Design and Access - Personal Statement Example

Design and Access Statement Table of contents 1. Executive Summary 2. Introduction 2.1 Design and Access Portfolio 2.2 Purpose of Document 2.3 Rationale for Development 2.4 Proposal Overview 2.5 Structure of the Report 3. Context 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Analysis of Existing Conditions 3.2.1 Green Spaces and Pedestrian Routes 3.2.2 Transport Network 3.2.3 Land Uses 3.2.4 Physical Features 3.2.5 Designations 3.3 Policy Context 4. Master Planning 4.1 Speed Planning 4.2 Group Master Plan 4.3 Individual Master Plan 4.4 Winning Master Plan 4.4.1 Green Spaces 4.4.2 Industrial 4.4.3 Housing 5. Planning Statement 5.1 National Policy 5.2 Local Policy Design and Access Statement 1. Executive Summary Sustainability has been defined by environmentalists as the practice of efficient and careful stewardship of resources towards meeting the needs of the society by individuals, communities and businesses. Similarly, generating energy for sustainability and fertiliser for better crop production should be given equal significance as the threat posed by greenhouse gas emissions. At the very basic, energy generation and fertilizer production are centred on the availability of resources and raw materials. From this perspective, the purpose of this programme is to promote sustainability by recycling food waste and garden waste to produce fertiliser as well as biogas to be used in the generation of electricity. This concept is essentially based on the larger sustainability plan since Sharpness is earmarked in the Stroud Local Plan 2005 as having considerable growth potential. Since the growth is expected to add pressure on the existing resources and also increase the carbon footprint. This vision is designed to reduce environmental degradation by making better use of waste and sustainably generating electricity by reducing the carbon footprints in the process to supplement the main grid and other sources. The proposed development will also allow citizens to learn the process of anaerobic digestion that will be used to recycle the food to produce both fertiliser and biogas. 2. Introduction 2.1 Design and Access Portfolio This design and access portfolio supports the planning application proposed for the anaerobic digester and aligns itself with the provisions of part five of the Sharpness Docks Estate Strategy (2013), which elucidate the planning statement. Therefore, the portfolio will focus on the development of the development of the scheme as a justifiable concept. This support is in recognition that food and garden waste are an unavoidable aspect of modern life and the anaerobic digester offers the best environmental option to create renewable energy. Environmentalists define sustainability as the practice of efficient and careful stewardship of resources towards meeting the needs of the society by individuals, communities and businesses (Zhexembayeva 2014, p. 69). This project also further recognises food and garden waste a key issues that needs to be included in any development plan because presently, the UK alone generates15 million tones every year (DEFRA 2012, p. 8). The anaerobic digester proposed in this portfolio is in the category that collects food waste from commercial collections as well as waste collected from household via a contract with the local authorities. 2.2 Purpose of Document This design and access portfolio is intended to give the details of the proposed anaerobic digester to be situated in Sharpness with an aim of justifying the proposal. This will be done by focusing on previously collected analysis and research work with regards to the vision, design and how the idea was informed. 2.3 Rational for the Development The growing concern for sustainability and with specific focus on waste management informed the idea of the proposed anaerobic digester. According to UNEP (2014, p, 1112), sustainability is what holds the quality of life for all future generations. This is expected to provide solution for agriculture, sustainability and renewable energy. After analysing research data of the consequences of rapid growth from other cities, it was established that there is an inverse relationship between rapid growth and sustainability. Applying the findings to Sharpness and its vast wealth of land that can be used for agricultural production, it is evident the rapid growth and the associated waste can be used to create sustainability. The food and garden waste the residents will produce can be recycled in the anaerobic digester to produce fertiliser for farming and biogas to generate electricity. Consequently, the proposed programme will realise community, environmental and economic benefits by capturing energy from waste and improving air and water quality by managing waste. The educational aspect of the proposal is intended to create awareness in the community of the significance of sustainability and what they can do to contribute towards the cause. This will encourage the hygienic disposal of waste whereby it may be collected from designated points and removed from the environment. 2.4 Proposal Overview The proposed anaerobic digester is intended to include the following Food recycling center that is the key concept of the facility An administrative unit that will house the required elements of the Eco-Town project A biogas-collecting plant that will supply the electricity generating initiative An educational center that will create awareness on the significance of sustainability 2.5 Structure of the Report The report will assume the following format Context: Here, the site’s physical conditions will be analysed from various perspectives that include local (Sharpness), sub-regional, regional and national levels and the relevant policy documentation introduced. Planning statement: This section will justify the proposed programme by citing relevant planning policies from both national and regional perspectives. Master Planning: This section will describe the development of ideas and support them with the rationale behind them. Design and Access: This section will give finer details of the proposed development. 3. Context 3.1 Introduction Managed by the Canal and River Trust, Sharpness is an inland English port located in Gloucestershire and it is also the eight largest in the South West UK. The village is strategically located at the meeting point of River Severn and the Gloucester Canal, which makes it one of the country’s innermost ports. Being a tourist attraction center because of River Severn’s high tidal range, Sharpness also operates leisure crafts that are available for scheduling by tourists. To protect them from the tide, a stone wall was constructed between the river and the floating canal on the village’s northern edge. This also prevents flooding. 3.2 Analysis of Existing Conditions 3.2.1 Green Spaces and Pedestrian Routes Sharpness is presently characterised by a canal towpath that is linked to a network of green spaces leading to the transport network and wider countryside. A narrow wedge of green land also lies between Sharpness docks and Newton settlement, providing a buffer between the two. However, pedestrians and cyclists have an inadequate number of crossing points, which provides the opportunity to create and develop new ones for the growing location. 3.2.2 Transport Network Although improvement to the connectivity of the transport network connectivity would benefit Sharpness, the most notable users of the roads are personal vehicles, farm transporters and industrial transporters. Improvements to the network would customise specific roads to specific users and connect more of the key urban landscapes than the present status. The docks and their associated uses are concentrated in the south and are accessible through the low level swing bridge and internal dock roads. The Sharpness Docks have the capacity to handle up to 500 ships each with a capacity of six thousand tonnes per year and there is still potential for expansion. The railway in the docks is not presently in use but is protected alongside the land available for expansion and the possible reopening of the infrastructure. 3.2.3 Land Uses Presently Sharpness is relatively a marginal logistics and industrial location and the low rents indicate low demand. The entire estate is surrounded by countryside land with a network of farms and, in the interior land is mainly used for industrial and residential buildings. The industrial buildings are mainly warehouses associated with canal while residential buildings in Newtown to the east (Canal and River Trust 2012, p. 22). 3.2.4 Physical Features Sharpness’s long history of being an industrial area and port has resulted in both habitats and as well as undeveloped grassland. There are 47 residential properties although nine are not occupied as well as a long river foreshore that also forms the River Severn’s boundary. There are also pieces of woodland with ancient trees. The open waters are the key spatial characteristics and the Gloucester-Sharpness canal cuts across the dock area at Sharpness. 3.2.5 Designations Listed Buildings These are structures and buildings that bear historic or architectural significance and they include North Warehouse and the former Harbourmaster’s House on the New Dock and Old Dock respectively. Conservation Area These are areas protected by law and they bear historical or environmental significance to which unnecessary change must not be made. Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Such designation is given by Natural England and it refers to an area protected in the UK and an example includes the Severn Estuary. Vernacular Architecture This is in reference to longstanding local architecture that has not been influenced by foreign concepts and addresses the needs of the locals. Further, it also uses local materials such as concrete and iron. Policy Context The “Planning Statement” section will give greater details on the justification of this proposal as strategised by the planning policy at the local and national level. The following policies are linked to this proposal by their relevance to it: Policy 1: Building a Strong, Competitive Economy Policy 8: Promoting Healthy Communities Policy 3: Supporting a Prosperous Rural Economy Policy EM8: Farm Diversification Policy 7.3.25 Design of Buildings Policy 7.3.18 Landscape 4. Master Planning 4.1 Speed Planning This exercise was intended to achieve understanding of the project, its layouts, structure, position and design. This would facilitate the progress of ideas from provisional to practical and it led to the development of more detailed plan outlines. In its current standing, Sharpness has multiple needs from multiple stakeholders. However, the plan for this proposal is basically based on the need of sustainability and improving the economy of the estate. 4.2 Group Master Plan The speed planning process suggested the tendency industries being more in the south than north while residential structures tended to be concentrated to the west with proposed extension to the east. This informed the decision to have more housing allocated along the canal in aligning with the Stroud District Local Plan. 4.3 Individual Master Plan This was founded with a focus on sustainability and economic improvements as guided by the speed planning. Therefore, the proposed structure will entail a center for recycling food and collecting biogas. This individual master plan also adheres to the national and development plan policy. The key concept (sustainability) will have supporting environments and infrastructure such as the government-proposed affordable housing, public transport and high-speed Internet. Since significant resources have been allocated to projects of carbon reduction, the administration building is designed to be built in a way that will enhance performance. This is because modern and efficient structures promote productivity (Vadera et al 2008, p. 4). 4.4 Winning Master Plan 4.4.1 Green Spaces The larger part of the existing green spaces have been left undisturbed although there is an unavoidable addition of footpaths for pedestrians meant encourage them to cross. A new footbridge also makes the site accessible to pedestrians especially the present towpath that runs across the canal. 4.4.2 Industrial Users of the motorway need to be provided with easy access to the industrial buildings. To facilitate this, it will be necessary to expand the buildings towards the south by relocating some of them and leaving the areas nearer to the river to heavier industries. That way, personal vehicles, farm transporters and industrial transporters to appropriately distinguish routes to move around Sharpness. This will further be aided when the disused railway is partially reopened for use by the heavy industries. 4.4.3 Housing The development of housing will be done in phases as a strategy of allowing most of it to be implemented in Newtown in accordance Local Plan 2013 of the Stroud Local Council. Increased and improved housing will impact on the population most likely by creating an upward growth. This, in turn, will generate demand for goods and services and ultimately, a strong competitive and sustainable economy. 5. Planning Statement This section will justify the proposed programme by citing relevant planning policies from both national and regional perspectives. 5.1 National Policy The government’s policy for sustainable development is sketched out in the National Planning policy Framework (NPPF, 2012). Policy 1: Building a Strong, Competitive Economy is of particular relevance to proposal of the anaerobic digester. Through the policy, the government commits itself to ensure that the planning system takes all measures towards supporting sustainable growth of the economy rather than being an impediment (DCLG 2012, p. 8). By considering and analysing this policy, the proposal for the anaerobic digester aims to maintain sustainable environments by recycling biodegradable garden and food waste while also producing biogas. Essentially, this will improve the quality of air and water while the biogas will be used to in the green generation of electricity. By encouraging the community to place such biodegradable waste at designated collection points, they will be participating in the initiative to build on the inherent strengths of the country as stipulated in NPPF, 2012. It was also considered that with improved and affordable housing, there will be more people moving to Sharpness, hence the concept of generating electricity to meet demand. Interactions between canal tourists from Gloucester and the local community in Sharpness will also be encouraged by the new docking stations. Since farming is intended to be a key activity in Sharpness, the tourists will also provide additional market to the farmers who will in turn use the fertiliser produced through the proposed anaerobic digester. This will further be in accordance with Policy 1: Building a Strong, Competitive Economy since sustainable livelihoods will promote living and working ways that respect the connection between prosperous economies, intact ecosystems and healthy citizens. Policy 8: Promoting Healthy Communities is also relevant to the proposal because it a focus on creating inclusive and health communities by involving community members in initiatives that will enable them to interact with each other (DCLG 2012, p. 17). This proposal considered this policy when designing the education center where members interested in both agricultural and electrical technology may interact and exchange ideas on life. Further, the biogas production aspect of the proposal will also contribute towards nutrient management and also reduce greenhouse gas emission. Although such community members are interested in technology, their different fields could not have easily facilitated interaction as would the education center. Policy 3: Supporting a Prosperous Rural Economy brings out the significance of creating jobs in a growing economy. From this perspective, this proposal considered the both skilled and unskilled labour that would work in the fertiliser- and biogas-producing facilities. Further, there will also be job creation in the sense of collecting and delivering the garden and food waste to the anaerobic digester. With the diverse requirements, the proposal will generate economic liveliness over a wide range of professional and casual labor while also playing a critical role in green job creation. 5.2 Local Policy The planning system’s core role of attaining sustainable development is outlined in the Stroud District Council’s Local Plan: Pre-Submission Draft (2013). For instance, Policy EM8: Farm Diversification addresses new buildings that will be associated with businesses based on farm activities. By considering this policy, this proposal intends to situate the anaerobic digester where it will provide appropriate access to the communities on the farms as well as the residential homes, hence fitting in the proposed master plan. In Policy 7.3.25 Design of Buildings, developers are urged to take vernacular aesthetics and the surroundings into consideration so as to maintain a local uniqueness. However, they are also encouraged to be creative and create models that may be used as the primary trend in future. By considering this policy, this proposal intends to not only put up a compliant structure but also use sustainable construction to reduce waste. That can be achieved by strategies such as crushing and reusing aggregates and working with suppliers that take back packing for reuse (BRE 2008, p. 2). Therefore, the structure itself will be both cosmetic and functional by adhering to design standards and also carbon reduction. In Policy 7.3.18 Landscape, aspects of landscaping are outlined. Developers are encouraged to design open spaces in such a manner that they complement the place’s quality and character, whether planted or built. By considering this policy, the proposed anaerobic digester proposal will facilitate higher levels of landscaping by getting rid of the necessity dumping food and garden in landfills. At the same time, it will be contributing to the wider cause of sustainability by producing biogas in the process. 6. Design and Access 6.1 Floor Space This portfolio has estimated the total floor space of 1,700 square metres. Out of these, 200 square meters will be allocated to the administration unit, 600 square meters to the recycling plant, 300 square metres to the electricity generation facility and 600 square meters to the education center. 6.2 Demolition This will mainly entail clearing the site mainly by the relocation of the trees presently found there rather than cutting them down. 6.3 Construction This will necessarily lead to excavating the green space but landscaping will be done later in the programme. Even when there is a possibility, no construction will be done before demolition is fully completed or outside agreed hours. 6.4 Access The facility will be accessed by cars and pedestrians by road and bridges although pedestrians will have more access points. These are all designed to enhance safety as well as not be an impediment to emergency access and exit. References BRE 2008, Sustainable construction: simple ways to make it happen, Author, Watford. Canal and River Trust 2012, Sharpness docks estate strategy: a summary of the sustainable development strategy and its justification, Author, London. Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) 2012, National Planning Policy Framework, Author, London. Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 2012, Anaerobic digestion strategy and action plan: annual report on progress, Author, London. United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) 2014, Social drivers of sustainable development, Author, Geneva. Vadera, S et al 2008, Strategy for sustainable construction, Crown Publishers, London. Zhexembayeva, N 2014, Overfished ocean strategy: powering up innovation for a resource-depleted world, Berret-Koehler Publishers, California. Read More