As with all of our projects, we took a landscape-led approach to ensure that the existing assets of the site, which included beautiful mature trees and hedgerows, were celebrated as part of our designs and became the emphasis for the public realm strategy for the site. The site’s stunning mature and veteran tree groupings alongside the distinct edges to the site are characteristic assets that the proposals were framed around. Referencing the existing landscape features was hugely important to establish what is unique to the site and give the proposals their own identity.

Rich and varied spaces will encourage people to connect in a communal way that can only be experienced at the site. So designing a network of open space around existing assets, helps us imagine a future community that prioritises the health and wellbeing of its people. This led us to a multi-functional green infrastructure permeated by direct walking and cycling routes, areas for play and relaxation and a community hub building, located in green space overlooking a group of iconic trees.