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Upton Sustainable Urban Extension

Promoting best practice in climate change

Keywords: Planning, Community, Partnership Working, Climate Change, East Midlands, Neighbourhood

Overview

The Upton Sustainable Urban Extension was delivered through the teamwork of English Partnerships as landowner, Northampton Borough Council as the planning authority and the Prince's Foundation as advisers. In 2001 they set out to deliver an urban extension which would be an exemplar of sustainable urban growth.

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Community involvement was key to planning. A master plan was developed through a highly participative process, and a design code was used for assessing all developer proposals. The code set very high standards for urban design and materials reflecting Northampton's heritage; it also required an EcoHomes Excellent rating for all dwellings, the community facilities and commercial buildings.

Carbon emissions in Upton are reduced by efficient design and renewable technologies, and an integrated Sustainable Urban Drainage system(SUDs) controls floods and enhances green space and biodiversity.

The Upton Sustainable Urban Extension project shows how a participative planning process can result in high quality developments where people want to live, work and play. It also demonstrates how mainstream builders can deliver Code for Sustainable Homes and Carbon Neutral development ahead of Government Targets. Upton may provide – albeit on a smaller scale – an exemplar methodology and technologies for the future development of Eco Towns.

» Background

Background

What was the problem?

The need for new housing in Northampton meant building a high density development on a large site on the edge of the flood plain. Northampton had experienced severe flooding in 1998, and it was crucial that there should be no flood risks, even in the face of future climate change. The project was also an opportunity to test green technologies for the future delivery of national housing targets.

Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDs) in the form of swales provides green infrastructure

What action was taken?

The partners developed their vision during December 2001, using an Enquiry by Design process which included public consultation as well as input from statutory agencies.

A design code, agreed and adopted by the Local Authority, set standards for developers to ensure proposals were of high quality, environmentally sound and recognisably 'of Northampton'. Development bids were endorsed by a steering group of political and community representatives.

Advance infrastructure was provided by English Partnerships, speeding development while maintaining a high quality public realm. This included an innovative sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS), open space, playing fields and a road network.

The development is now well under way, and when complete will include:

• In excess of 1300 dwellings of different housing types, plus commercial and retail units, all featuring a wide range of green technologies

• Community playing fields with a high quality changing facility/community meeting hall, partially powered by a wind turbines and including an educational area that uses renewable technologies and design innovation

• a public transport system which links Upton with Northampton town centre and the railway station

• a primary school accommodating 420 children.

» The Impact

Overview «

The Impact

Quality sustainable homes

Hundreds of high quality sustainable homes have already been provided, with more in the pipeline. These all contain green design and technology features such as rain water harvesting, solar heating, green roofs, ground source heat pumps, wood pellet boiler community heating and sockets for electric cars in courtyards.

Housing has been designed in a range of distinctive styles, using quality materials and reflecting the old Northampton vernacular. All homes have met the EcoHomes Excellent post construction review. Twenty-two per cent are affordable homes for rent or shared ownership, spread throughout the site with no more than three units together, so that social housing is indistinguishable from owner-occupied units.

On-site sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDs) have worked successfully and are very popular with residents as play spaces. In addition, the reed beds that form part of the system provide a valuable habitat for wildlife.

Aerial photo showing Upton on the outskirts of Northampton and bordering the floodplain

Serving the community

The housing on site will be well served by a number of commercial units, including a café and convenience store. Social facilities are and will be provided by the primary school, and future nursery and community hall, and residents have set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme which is building a sense of community and a forum for communicating with developers and the working group.

What is special about this project?

The Upton project promotes best practice well ahead of government standards. A strong partnership approach to design and development guarantees support from all the key agencies, including the local residents. In addition, EP has been prepared to achieve lower land values on some sites to make groundbreaking housing affordable to developers and buyers. The smooth planning approval process means that permissions are sometimes granted in less than the statutory 8 weeks.

» Good Practice

Background «

Good Practice

What can be learned from this project?

Upton has some key pointers for success which similar projects could follow:

• Take a partnership approach. Enquiry by Design includes all parties in decision making and recognises that everyone has a contribution to make. In addition, a steering group brings together political and community representatives while the working group provides technical back-up and builds good relations with developers and the community. Getting full support from all parties at the outset builds a consensus and saves time later.

• Implement a design code. This need not stifle architectural input – Upton has a range of styles which gives a feel of development over time rather than a mass of standard house types.

New housing with bridges over the SUDs swales

• Conduct regular site supervision and consultation with measurable, specific requirements, to ensure that the specifications in the original designs and briefs are being implemented correctly.

• Be well informed about the technologies - everyone is learning and even mistakes are an essential part of the process.

» Reference

The Impact «