Design and Access Statement
Prepared on behalf of the Co-op in respect of Land at 113 Church Hill,
Loughton, IG10 1QR
Archer Architects
Citibase, 40 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6DE
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Archer Architects
Loughton, Church Hill
1.0
Introduction
2.0
This Design and Access Statement has been prepared in
support of an outline planning application for a residential
apartment development of up to 10 units.
Contents
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Contents
The statement has been prepared in accordance with the CABE
guide “Design and Access Statements – How to write, read and
use them” and the DGLG circular 01/2006 “Guidance on
Changes to the Development Control System”.
3.0 Site Context
3.1 Site Location
3.2 Local Area
3.3 The Site
This document should be read in conjunction with the drawn
material supporting the application along with written technical
documents covering planning, highways and geo environmental
matters.
4.0 Planning Policy
5.0 Design Principles and Proposals
5.1 Concept
5.2 Amount & Density
5.3 Layout
5.4 Scale & Massing
5.5 Landscaping
5.6 Appearance & Materials
6.0 Access
7.0 Conclusions
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Archer Architects
Loughton, Church Hill
3.0
Site Context
This section looks at the site and its context. It aims and
identifies local characteristics in terms of both construction styles
and layout that may influence the proposed layout and
appearance of the development.
3.1
Site Location
The application site is a vacant workshop/ storage building on
Church Hill, Loughton, approx. 1.1km north of the town centre.
Fig 01 – Site Location Plans
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Archer Architects
Loughton, Church Hill
3.2
Local Area
The application site is in a primarily residential area, particularly
the areas to the South and East. The areas of land to the North
of the application site along Church Hill comprise more
commercial development such as the Plume of Feather public
house and the Homebase retail store.
Whilst the local area is primarily residential there are large areas
of public open space including Hillyfields playing fields. Epping
Forest is accessible from Baldwin’s Hill to the West of the
application site.
The residential areas surrounding the site are characterised by
post-war suburban housing and apartment buildings with front
and rear gardens. The dwellings are a mix of two and three
storeys with a mix of facing materials. Common design features
include hipped roofs, bay windows, feature stone and rendered
elements.
The images opposite provide a study in the local housing stock
Fig 02 – Context Images
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Archer Architects
Loughton, Church Hill
3.2
The Site
The 0.12 hectare application site comprises a vacant workshop /
storage building.
The site is accessed from Church Hill which runs parallel with the
site’s western boundary. There are no vehicular or pedestrian
access points into the site from the other boundaries.
The boundaries to Church Hill are open allowing pedestrian
access across the site. The north, west and southern boundaries
are defined with timber fencing or brick walls to the
neighbouring dwellings.
There is no tree or shrub planting on the site.
The images opposite show the key features of the site.
Fig 03 – Site Photographs
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Archer Architects
Loughton, Church Hill
5.0
Design Principles & Principles
4.3
Layout
The layout has been designed to reflect where appropriate the
local character and respond to existing development features
and landscaping. The building has therefore been positioned to
address Church Hill and follows the building lines that are
present.
This section looks at the design of the site has evolved and how
the assessment of the site and the surrounding areas has
influenced the final proposal.
5.1
Design Concept
It is the intention of the design team to provide a high quality,
contemporary development of 10no. apartments that
complements the surrounding development and landscape. The
layout will be developed to minimise impact on the adjacent
dwellings and promote high standards of residential design.
The sites only vehicular access is from Church Hill which serves
the car park discussed previously. A pedestrian access to the site
is also proposed on the Church Hill frontage.
The buildings main entrance is in the side elevation which
provides access into a communal entrance hall and stairwell.
Each of the apartments are accessed from this space.
The design team has reviewed local and national planning
policy which has informed the proposal. Particular reference has
been made to the Essex Design Guide (2005) which seeks to
promote high quality, secure and sustainable residential
development.
5.2
Windows to habitable rooms such as living rooms and
bedrooms have been carefully positioned so as not to impact
on the amenity of the neighbouring dwellings.
The layout is only illustrative as part of an outline planning
application and the final layout will be subject to detailed design
as part of a reserved matters application.
Amount & Density
The indicative layout proposes an apartment building
comprising 10no. apartments over two storeys with floor areas
of between 549 and 775sqft.
The layout provides 10no. onsite parking spaces for residents
along with secure cycle and refuse storage.
The layout is only illustrative as part of an outline planning
application and the final layout will be subject to detailed design
as part of a reserved matters application.
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Archer Architects
Loughton, Church Hill
4.4
Scale & Massing
4.6
Appearance & Materials
It is intended the design of the building will be a high quality
contemporary interpretation of the post war dwellings
surrounding the application site.
The proposed building is two storeys in height as are many of
buildings within the surrounding area. It is anticipated that
design features such as stepped roof lines, varying building
materials, feature glazing and an irregular building plan will
soften and add visual interest to the proposed development.
4.5
Features such as stepped roof lines and the irregular building
plan are proposed to enhance the appearance of the proposed
building. Other features such as glazed features, part rendered
elevations and stone detailing will give variety and reflect the
surrounding development.
Landscaping
There is no tree or shrub planting on the site.
The soft landscaping scheme for the proposal will be developed
at reserved matters stage. There are opportunities to enhance
the proposed development by introducing new planting along
the site boundaries and around the buildings perimeter. The
addition of new planting will also minimise the developments
impact on its immediate neighbours and provide an opportunity
to enhance habitat creation and conservation.
The layout is only illustrative as part of an outline planning
application and the final dwelling design will be subject to
detailed design as part of a reserved matters application.
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Archer Architects
Loughton, Church Hill
5.0
Access
The application site is in a sustainable location, being
conveniently located for access to the centre of Loughton and
Golding’s Hill / Lower Road Local Centre. It also benefits from
excellent public transport links with regular bus services into
towns such as Ilford, Walthamstow, Harlow and Enfield.
In addition to the site’s proximity to local bus routes the site is
also just 1.9km from both Debden and Loughton Underground
Stations which are on the Central line and provide direct access
onto the wider underground network.
The site is also convenient for the road network being just
2.5km from the M11 which has direct access onto the M25.
Vehicular access to the site is provided from an upgraded
access on Church Hill. The site is fully accessible to both the
emergency service and refuse collection vehicles. A pedestrian
access into the site is also provided from Church Hill.
The development provides 10no. parking spaces and secure,
external storage for cycles.
The main entrance into the building will be designed to provide
a level threshold.
It is the intention that the scheme will be designed to comply
with Parts B (fire safety), K (protection from collision, impact and
falling) and M (access and use of buildings) of the Building
Regulations and other statutory information such as the
Disability Discrimination Act.
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Archer Architects
Loughton, Church Hill
6.0
Conclusions
This Design and Access Statement sets out how the design of
the scheme has been informed through the assessment of the
site and the surrounding area to form a high quality residential
development with its own identity and character.
Within an area identified for housing growth the proposed
development is also in a sustainable location in terms of
accessibility and proximity to local services.
This Design and Access Statement should be read in connection
with all other reports and drawn information that form part of
the application.
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Archer Architects
Loughton, Church Hill