation which should be referred to; LLD677 / 01 Tree Constraints Plan; Existing Tree Schedule; Dated; ; LLD630 / 02 Tree Retention and Protection Plan. 3.2 The existing site currently contains a limited number of habitats within the vicinity of the proposed development areas including semi-mature / mature scattered and grouped trees. The northern and eastern boundaries are devoid of existing vegetation. The southern site edge contains a mix of semi-mature and mature trees of varying condition and value. To the eastern edge of the southern boundary are 2 no. mature Lime trees of good condition and including a singular A category tree. The southern boundary vegetation comprises a small treeline of Silver Birch punctuated by a singular Cypress tree. The central frontage is devoid of significant vegetation. To the western edge of the southern boundary is a small group of scattered trees. The trees are of mixed species including Sycamore, Cypress and Rowan. The treeline and scattered trees offer some collective amenity value in relation to the location and character of the existing site but includes trees of variable condition within a frontage scheme that has become unmanaged and tired. 3.3 To the western edge of the site is a semi-mature Beech hedgeline that extends north from the south western corner. A treeline feature extends further north as a vegetation buffer outside but adjacent to the western boundary edge. A small tree group of Oak is located to the mid-western boundary. 3.4 There is little other vegetation within the site. A number of trees and existing vegetation within and adjacent to the western boundary are to be retained and protected within the development proposals. There are a limited number of scattered trees throughout the existing development site of variable condition and which shall require removal due to the proposed development. Tree Protection Measures 3.5 All tree protection shall be in accordance with BS 5837; 2012; 'Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition and Construction - Recommendations' and set out as specified on Drawing LLD677 / 02 Tree Retention and Protection Plan. 3.6 The existing boundary tree group trees to be retained to the western site edge would be protected with ground protection measures. The proposed development includes vehicular access with car park provision.

4 Revision 01; Date; 12 th May 2014 Planning Issue Page To accommodate the proposals and maintain tree root protection areas (RPAs) of existing trees to be retained a no-dig permeable paving construction shall be implemented where areas of proposed hard standing impinge upon associated root zones; the existing trees shall be enclosed and protected with tree protective fencing. 4.0 Landscape Strategy and Ecological Enhancement Measures. 4.1 (The Landscape Masterplan Strategy proposals for Harwoods Crawley development proposals have been indicated on the following drawing; LLD677 / 03 Landscape Masterplan and Ecological Enhancement Strategy and within the following Outline Plant Schedules.) Landscape and Ecological Design Strategy 4.2 The development plan for the Harwoods Crawley development site should include an ecological and landscape strategy which aims to enhance the existing landscape and ecological features present within the existing site area. The development proposals provide the opportunity to enhance the species and biodiversity within the development site with habitat diversification and creation to the development site boundaries, in particular to the southern and western site boundaries and to existing groups of mature broad-leaved trees to the western site boundaries. Manor Royal Development Site Frontage; Boundary Treatments 4.3 The existing Manor Royal vehicular access is proposed to be reinstated within the proposals as a designated customer vehicular access to the site. The proposals would include the formation of a new pedestrian path encouraging separated pedestrian circulation to the site frontage. The soft landscape proposals would follow the guidance of the Crawley Borough Council; Supplementary Planning Document Manor Royal Design Guide. 4.4 A small number of existing trees are proposed to be removed from the southern development site boundary. The site frontage shall be planted with a new tree line of semi-mature nursery stock (20 25 cm girth size; 5 5.5m height) native species trees, planted at 15.0m centres, in order to mitigate for the loss of existing trees and to provide visual emphasis to the boundary, softening and filtering views from the adjacent public Manor Royal areas to the south. The treeline would be underplanted with a feature planting scheme of ornamental flowering shrubs and accent planting, reinforcing the proposed treelined frontage, offering seasonal interest and providing a foraging resource for invertebrates, enhancing the opportunity for increasing site bio-diversity. 4.5 The pedestrian link path and access point would be formed to extend from the Manor Royal pavement to the southern edge of the proposed showrooms and edged with ornamental shrub planting. The showroom building surrounds and entrance area is proposed to be enhanced with a feature paving scheme. Faraday Road Development Site Frontage; Boundary Treatments 4.8 There are no existing habitats to the eastern Faraday Road site boundary. The proposals include parking facilities for Display and Demonstration vehicles and areas designated for Customer and Employee parking internal to the eastern site boundary with an additional vehicular access made from Faraday Road. 4.9 The development car park boundary would be compliment the primary Manor Royal frontage soft landscape scheme and would be planted with native tree planting of semi-mature nursery stock (20 25 cm girth size; 5 5.5m height) native species trees, planted at 15.0m centres.

5 Revision 01; Date; 12 th May 2014 Planning Issue Page The treeline planting would be underplanted with a strong linear shrub planting scheme strengthening the visual amenity to the eastern boundary and extending the treeline connection between the site and existing woodlands to the south of Manor Royal. The native treeline planting would be extended to the northern site boundary The planting would soften views to the internal parking areas and workshops from beyond the eastern boundary and would provide further additional habitat resource for species of birds, bats and invertebrates The western boundary is edged with a group of scattered mature Oak trees. The trees are to be retained and protected within the proposals. The boundary would be reinforced with the planting of Standard Extra Heavy nursery stock native species trees (14-16 cm girth size; m height) supplementing the adjacent scrub / treeline feature to the west. The trees would be planted within an extensive boundary hedgeline feature proposed to the western site edge. The hedgeline planting would comprise native mixed species and would implement the guidance of the Manor Royal Design Guide. The boundary hedgeline would be extended to the northern site boundary providing distinct separation between the internal site and the adjacent developments. The boundary feature would provide further additional habitat resource for protected species and invertebrates and connectivity beyond the site boundaries. Internal Areas Soft Landscape Proposals 4.13 The internal areas of the site contain the proposed car showrooms and associated service and repair workshops. The buildings are surrounded with facilities for display and demonstrator purposes and designated parking for staff and customers The extent of the hard surfaced parking areas would be reduced with the use of planting areas containing the parking bays. The planting areas would be planted with a co-ordinated scheme of native species Standard Extra Heavy nursery stock trees (14-16 cm girth size; m height) and would be underplanted with a robust scheme of flowering shrubs providing seasonal interest and amenity for visitors and users of the site The internal site area is proposed to be divided to provide a separate repair workshop facility access from the northern edge of the Faraday Road boundary. The site division would be reinforced and demarcated with an internal boundary hedgeline edged with groundcover shrub planting and parking bay tree planting. 5.0 Harwoods: Crawley; Proposed Development Outline Plant Specification Harwoods: Crawley Outline Plant Specification 5.1 The soil type of the surrounding area can be descibed as Slowly permeable seasonally wet slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey soils (Cranfield University Soils). The plant material selected for the Harwoods Crawley development landscape scheme would be suited to the defined soil type. The outline plant specification for the proposed development site is illustrated below. The development proposals seek to establish areas of ornamental flowering shrubs, native understorey hedgerow and native tree planting, providing habitat for foraging birds, bats, small mammals, and invertebrates.

6 Revision 01; Date; 12 th May 2014 Planning Issue Page 5 Harwoods: Crawley; Proposed Development Outline Plant Specification Native Tree Planting Acer campestre (Field Maple) Alnus glutinosa (Field Maple) Betula pendula (Silver Birch) Carpinus betulus Fastigiata Frans Fontaine (Hornbeam) cm Girth Size; m height; Standard Extra Heavy. RB Specimen cm Girth Size; m height; Semi-mature Stock. RB Specimen cm Girth Size; m height; Standard Extra Heavy. RB Specimen cm Girth Size; m height; Semi-mature Stock. RB Specimen cm Girth Size; Sorbus aria m height; (Whitebeam) Standard Extra Heavy. RB Specimen -- (BR Bare Root Stock; RB Root Balled; CG Container Grown Stock) Habitat Areas Native Hedges Acer campestre cm height. (Field Maple) Alnus incana cm height. (Grey Alder) Carpinus betulus cm height. (Hornbeam) Cornus sanguinea cm height. (Dog Wood) Corylus avellana cm height. (Common Hazel) Ilex aquifolium cm height. 2L (Holly) CG centres -- Salix caprea cm height. (Goat Willow) (Native Hedging - 2 no. staggered rows set 400 centres.) Ornamental Boundary Hedges Escallonia Apple cm height. Blossom 3 ltr CG centres cm height. Griselinia littoralis 3 ltr CG centres -- (Ornamental Hedging - 2 no. staggered rows set 400 centres.)

7 Revision 01; Date; 12 th May 2014 Planning Issue Page 6 Frontage Shrub Planting Areas Caryopteris x clandonensis Heavenly Blue cm height. 3 ltr CG 3 / m² -- Ceanothus thyrsiflorus repens cm spread 3 ltr CG 3 / m² -- Cistus x corbariensis cm spread 3 ltr CG 3 / m² -- Cistus x ladanifer cm spread 3 ltr CG 3 / m² -- Cistus x purpureus cm spread 3 ltr CG 3 / m² -- Cotoneaster salicifolius Repens cm spread. 3 ltr CG 4 / m² -- Euonymus fortunei Silver Queen 30 cm spread 3 ltr CG 4 / m² -- Hebe x franciscana Blue Gem cm spread 3 ltr CG 3 / m² -- Jasminum nudiflorum cm height. 3 ltr CG 3 / m 2 -- Lavandula angustifolia Hidcote cm spread 3 ltr CG 4 / m² -- Lonicera pileata cm height. 3 ltr CG 3 / m² -- Miscanthus sinensis Gracillimus cm spread 3 ltr CG 3 / m² -- Milium effusum Aureum 30 cm spread 2 ltr CG Specimen -- Miscanthus sinensis Gracillimus cm spread 3 ltr CG Specimen -- Pennisetum alopecuroides Hamlyn 30 cm spread 3 ltr CG Specimen -- Perovskia atriciplicifolia Blue Spire cm height. 3 ltr CG 3 / m 2 -- Phormium cookianum 'Cream Delight' cm height 3 ltr CG Specimen -- Salix purpurea Nancy Saunders cm height. 7 ltr CG Specimen -- Rosmarinus Tuscan Blue cm height 3 ltr CG 3 / m² -- Sasa vetchii cm height. 3 ltr CG 3 / m2 -- Spirea cinerea Grefsheim cm height. 3 ltr CG 3 / m2 -- Vinca minor cm height. 2 ltr CG 4 / m2 -- (BR Bare Root Stock; RB Root Balled; CG Container Grown Stock)

8 Revision 01; Date; 12 th May 2014 Planning Issue Page 7 Ornamental Herbaceous Planting Calamagrostis x acutiflora Karl Forester cm spread 7 ltr CG Specimen -- Aster lateriflorus Lady in Black Bergenia Silver Light Hakonechloa macra Aureola Hemerocallis Pink Damask 30 cm spread 3 ltr CG Specimen cm spread 3 ltr CG Specimen cm spread 3 ltr CG Specimen cm spread 3 ltr CG Specimen -- Miscanthus sinensis Gracillimus cm spread 7 ltr CG Specimen -- Molinia caerulea Heidebraut 30 cm spread. 3 ltr CG Specimen -- Persicaria amplexicaulis 30 cm spread 3 ltr CG Specimen -- Rudbeckia occidentalis Green Wizard Sedum Red Cauli. 30 cm spread. 3 ltr CG Specimen cm spread. 3 ltr CG Specimen -- (BR Bare Root Stock; RB Root Balled; CG Container Grown Stock)