Our landscape architect team was appointed by a developer client to prepare the landscape design for this permitted development in a prominent seafront location. The site sits adjacent to Portsmouth Harbour railway station. We subsequently prepared the tender-stage landscape architect’s package information.
The client proposed converting a former office building into commercial units at ground-floor level, with residential dwellings above. Therefore, our landscape architect’s role focused on creating a safe, accessible and practical external environment that supported both commercial and residential uses.
The area requiring landscape architect input had an approximately triangular form. It sat between the existing building, the footpath along The Hard and a small building to the north. In addition, a significant existing tree stood immediately outside the southwest plot boundary within the public footway. Consequently, our landscape design considered the relationship between the proposed development, pedestrian movement and the existing tree.
The existing building sits back from the main road, creating space for vehicular access in front of the proposed commercial units. This access accommodates customer drop-off, service vehicles and deliveries. Our landscape architect designed a pedestrian crossing across the vehicular access. As a result, the scheme provides a direct and safe pedestrian route between the public footway and the commercial unit entrance.
Furthermore, our landscape design incorporated two planting beds between the public footway and the proposed vehicular access. These areas create opportunities for an additional tree and groundcover planting. The landscape architect also proposed removing existing hardstanding within the planting beds. This approach allows greater infiltration of water and oxygen into the root protection area of the existing tree within the public footway.
At the southeast corner of the site frontage, the scheme introduced a communal residential entrance. The entrance sits approximately half a floor level above the commercial units. Therefore, our landscape architect designed an accessible route to the residential entrance in accordance with Part M requirements. The landscape design incorporates compliant ramped and stepped access, providing a clear and practical connection between the public realm and the residential entrance.
Landscape Institutes Work Stages: 4b
Client: Makepeace Investments Ltd
Architect: PWP Architects