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Hampshire CountyIntegrated Character Assessment

1 Status: Draft March 2010Hill Head and Stubbington

Townscape Assessment

HILL HEAD AND STUBBINGTON

Character Assessment

1.0 OVERVIEW

1.1 Hill Head and Stubbington is a smallconurbation lying on the south coast to thewest of Gosport and south of Fareham.The built-up area lies on the low lying, flatcoastal plain with the valley of the RiverMeon to the west. The coastline forms thesouth boundary of the area, the Meonvalley the western edge, and open coastalplain borders the area to the north andnortheast. To the southeast is the airfieldof the former HMS Daedalus with a groupof World War II hangars sited close to theedge of the airfield. To the north of the settlement a mile-wide band of arableand horticultural fields lies between Fareham and Stubbington. To the west liesTitchfield Haven National Nature Reserve, part of the Meon Valley, and a largercountryside gap largely managed for biodiversity. The riparian and estuarinehabitats, together with intertidal habitats along the Hill Head coastline are alsodesignated as a Special Protection Area and Site of Special Scientific Interest forthe bird species they support.

1.2 Up until the mid-twentieth century this was an agricultural landscape withmedieval settlements at the villages of Stubbington and at Crofton, the parishcentre which consisted of little more than the parish church and Manor Farm.There were also a number of dispersed farmsteads and cottages mainly set alonga network of lanes crossing the area. Hill Head, at the mouth of the River Meon,was the name attached to a small harbour and a handful of cottages.

1.3 In the early twentieth century there was a small amount of development on thecoast near Hill Head. The period between the wars saw some further housingdevelopment along the coast at Hill Head, along Crofton Lane, and along thelanes to the north of Stubbington but it was not until the later twentieth centurythat the bulk of the residential development was carried out, the conurbationbecoming a dormitory settlement to the larger urban areas of Fareham andGosport.

1.4 The Hill Head seafront is a popular local visitor attraction with one of the onlybeaches between Portsmouth and Southampton, made accessible via threeseafront car parks and the Solent Way long distance footpath running along the




coastline. The beach is lined beach huts and popular for activities such assummer sunbathing, walking, bird watching, fishing and the shoreline for sailing,windsurfing and kite surfing. There are two sailing clubs, and a small harbournext to Titchfield Haven. In summer the coastal roads and car parks can becharacterised by very heavy car use and congestion.




2.0 CHARACTER AREA DESCRIPTIONS

2.1 HHS01 Stubbington District Centre

2.1.1 Character SummaryThere are only the remains of the plan form and spaces of historicStubbington, except for Holy Rood, Gosport Road (1878 by T Goodchild)and a small number of modest Georgian houses. The commercial core ofStubbington has developed at this important junction of historic routes andcomprises local shops, a library, community centre, school and church. It isa well used district centre of some importance. Its scale, form andpredominant uses distinguish the area from the surrounding residentialsuburbs. Despite its relatively modest size, it has a diverse mix of retail,café, take away, supermarket and local services. There are no sub-areasdefined within this small character area.

2.1.2 Key Characteristics

• A compact core of mixed use buildings mostly small independent retailers setaround a green

• Topography is flat• Mix of small and medium footprint buildings on regular plots (some have

been amalgamated)• Building line is staggered in places but with shopfronts set to the back of

wide pavements facing the green• Red brick, clay tile and concrete interlocking tiles and some survival of

natural slate• Mostly two storey buildings some single storey buildings separate from the

commercial group• Commercial, retail, some residential (flats above shops) , school and church• Some good trees to the northern end of the green and between the

shopping centre and library on the edge of the sports fields to the west• Some good shared surfaces and large green spaces adjacent to pavements,

excessive lighting to roundabouts at northern and southern ends of thecharacter area

• Access and connectivity are good throughout for the pedestrian. For carusers connectivity east-west is more problematic.

2.1.3 Boundaries and settingThis character area is completely enclosed by the residential suburbs and urbanextensions of Stubbington. Its setting would be considered to be dense urbandevelopment except for part of its western boundary which is open sports fieldsconnected to schools to the west. Holy Rood church is an important landmarkand Grade II listed building and is seen for some distance on travelling northalong Gosport Road.




2.1.4 DesignationsHoly Rood Church is a statutory listed building; Grade C (the equivalent ofGrade II). There is a statutory listed, much altered, eighteenth century house tothe south side of Titchfield Road (Grade II). There are no designatedconservation areas within the character area.

2.1.5 Townscape types presentTCT12, 22 and 23

2.1.6 TopographyThe area is flat and low lying

2.1.7 Layout and PatternThis character area comprises an early, tight settlement pattern of buildings setaround a triangular green on regular plots (although some have beenamalgamated) at a medium to high density at the junction of a series of historicroutes; Stubbington Lane, Park Lane and Burnt House Lane. Whilst very little ofthe historic built form remains, the early plan of the settlement forming aroundthis junction is still well-defined and readable. This gives this character area avillage scale and feel.

Buildings are generally set to the back of wide pavements and there is aconsistent building line throughout which provides good enclosure particularly tothe green. Outside the green the townscape is less well-defined and buildingsare set back, sometimes framed by trees (for example the library) or as buildingshaving landmark qualities such as the church and to a lesser extent the publichouse to the corner of Stubbington Gardens and Titchfield Road, both seenacross open space on approaches to the centre of the character area.

2.1.8 Buildings and materialsMost buildings date from the mid to late twentieth century with some oldersurvivals (though heavily altered with the exception of the church). Buildings areone and two storey throughout the character area but with those fronting thegreen a consistent two storey; shops and services to ground floor with someresidential units above. There is a variation to ridge orientation with parapetsand hipped roofs addressing the space and providing interest to the roofline andmaintaining a fine grain to the townscape.

Red, buff and yellow brick is seen in the character area as well as knapped flint.There is some painting of brickwork and some render but this is limited. Roofsare clay tile and concrete interlocking tiles with a very limited survival of naturalslate.

2.1.9 Predominant land useA good mix of commercial, small scale independent retail and residential. Thereis also a library and church with community facilities. The mix of uses in the




character area contributes to the sense of the place as a village centre andcommunity hub.

2.1.10 Public realmThe area around the green is a relatively well used space but does not becometoo busy for pedestrians to be able to informally cross the roads in relativesafety. On-street parking helps calm traffic. Pavements are wide bit there is anoticeable absence of street trees. The grassed amenity spaces to the centralgreen are an attractive part of the character area. Trees add to the generalinformality of this space. Beyond the green the roads are busy thoroughfaresand sections of Titchfield Road skirting the commercial area are narrow withcorrespondingly narrow pavements. Street lighting to roundabouts is excessiveand out of scale with the suburban setting.

2.1.11 Open spaceThere is good provision of public open space both within and immediatelyadjacent to the character area. To the south of the commercial core are largeexpanses of amenity green space. Stubbington Recreation Ground to the west ofStubbington Lane lies mainly in HHS02 but in HHS01 houses communitybuildings, sports clubs and sports facilities and a formal park set in an open well-treed green setting. To the east of Stubbington Lane is a large open area of greenspace backed onto by houses to the south but with houses and the Holy Roodchurch facing on to the open space to the north. The open space provides asetting to the church and its prominent flint and stone tower. The greentriangular space to the commercial core is an historic survival of early settlementlayout and a valuable green amenity space for local people. It provides a sense ofidentity and pulls the surrounding townscape together to form a memorableplace. The edge of the character area is tree-lined but this open space forms animportant part of the setting to buildings within the character area.

2.1.12 BiodiversityA high degree of open green space and some tree cover to the edges providesome urban habitats within the character area, however these areas are noteasily linked to open countryside, substantial green corridors or areas ofwoodland.

2.1.13 Access and connectivityThere is good access for both pedestrian and car user with perhaps emphasis onthe pedestrian through the use of footpaths, particularly from the south andwest. Connectivity is good travelling north-south for the vehicle user but lesssuccessful east-west. Connectivity for the pedestrian is good throughout.

2.2 HHS02 Hill Head and Stubbington Residential Suburbs

2.2.1 Character Summary




A series of early lanes and routeways travelling north-south (evidenced bythe isolated survival of early buildings – most of which are statutory listed)form the framework for the almost entirely residential suburbs reachingfrom Crofton in the north engulfing the commercial core of Stubbington(HHS01) and running for much of its length right up to the edge of theSolent Water in the south.

The area, despite being a large character area has a high degree ofhomogeneity. Most of the bungalows and houses are semi-detached ordetached (with the exception of some very late twentieth centurydevelopment) and almost all are set back from the road in gardens (ofvarying sizes) and with a mostly consistent building line following theroadside (be this rectilinear or curvilinear). Differences in layout anddensity, presence and character of open space, degree of former characterof the landscape being retained (mostly trees) and period of developmenthas necessitated the defining of five sub-areas within this character area.

2.2.2 Key characteristics

HHS02 Sub-areas

2a North Stubbington; Mays Lane, Titchfield Road and Cuckoo Laneenvirons

• Inter-war and post-war development at a medium density throughout• The topography is flat throughout• A mix of semi-detached and detached houses and bungalows set on medium

sized plots• Buildings lines are often staggered to roadsides throughout, but dwellings are

generally set back from the road with low boundary wall or hedges definingthe roads or lanes

• Red brick with clay tile and concrete interlocking tiles• Single and two storey houses• Entirely residential – single family dwelling houses• Mature boundaries of hedges and some trees. Some historic boundaries and

lanes• Very limited on-street parking. Some street trees, although limited, and

some roads have grass verges.• Very good access and connectivity, particularly for the pedestrian with a

series of footpaths running behind and between roads and through separateestates

2b Hill Head

• Mostly post-war expansion at mostly low and some medium density• Land is flat and low lying




• Large detached houses and some detached bungalows and some semi-detached houses

• Some variation to the building line often reflecting the gentle curve of a roador cul-de-sac

• Houses set back from road in large front gardens• Red brick, some render (but limited), clay tiles and concrete interlocking tiles• Some single storey but mostly two storey houses• Entirely residential – single family dwelling houses• Wide roads, with grass verges and often lined by mature boundaries, notable

absence however of street trees• Some tree cover within large gardens and to boundaries• Excellent access and connectivity (Solent Way passes along the length of the

southern boundary) particularly to the seafront

2c Seafield Park environs

• Mostly inter-war and post-war expansion in three phases of encroachmentinto the park

• Land is flat and low lying• Mostly large detached houses and some detached bungalows• Varied building line, often staggered to offset road grids• Houses set back from road in large front gardens• Red brick, clay tiles and concrete interlocking tiles• Mostly two storey houses• Entirely residential – single family dwelling houses• Wide roads, limited on-street parking, no street trees, mature boundaries to

some roads• Good tree belts to the park and to Crofton Avenue environs (the latter also

has mature trees to gardens)• Good access and connectivity for the pedestrian, particularly to the seafront,

poor access and connectivity for the car user

2d Stubbington Lane and Gosport Road environs

• Post-war medium to high density bungalows• Land is flat and low lying• Predominantly bungalows set in regular plots along long sweeping roads with

low brick and hedge garden boundary walls• Consistent building line following curvature of roads throughout• Predominant building materials are red brick, there is some

render/pebbledash, with clay tile or concrete interlocking tiles.• Predominantly single storey dwellings• Single family dwelling houses• Most roads have are wide with grass verges but no street trees, very limited

on-street parking




• Limited trees to front or back gardens, good tree belts to open green spaceadjacent to Crofton Hammond Junior and Infant Schools

• Good access and connectivity with a hierarchy of principle routes and feederroads linking to other areas throughout

2e Old Street and Marks Tey Road environs

• 1980s/1990s medium/high density housing• Late twentieth century housing;• The topography is flat throughout• Medium to high density, short terraces or semi-detached and detached

houses set in groups or around small cul-de-sacs.• Inconsistent building lines due to the often overly complicated road and plot

layouts• Red brick, hanging tiles and modern clay tile and other modern interlocking

tiles• Two storey houses• Entirely residential – single family dwelling houses• Areas of open space with small wooded areas link throughout the sub-area.

Trees often forming the backdrop to development.• Shared pedestrian spaces, roads with grass verges let down in places by dead

frontage to the main feeder roads• Good access and connectivity throughout with a series of footpaths and

pedestrian lanes linking houses areas to each other and to sub-area beyond

2.2.3 Boundaries and settingThe edge of the study area forms the boundary to all sides. To the west is thevalley of the River Meon with Titchfield Haven at the mouth of the river adjacentto the edge of the residential areas of Hill Head. To the north is opencountryside, a small but significant gap between the residential suburbs of thisstudy area and those of the southern fringes of Fareham. To the east andpartially in the Borough of Gosport is the former HMS Daedalus military baseand airfield. The airfield runs up to Gosport Road with Peel Common (and thesewage works) north of this and HMS Collingwood to the south of Farehambeyond. To the south is the Solent Water with the Isle of Wight clearly visiblefrom the shoreline.

The setting of this character area is essentially open landscape. From anydirection there is a real sense of arrival as one travels very quickly from openexpansive low lying landscapes to enclosed, urban medium to high densitydevelopment. This change is sudden and abrupt. The only exception to this isto the south-east corner of the character area where Seafield Park and the edgesof the airfield adjacent give a general sense of openness to this part of thecharacter area and its immediate setting. This is combined with the closeproximity to the water and the extended views up and down Solent Water fromthis point in the character area.




Views from the Isle of Wight (which is elevated and undulating) look down ontothis section of the Solent Water shoreline and the line between urban and ruralwill be readily apparent in these views emphasising the importance and sensitivityof the setting in these views. Views to the Isle of Wight and Calshot are also animportant part of the essential character of this readily accessible section ofwaterfront.

2.2.4 DesignationsThere are fourteen buildings in the Statutory Listed Buildings of SpecialArchitectural or Historic Interest, all are Grade II. They are all between lateseventeenth century and early nineteenth century date, mostly of a cottage scalewith much alteration and extension. Some have timber frames, one is thatchedand all are isolated with the exception of Holy Rood Church, Crofton and theManor House adjacent which form an attractive group at the most northern tipof the character area.

There are no designated conservation areas within this character area.

2.2.5 Townscape types presentTCT07, 08, 16, 23, 24, 27 and 28

2.2.6 TopographyTo the south-west corner of the character area, the land form very gently fallstowards the Meon valley and Solent Water but this is almost imperceptible untilalmost to the waters edge. There is a clear level change from the edge of thedeveloped sections of the character area down to the waterfront.

2.2.7 Layout and PatternDespite its large area, there is some consistency in layout and pattern across thecharacter area with most distinction between developments reflected in density,period and material detailing. Density (generally plot size) and period of buildingare reflected in the sub-areas identified within this character area. Thedifferences are often subtle. The following is a broad overview of the key layoutpatterns seen within HHS02.

The post-war estates can be divided into three areas which largely differ only intheir density rather than any significant changes to house types or use of openspace. The low to medium density Hill Head (sub-area HHS02b) is a mix ofimmediate post war and 1970s housing with more variation to building type;semi-detached and detached houses set on a more informal series of roadlayouts, often with cranked roads or gently curving principal roads through theestate with feeder roads and cul-de-sacs leading from these main roads. Plotsare generally regular and some, particularly to the southwest corner of HHS02band backing on to the waterfront, are very large. Most gardens in this sub-areaare of a generous size. The second area north of the commercial core of




Stubbington (HHS02a) is laid out to a medium density and there is a greater mixof house types, with semi-detached and detached bungalows seen in highernumbers as well as detached houses. These types tend to be separate with asingle type making up large groups rather than mixed. Roads in this sub-area areshorter and but there is still a mix of rectilinear and curvilinear road layouts withno predominant type. The long pronounced curves of the historic routesthrough this character area are distinctive features of the layout and the set backof houses generally long these principle routes gives a sense of spaciousness andprocession through this area. Sub-area HHS02d is also a mix of housing typesbut favouring the bungalow; semi-detached and detached but at a medium tohigh density. Whilst the mix of curvilinear and rectilinear roads is still seen, thegaps between houses are much smaller and there is a less emphasis on openspace. The principle route of Stubbington Lane is reflective of that to the northof the commercial core; a curving wide road with houses well set back to ahigher degree than that of the roads leading from this route with the sub-area.This is also true but to a lesser extent to Gosport Road.

The late twentieth-century development within the character area (sub-areaHHS02e) is of a high density; short staggered terraces or semi-detached andsometimes detached houses set in groups or around small cul-de-sacs, often withshared surfaces. Areas of open space with mature trees and some retention ofhistoric boundaries is evident in this sub-area. This period of residentialdevelopment is generally characterised by a single 'spine' or through road,providing connection with the areas beyond, but with most if not all housingfacing onto secondary roads, and the series of short, curved cul-de-sacs whichopen off them. This often results in the main roads through the estates havingdead frontage throughout as they are invariably flanked by the rear garden fencesof the housing. This is particularly evident throughout the sub-area.

Sub-area HHS02c largely reflects the boundaries of Seafield Park. Within thissub-area residential development is not easily characterised but is in pockets ofencroachment which range from low to medium/high density development.They also range from development backing on to the open areas with theirgardens facing the park to recent development addressing the open spaces andgiving it some form of formal edge. The key characteristic these encroachmentsshare is their contained nature retaining the dominance of the park and the openspaces between buildings rather than development dominating these valuableopen spaces. None could be said to integrate well with the park despite therecent attempts along Illustrious Road (to the north-west corner) to address thepark.

2.2.8 Buildings and materialsThe general house types found in this character area are well constructedflexible accommodation and older houses and bungalows have been successfullyextended and altered to provide medium to large family homes. There is no setstyle and no houses could be considered as architecturally innovative or




individual, however the grouping of houses generally seen with generous spacearound them is an attractive part of much of the character area especially to theprinciple routes. Bungalows tend to have expansive roofs especially whenpaired. There is much variation to the house form with particularly the way thebuilding addresses the street; either with ridge parallel to the road or gable orhipped to roadside, often seen within the same street scene.

The predominant building material is red/orange brick. There is variation tocolour and texture, especially to late twentieth century development (HHS02e)and brick is often combined with tile hanging, particularly to buildings dating fromthe 1970s. There is some render but it is only limited and is not seen in groupsor strongly defining certain areas or roads. Clay tile is used almost consistentlythroughout, although clay tiles have been replaced with concrete interlockingtiles in isolated areas and on individual buildings.

2.2.9 Predominant land useThe area is almost entirely private family dwelling houses (bungalows andhouses). There are some low rise flat blocks found in small groups but they arelimited in numbers. There are three school complexes each with medium tolarge areas of open space; play grounds, playing fields and recreational areas.There are single shops to corners and within residential areas and a smallnumber of public houses. Much of the area is served by the district centre toStubbington (character area HHS01).

2.2.10 Public realmThe public realm is generally of a good quality throughout this character area.There is limited on-street parking throughout as most houses have a driveway.Roads are generally wide, often accentuated by open boundaries and some grassverges, particularly to corners. There is a general notable absence of street treesthroughout the character area although many gardens have ornamental trees tofront gardens with well maintained hedge-lined boundaries, generally adding tothe quality and natural enclosure of the street scene.

2.2.11 Open spaceOpen space facilities include school grounds, play areas, recreation grounds,housing green spaces, some green ways between estates and a small allotmentsite off Stroud Green Lane. Stubbington Recreation Ground (HHS02a) alsodirectly linked to the playing fields of Crofton Anne Dale Junior and InfantSchools and Seafield Park (HHS02c) are the two main large amenity green spaceswith sports pitches, recreational spaces, play facilities, informal semi-naturalgreenspaces, and a sea-front greenspace (Seafield). Stubbington is directly linkedto school playing fields and community sports facilities to the west and east. Anorth-south tree-lined greenway often following a stream links Stubbington tothe Crofton Hammond schools sports fields and on to Seafield Park. Housesback and front on to Seafield Park, and to the east it is interlinked with play




facilities and semi-natural greenspaces of Stubbington Study Centre, a Countyrun educational facility. Together these facilities form an important greencorridor and off-road route to the seafront. The Seafield Park area is animportant break in the developed shoreline with a particularly high local amenityvalue. The beach at Hill Head, Titchfield Haven, and the rights of way networkalong the coast and around Titchfield Haven provide further recreationalfacilities.

Sub-area HHS02e is distinctive for its high degree of open space provision (andretention of historic tree lined boundaries) woven into the layout of the housesgiving this sub-area, despite its high density, a feeling of spatial quality and senseof openness throughout.

Low density housing with substantial gardens is characteristic of HHS02b,particularly properties relating to the waterfront and Tichfield Haven. Theseopen garden spaces are particularly important to the setting of the characterarea on its south-western boundary.

The seafront including its generous parking provision are important open spaceswhich are very popular throughout the year (but particularly the summermonths) and used by people taking advantage of the recreational aspects of thewaterfront; sailing, windsurfing, kite-surfing and kite flying. This mix of activity isan important part of the character of this section of the Solent Water.

2.2.12 BiodiversityDesignations within the settlement itself include Seafield Park Playing Field andVicarage Meadow Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). TheSeafield Park area is important for Brent Geese, whilst Vicarage Meadow is asmall grassland site adjacent to Stubbington Recreation Ground. In addition asdescribed in the overview section, the intertidal habitats along the length of thecoastline, as well as the estuarine habitats of Titchfield Haven are internationallyimportant for biodiversity. A small ancient semi-natural woodland SINC (TipsCopse) lies adjacent to Queens Crescent in HHS02a.

There are frequent green corridors through the settlement which formpotentially species rich urban habitats, and in places these corridors form widerpatches with the countryside beyond. Habitats include interlinked patches ofmedium-generous sized gardens within a matrix of relatively low densitysuburban housing, often with mature planting together with the open spacenetwork, greenways and retained historic field boundaries within the settlement.There are particular corridors within HHS02b, and between the Stubbington-Seafields Parks. In addition Seafield Park (HHS02c) with its semi-natural habitatsis directly connected to the shoreline is an important biodiversity resource.Housing within the southwest corner of HHS02b with large mature gardens backonto Titchfield Haven and form a larger habitat patch with higher potentialwildlife value. The open spaces are also often lined by rear gardens of houses




(some of which are substantial). They often have tree boundaries or smallsections of woodland to the edges which add to their wildlife potential.

2.2.13 Access and connectivityThere is good access to all parts of this character area with a hierarchy of roads,lanes and footpaths favouring the pedestrian but also allowing good access andthrough way to vehicles. Travel north-south is slightly favourable to the car userwith a series of footpaths and other pedestrianised routes favouring thepedestrian east-west. The Solent Way passes uninterrupted along the shoreline(following the character areas southern border) and links to the rest of theshoreline of Solent Water down to Gosport and up to the River Hamble andbeyond

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