The new proposals form a Reserved Matters Application for 15
new homes and associated landscape on a 0.49ha site, recently submitted for
Planning in April 2022. These Reserved Matters address an earlier Outline
Planning consent from 2015. R-LA lead the Masterplan design which allowed priority to be given to nature-based SuDS features.
Formally the site of Fourfields
care home, in Cheshunt. The site has gentle falls from the western
boundary to the southeast, although the existing buildings do cut into
the landscape creating steep banks to the northern boundary and a
flatter central area.
The underlying soil structure has a low rate of permeability and
currently there are no SuDS
features. Stormwater run-off discharges into Rags Brook, which is
located about 15m to the south, flowing in a west-east direction.
Naturalistic SuDS features
were considered at the start of the design process, which began with
an
extensive assessment of the relationship of the site with its
surrounding environment and urban context. The outcome was the immediate
production of a very early
sketch design revolving around a strong nature-based SuDS strategy. The
design development was achieved through
a coordination of multidisciplinary teams, with early involvement of
each
discipline focusing towards achieving the same cohesive goal.
DETAILS
Client: Herts Living Ltd
Architect and Co-Lead - Mace Group Drainage Engineers - Price & Myers Planning Consultants - Turley Arboricultralist -Treework Environmental Practice Ecologist - ELMAW Consulting Transport Engineer - TTP Consulting
Status: Planning April 2022
Awards: Winner Ciria susdrain 2022 SuDS Award Category: Early Housing Schemes not yet Completed but with a Firm Commitment to Deliver and Maintain High-Quality SuDS Highly Commended Landscape Institute 2022 Category: ‘Excellence in Flood and
Water Management.’
The site is predominantly hard paved
areas of footpaths and a carpark to the main entrance, with margins of mown
grass, evergreen shrubs, and some mature trees. There is little in the way of
ecology or biodiversity, and no SuDS strategy.
SUSTAINABLE URBAN DRAINAGE
In collaboration with Price & Myers the following SuDS Components were developed for the scheme:
Communal Areas • No.5 Communal Rain Gardens • SuDSTree Pit within Hard Landscape. • Exceedance and Flow Paths to Soft Landscape • Permeable Paving (vehicular and pedestrian)
Private Arena • No.15 Roof RWP Bioretention Planters • No.15 Roof RWP Water Butts (300L units) • No.15 Green Roofs on Refuse Stores • No.15 Green Roofs on Cycle Stores.
CARBON IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
The tables shown below were produced
using the Pathfinder calculator by Climate Positive Design. The study shows
that, with a considered approach, the proposed development can achieve climate-positive
status within 35 years.
