newcourt, exeter

A development framework was prepared to support an outline planning application to change the use of a 30 hectare former Ministry of Defence site to a predominantly residential area on the outskirts of Exeter.

 

The scheme was to be the first phase of a project totalling 80 hectares. The main focus of the master plan was an urban village of some 600 residential units ranging in scale from starter homes to five bedroom detached houses. Cyclists and pedestrians were to be able to move through the site via traffic free ‘green corridors’, reinforcing the Local Authority’s policies on sustainable transportation links.

 

The scheme was laid out using a series of perimeter blocks to define the public and private areas. These were arranged to provide a clear, uncluttered layout using frontage development to maintain slow traffic speeds.

 

Distribution of open areas was based on National Playing Fields Guidelines to ensure residents would have sufficient play provision and amenity space. The framework allowed for a varying housing density of 30–50 dwellings per hectare to provide flexibility for developers, whilst maintaining the overall design principles.