New Communities

Stanton Cross

Project Details

Client
Bovis Homes / Vistry Group
Location
Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
Year
2011 – present
Services
Urban Design, Masterplanning, Landscape Architecture, Planning

Overview

Stanton Cross was first conceived as a sustainable urban extension to Wellingborough in the late 1990s; a new garden community providing over 3000 new homes in a location that had wide support from key stakeholders, both locally and nationally. This was underpinned by a recognition of the socio-economic benefits that strategic growth in this location could bring, being so close to the train station and town centre.

The site’s unique landscape and infrastructure challenges required a carefully considered response. Define led a creative and iterative environmental and masterplanning process that embedded mitigation, responded to policy requirements and ensured the scheme could be delivered efficiently.

While the site was shaped by the presence of the Midland Mainline and the Rivers Ise and Nene, these features also presented a powerful opportunity to create a well-connected and distinctive place. Alongside a number of environmental considerations, a thoughtful and strategic approach to development and infrastructure delivery was required to ensure a successful outcome.

Iterative assessment and design process

A creative and iterative EIA and masterplanning process has been central to the success of the project, together with the seamless management of the planning process to address those challenges. The development scheme has been continually shaped and refined to embed mitigation from the outset, responding positively to the planning policy context and making the most of site-specific opportunities, enabling planning permissions to be implemented efficiently and effectively.

The resulting masterplan builds on the town’s historic radial structure, reconnecting the site by bridging the rail and river corridors and establishing strong green infrastructure and movement links back into the town. New railway station facilities are to be provided at a transport interchange on the principal Midland Road connection, now open between the town centre and neighbourhood centre. This route crosses the Ise Valley, where a new Town and County Park is being created to provide a valuable recreation and environmental asset for the wider community and beautiful setting for the development.

Delivery

The initial phases of residential development have been extremely well received are progressing quickly on site, supporting a thriving community at Stanton Cross.

In recent years, Define’s focus has been on accelerating delivery across subsequent phases of the scheme through the preparation of design briefs, reserved matters submissions and managing of the condition discharge process relating to the residential areas and key community facilities. This has included the preparation of detailed landscape design proposals for strategic areas of open space, sports and recreation facilities, and play areas that will become defining features within the scheme.

Station Island

Station Island is a unique development opportunity within Stanton Cross. It is ideally positioned to provide the handshake between the town and new community, but is also subject to a wide variety of acute constraints.

The approved Design Brief establishes a framework that will facilitate the creation of a vibrant and prosperous neighbourhood with a rich variety of residential, employment, commercial and community premises and a true sense of place that draws on both its heritage and dynamic nature close to the new railway station facilities.