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Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —

Gilston Garden Town - Alternative Vision— Harlow

This vision proposed the delivery of 10,000 new homes in an area of former London Green Belt north of Harlow Town station. It was developed as a community-driven alternative to the proposals that already existed, with the intention of positively influencing the detailed nature and form of development as it progressed towards delivery. 

The area in question had previously been de-designated from London’s Green Belt, but there was strong community sentiment that the scheme that had followed was not doing enough to use the de-designated land well – and so funding was secured locally to allow an investigation of how the allocation of 10,000 homes might be designed differently, to integrate better with the surrounding landscape, existing settlements and heritage assets.

A thorough review of all of the work on the site to date was undertaken, including the emerging local plan, and reactions to the pre-existing proposals from statutory and other consultees. This was supplemented by a number of additional analyses, assessments and design explorations by members of the multi-disciplinary team – including a critique of heritage, landscape and transport aspects.

Given the wider development process it was imperative that this work was undertaken quickly, and the team demonstrated their ability to quickly absorb a huge amount of information, and rapidly iterate a compelling vision, incorporating intelligent transport planning, efficient, compact urban forms and a powerful proposition for an enhanced, accessible landscape.

Our alternative vision for the site begins with an appreciation of the unique qualities and historic resonance of the wider landscape setting – such as the extraordinary concentration of country houses and associated parkland on the south-facing slope overlooking the valley of the Stort – to create a diversified, rewilded and reforested landscape framing a series of high-quality compact settlements, each with ready access to the countryside.

As an alternative, challenge proposal, our masterplan was truly landscape-led. The location and scale of the settlements are tailored to preserve and enhance the setting, views and relationships between heritage assets, and a range of landscape features and views that are cherished by the local community.

The spatial distribution of new neighbourhoods also accounts for an alternative plan, developed by 5th Studio in collaboration with the transport planners, for a more legible and efficient public transport network, that through careful planning was able to run more a frequent and reliable services than previous proposals, for no additional cost, ensuring economic sustainability of these services. This network is supplemented by a concentration of development in the parts of the Gilston area that are most accessible by walking and cycling from a series of key destinations within Harlow – helping support the ambition for very low levels of car use.

A detailed density study was conducted, examining local examples alongside best practice examples from elsewhere, to establish a menu of appropriate approaches based on the landscape setting and relative accessibility of different locations. This informed the development of a series of distinct places within the overall masterplan, each with its own character, held together in an overall framework of enhanced landscape, and a network of walking, cycling and public transport connections.

The use of high-quality higher-density design approaches allows for the footprint of each settlement to be reduced compared to the previous proposals, safeguarding the landscape between them, allowing more space for the countryside, and enabling recovery networks where biodiversity can flourish alongside other land uses.

Compact forms of development with lower per capita infrastructure cost, also serve to sustain community life, more people within a short walk of the heart of the settlement: helping support local services and reducing reliance on a car.

Our proposal critically reviewed the existing proposals and its impacts. Through site visits we developed a detailed analysis of sensitive landscapes and views across the site to shape our proposals.
Shorter distances to Harlow, new and improved valley crossings, fully segregated cycle routes and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods allow active travel to be the natural first choice for most journeys.
While the traditional compact form of the settlements means that the countryside is on everyone’s doorstep with wider landscape reserves between the villages...
...ensuring that each village feels distinct and has its own sense of place and identity. The traditional, pedestrian-oriented village form, as opposed to low density suburban sprawl, will create characterful places that are complementary to existing heritage assets...
...while the land saved from development provides a much greater resource for people, and for nature.

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CONTACT

studio@5thstudio.co.uk

We are keen to receive CVs and short portfolios from Part 1 and Part 2 designers. Please contact us via recruitment@5thstudio.co.uk

We actively encourage qualified applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply.

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