The landscape philosophy for the site is to create a green and well-wooded residential environment reflecting the key qualities of the adjacent River Ness and Canal Landscape Character Type, in order to minimise the spread of the suburban landscape along the riverside. Eleven different soft landscape character areas have been created to help establish areas of individual identity yet maintain an overall unity across the masterplan site. The landscape strategy seeks to soften and integrate the development into the wider landscape, unify the development as a whole whilst creating individual areas of varied soft landscape character, provide wildlife value where possible, and provide an engaging and attractive environment in which to live and play.
Bio-retention areas will form a large part of the open green space pattern, which can grow and expand in line with the phasing of the development. These will provide attractive and functional SUDs areas, with added benefits for wildlife and habitat connectivity. In order to maintain a good level of pedestrian permeability across the site and an added level of interest, boardwalks linking the wider footpath network will allow the safe crossing of the bioretention areas and protect their function.
Native woodland and woodland edge planting, including under-planting, will improve and strengthen existing important woodland boundaries, whilst native shrub and specimen tree planting will extend through open green spaces to enhance existing and create new wildlife corridors and habitats. Ornamental shrub, herbaceous and groundcover planting will provide seasonal interest, softening the character throughout the built up housing areas. Where land runs below overhead powerlines, small fruit trees will be planted where large trees are unsuitable – these will extend out from the allotment area to create a soft landscape character area of their own. Other specimen trees throughout open spaces and green corridors will create a parkland-like character.
Tying in with the West Link’s soft landscape scheme, species rich grassland will be sown adjacent to the road boundary, where appropriate, and extend into and through the development to provide a rich, wildlife valuable and low maintenance habitat where circulation and activity are typically low key.
Additionally, to create dynamic interest in what is typically a level topography, mounded areas of species rich and amenity grassland will be proposed in pockets across the site. Joining some of these mounded areas will be circular and half-moon seating moments – they will be constructed from local sandstone and/or timber sleepers with concrete sett paving in a circular design, with curved timber benches. Also joining some of the mounded areas will be Seating areas, timber play areas and trim trail courses offering natural and engaging play will be provided throughout the masterplan site. Sandstone walling and beech hedgerows will provide attractive and neat boundary treatments, together with artistic gateway features to key development entrance points.