AR

Yalding

Place-shaping and neighbourhood planning

The purpose of this assessment booklet is to provide an insight into the way the design of the built environment needs to be considered as part of the neighbourhood plan process.

The background to this assessment process is the “Farrell Review”, a national review of architecture and the built environment, independently run by a panel of built environment experts.

The Farrell Review asks for an increased focus on the civic value of well-designed public spaces, streets and amenities and the character and needs of existing communities, instead of a narrow focus on architecture.

This increased focus requires greater collaboration between the Planning, Landscape, Architecture, Conservation and Engineering professions. Only when all five professions work together effectively can place-shaping truly happen.

This place assessment will provide your neighbourhood plan steering group with a greater understanding of the five key aspects to successful place-making and how this can positively influence the emerging Yalding Neighbourhood Plan.

Yalding

Place-shaping and neighbourhood planning

PLACEThe neighbourhood plan potentially represents a once in a generation opportunity to shape the future of the parish and its surroundings.

At this stage, the neighbourhood plan is not yet finished. However, if sites were to come forward for development through the neighbourhood plan process, or sites for redevelopment and improvement were to be identified, what would be the right design response? What will be considered good planning and good design?

Working in teams of five, each team member will be responsible for Planning, Landscape, Architecture, Conservation or Engineering. The team will undertake a critical analysis of Yalding and its immediate surroundings. This analysis will be undertaken without any specific design proposals in mind.

ARCHITECTURE

This handbook is for architecture issues only. We ask that when you are out on site, you focus your observations around the prompts provided for this aspect only.

Back in the venue, you will be able to compare your observations and ideas with other members of your PLACE team to generate a definitive assessment of Yalding. This will help to provide you with a greater understanding of how this sort of analysis can inform your neighbourhood plan.

Kenward

Road

Lees R

oad

Benover Road

Gravelly W

ays

Laddingford

Hampstead Lane

Small

Pro

fits

Yalding H

ill

Yald

ing

Benover Road

Gravelly W

ays

Laddingford

Clay

gate

Roa

d

Forge Lane

Darman Lane

Wag

on L

ane

Willow Lane

Que

en S

tree

t

Ladd

ingf

ord

1000

m a

ppro

x.

Please mark up the plan with your

field notes. Below are some prompts

and ideas for you to consider:

Look at street patterns, blocks and plots in Yalding. How do these relate to one another? How do they help enclose public spaces?

Think about the built landscape and the overall appearance of the place. How do buildings contribute to this now? How could they do it better in future?

Look at plot sizes or shapes. What is the plot ratio i.e. amount of built footprint relative to the unbuilt space on a plot? How does this affect garden sizes? Are there deep front gardens with room for trees? Or are buildings on the back of footways?

What variety of building typologies can be found in the central and wider areas? Are these representative of the local context?

Think about building scales, heights, massing and densities. Is the current situation appropriate to the context? Or could redevelopment improve the situation?

What are the predominant building materials? Think about texture, colour, pattern. This should include any local stone or brick used on footpaths, hard-standing areas and in walls.

Is there any evidence of craft traditions in the architecture of Yalding? Where are the beautiful or ugly buildings?

AR

ARCHITECTURE

Are there any special buildings, including architectural styles that are well-liked, historic, iconic or disliked, in the immediate area?

Assess building fronts and façades, including shop fronts and window displays: How many have windows and doors overlooking streets or spaces, or blank frontages? Do any have steel roller shutters and security grills at night?

Is there a predominant roof shape in Yalding? What is this?

Examine boundary treatments. Walls, hedges, fences and railings. Which of these work best in this context? Which could be considered most appropriate for future redevelopment?

Observe street furniture and paving, including lamp-posts, benches and litter bins.

Consider public art and monuments. Where are they?

Security of property, private gardens, yards and other spaces. What is this like?

Lighting. Is there too little or too much? Is it sensitive, obtrusive or intrusive?

These prompts are by no means

exhaustive. You will no doubt have

your own ideas too.

AR

ARCHITECTURE

For more information:

Angela GentParish Clerk — Yalding Parish Councilclerk@yaldingparishcouncil.gov.uk01622 814134

Richard EasthamDirector — Feria Urbanismrichard@feria-urbanism.eu 01202 548 676 / 07816 299 909

Antonia MorganAssociate — Feria Urbanismantonia@feria-urbanism.eu01202 548 676 / 07923 374 280

#NeighbourhoodPlanning