OPPORTUNITIES Respect neighbouring properties – don’t overlook or • / ACTIONS make parking worse Make use of eco build and alternative technologies • (energy self sufficiency) Train local unemployed in build skills • Link with other public / private sector social care / health • providers to meet the needs of local people Learn from elsewhere: good and bad ideas • Non residential aspects needs financing: lobby celebrity • support PROBLEMS • DREAMS • SOLUTIONS
MOVEMENT
MOVEMENT
MOVEMENT
MOVEMENT
MOVEMENT
1 Woodbridge – Jewel in the Crown and biggest economic driver of Suffolk Coastal 2 Existing pedestrian route 3 Proposed new route avoiding Thoroughfare 4 Need for safe access to Primary school 5 Possible treatment of Melton Hill/Pytches Rd junction: Mini-roundabout • Pedestrian crossing • Junction options: Uncontrolled/Signal controlled • “20’s plenty” strategy – reduced mortality when accidents occur • Bus layby on downhill side? • 6 People come through town centre when A12 route is congested 7 Melton Hill houses opposite site have garages to rear 8 Thoroughfare; on street parking causes congestion MOVING AROUND THE SITE / WALKABOUT
9 Railway crossings To quay • To shed – may be made private by Network Rail • To boatyard – already private • 10 Problem junction1 - Thoroughfare – new pedestrian route helps avoid it Narrow footway • Turning for Jewsons lorries • Poor air quality • Car dominated • 11 Problem junction 2 - Lime Kiln Quay Rd – improvements funded through CIL? Dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists • Widened kerb into Deben Rd causes congestion • Reduce traffic speed to 20 mph, perhaps by raised table • MOVING AROUND THE SITE / WALKABOUT
RIVER VIEW
RIVER VIEW
Green walkway through site providing views 1 towards the river 2 Retain two existing buildings on site and use them for mixed uses 5 4 Public green space at bottom of site 3 8 2 4 Access to site remains in existing positions 6 9 5 Landscape screening around site boundary 2 Introduce safe-crossing point across Melton 1 6 4 Hill 11 Potential extension of existing footpath for 7 5 3 access to the town centre 7 Potential pedestrian link to the Maltings site 8 Buildings separated by and oriented 10 9 12 towards green space Pedestrian and cycle link to town centre 10 Children’s slide into green open space at 11 river’s edge Enhance usage of existing footpath along 12 river RIVER VIEW
BOARDWALKS & VIEWS
BOARDWALKS & VIEWS
Create a central boulevard from the 1 Drummer Boys statue Taller buildings to be located at the top 2 8 11 of the site 9 7 Provide back gardens on to the Deben 3 Rad back gardens Create a new green frontage along The 4 Thoroughfare 10 Provide shared surfaces to locations 5 along The Thoroughfare to create a safer walking environment, reduce traffic 6 speeds and pollution. 3 Swales and SuDS to be implemented 6 Ecology park with boardwalks 7 2 Viewing platform at bottom of park 8 1 4 9 Buildings on stilts? Combination of terraces and blocks of 10 5 flats? Connect Maltings Yard to the proposed 11 10 lower footpaths BOARDWALKS & VIEWS
THE WAY FORWARD
THE WAY FORWARD
Key Points Community ambitious for future of this development Also very keen to be involved in the future as this site can offer opportunity for new ways of living Potential space for range of community activities Home occupancy – range of models could be discussed: shared equity / co-operative / land trust / Woodbridge Model plot-by-plot / self-build – as well as default position (33% affordable – rest for sale) WAY FORWARD
TEAM WORKING
East Anglian Daily Times, 18 April PRESS
JUST 42 WORKSHOP
Melton Hill INTRODUCTION Woodbridge PRE-EVENT ENGAGEMENT Report Back COMMUNITY PLANNING WEEKEND Presentation KEY THEMES SITE AND CHARACTER ANALYSIS DESIGN PRINCIPLES VISION NEXT STEPS
A UNIQUE LOCATION The Melton Hill site sits on the brow of a hill, with great views over the River Deben to Sutton Hoo. Participants saw the potential of this unique site to deliver an exceptional residential development, integrated into Woodbridge and with scope to explore the potential for mixed uses on the site to encourage social integration and community benefit. There was no support for any kind of gated housing estate. “ “ We need to make something exceptional here – “ it should be a living community, not just housing. “ Everyone knows that the Council car park has the best views in Woodbridge. KEY THEMES
CREATING A PLACE Participants expect a high quality scheme - the crucial aspect is to create a ‘place’, not just a housing estate. It was felt that intimate streets with a sense of enclosure would reflect the Woodbridge character with local materials, but that contemporary design should be introduced rather than pastiche. Using the site's slope for underground parking would create a largely car free environment to the benefit of the development. “ “ We need housing which feels part of the town centre, not an estate on its own. “ “ I would like to see a site with imaginative, modern, low-carbon buildings of distinctive and attractive design, i.e. not ‘clone town’ designs. KEY THEMES
A WELCOMING ENTRANCE There was a desire to create a public space on Melton Hill with open views from Melton Hill to the river. Traffic calming measures should be explored to reduce traffic speeds at the junction with Pytches Road and improve the quality of the environment. This in turn could persuade more people to walk rather than drive into town and improve safety for local children walking to Woodbridge Primary School. “ “ Open up a view through the site to the river. “ “ We need a safer junction at Pytches Road, especially for children walking to Woodbridge Primary School. KEY THEMES
STAY OR GO The Drummer Boys statue is a significant landmark and participants felt that the possibility of it remaining in its existing location should be explored. Similarly whilst some people saw the potential to retain and convert the existing buildings fronting Melton Hill others felt they were of little significance and could be replaced by new buildings of high quality. “ “ The Drummer Boys statue comes from a Kipling short “ story: they refused to retreat. If you leave it where it is, that would be lovely. “ The buildings are not listed - they are not particularly “ special! “ What about an art gallery and café in the old Police station, with a really wide window that has a view to the river? KEY THEMES
LANDSCAPE & ENVIRONMENT The provision of hard and soft public spaces within the site, should include inspirational play areas, encourage social interaction and help integrate the site with the rest of Woodbridge. The flood plain area can provide space for imaginative natural meadow with boardwalks. “ “ We must have somewhere that children can play safely, with no cars – what about trees to climb! “ “ More growing space and room for nature would end up with a happier community with less stress. KEY THEMES
INTEGRATION & MIXED USE It was felt that the new residents should be integrated with existing parts of Woodbridge, not just physically but socially. Most participants wanted the site to provide a mix of housing with a focus on affordability. A development that includes a mix of uses and incorporates some space for art, meetings and/or youth activities would be welcome. The development will provide contributions to local infrastructure as part of the planning agreement. “ “ Young people grow up here and want to stay in their home town - we need somewhere for them. “ “ There’s up to 50 groups who all tend to do their own thing. We need a community space that’s multi-generation, to bring people together. KEY THEMES
NEW LINKS A new pedestrian and cycle link close to the railway could be created to Deben Road and The Maltings. This would provide neighbours with an alternative route to the riverside, the town centre and the new meadow at the bottom of the site. The new link must be sensitively designed to protect the residential amenity of those who live in immediate proximity. “ “ We want people to get out of their cars and onto their feet. “ “ Our dream is for a way through – only walking or cycling though – as it’s such a horrible route to town along the main road. KEY THEMES
RESPECT FOR NEIGHBOURS Respect for all neighbours is a key consideration, in terms of ensuring privacy through natural screening, and mitigating noise and disruption during the construction phase. “ “ Keep the trees – they’re full of wild plums and it’s a natural barrier. KEY THEMES
OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMETHING UNIQUE There is a strong creative community within Woodbridge. Participants suggested a new neighbourhood that is innovative and with benefits to the town, which could include exploring other options of affordable living, such as live/work and self-build and providing training and employment opportunities for local people. “ “ I’m very keen that builders should not put up same old buildings – use our young people to learn new building technologies. KEY THEMES
CONTINUING THE PARTICIPATION PROCESS A large number of people participated positively in the process, contributing many ideas and suggestions for the future of the site. It is important to continue the process and a future meeting would be welcome. In addition, the setting up of a new website could provide information and updates on a regular basis. “ “ “ What happens on this site could influence the rest of Woodbridge. “ We need to keep this group going! KEY THEMES
Melton Hill INTRODUCTION Woodbridge PRE-EVENT ENGAGEMENT Report Back COMMUNITY PLANNING WEEKEND Presentation KEY THEMES SITE AND CHARACTER ANALYSIS DESIGN PRINCIPLES VISION NEXT STEPS
1. Urban grain – streets oriented perpendicular to river LOCAL CHARACTER ANALYSIS
2. Streets open up to reveal pocket spaces LOCAL CHARACTER ANALYSIS
3. Varied building frontages LOCAL CHARACTER ANALYSIS
4. Defined view corridors LOCAL CHARACTER ANALYSIS
OPPORTUNITIES & CONSTRAINTS
DRUMMER BOY(S)
NEIGHBOURS
Melton Hill INTRODUCTION Woodbridge PRE-EVENT ENGAGEMENT Report Back COMMUNITY PLANNING WEEKEND Presentation KEY THEMES SITE AND CHARACTER ANALYSIS DESIGN PRINCIPLES VISION NEXT STEPS
1. Provide landscape buffer for neighbouring properties KEY PRINCIPLES
2. Create a sense of arrival on Melton Hill frontage. Incorporate mixed uses at ground floor level. KEY PRINCIPLES
3. Utilise existing vehicular access points into the site – enhance as necessary. Parking area below buildings. KEY PRINCIPLES
4. Define a view & journey through the site with a focus at both ends. KEY PRINCIPLES
5. Create a series of hard & soft spaces that respect the site’s topography and step down the site. KEY PRINCIPLES
6. Allow for pedestrian connections through to Maltings Yard and Deben Road. Create new wetlands area. KEY PRINCIPLES
Melton Hill INTRODUCTION Woodbridge PRE-EVENT ENGAGEMENT Report Back COMMUNITY PLANNING WEEKEND Presentation KEY THEMES SITE AND CHARACTER ANALYSIS VISION NEXT STEPS
1 1. Define frontage and setting to listed building. NARRATIVE
2 2. Create new mixed use public square. NARRATIVE
3 3. Form arrival space as main entrance, drop off for deliveries. NARRATIVE
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