Experience
Ashfield Estate Romsey, UK
The market town of Romsey in Hampshire, England is under pressure to grow. In November 2008 The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment ran a five day planning charette here to help ensure that if any development occurred it would be done carefully and with the best design and building practices. At the recommendation of the Foundation, Urban Community Partners were invited to attend and provide independent advice and financial analysis to ensure the viability of what was being planned. They also helped analyze community outreach schemes in the proposed development area. I am pleased to endorse the efforts of Ian Gillis and Keith McCoy as integral parts of the charette team. They were professional, knowledgeable and good natured to work with.
— Timothy Knatchbull, The Ashfield Estate, Romsey, Hampshire, England.
Adjacent to the existing historic market town of Romsey, England, is the Ashfield Estate, a property of several thousand hectares currently being used for agriculture and open space. Timothy Knatchbull, the current landowner and grandson of Lord Mountbatten, has received increasing pressure from the government and local interests to develop the family estate. Rather than sell to the highest bidder and let the land be plowed over with 21st century “sprawl” development, Mr. Knatchbull has engaged the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment to assist in the design and entitlement of the property.
After an extensive public planning process, referred to as “Enquiry by Design” the goal is to create a long lasting legacy for the Ashfield Estate. The primary goals include: Create a Mixed Use Traditional Neighborhood focused on a compact footprint, sustainability, local food production, and provide a variety of traditional housing opportunities for differing income levels. Like other projects being planned and developed by the Prince’s Foundation, The Ashfield Estate hopes to serve as a model of smart, ecological and organic driven development.
UCP Role
- Development consultants, working with The Prince’s Foundation; Enquiry By Design process
- Charrette Facilitation, development advice, proforma development, visioning
Facts
- Proposal includes 2000 Homes, Mixed Use town center, Traditional Neighborhood Design to complement existing historic market town of Romsey, UK
- Focus on Sustainability goals: affordable housing, transportation, drainage, landscape, local food production., energy, recycling, community facilities
- 5 hectares of employment opportunities
- Retain significant exiting agriculture lands and natural habitats
For more information, visit http://uk.youtube.com/user/ThePrincesFoundation
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