Environment & Sustainability

Blue & Green infrastructure

The vision will see over half of the site will be provided as green infrastructure, ensuring residents have access to nature and open spaces.

The masterplan retains extensive landscape features and proposes parks, allotments, orchards, sports facilities and ecological corridors on private land that is currently inaccessible.

The approach to green and blue infrastructure delivery involves:

  • Opportunity to retain and enhance existing hedgerows and trees into a network of Green Infrastructure and public open space that would contribute significantly to the Council’s ongoing aspiration for the Clyst Valley Regional Park;
  • Buffer development from sensitive viewpoints, particularly from the western end of the site;
  • Maintain existing trees and hedgerows and supplement with additional planting to screen and enclose development, providing a mature landscape setting from day 1;
  • Incorporate existing public rights of way into green corridors, and provide active travel connections, to offer car-free pathways through the development and connecting to adjacent uses;

The strategy aims to strengthen the local green space, creating a biodiverse landscape that balances the needs of people and wildlife.

Indicative Green Infrastructure Plan

Clyst Valley Regional Park

The proposals directly support the vision for the Clyst Valley Regional Park, delivering a 35ha Sustainable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG).

Biodiversity & Environment

The development will also seek to deliver at least 10% Biodiversity Net Gain, supported by comprehensive ecological surveys and mitigation, alongside new SuDS features designed to provide betterment over current greenfield run-off rates.

The site has no significant environmental or heritage constraints, with our initial surveys confirming:

  • Flood risk can be managed through modest engineering works and compensatory floodplain within the site. Sustainable drainage features like ponds, swales, and raingardens will create attractive and varied public spaces.
  • Ecology surveys show no barriers to development, with opportunities to strengthen habitats.
  • Heritage assets can be safeguarded and enhanced through sensitive master planning.
  • Utility connections (foul drainage, potable water, digital infrastructure) are available within or adjacent to the site, supporting efficient delivery.

Management of rainfall

All proposed new development, including the proposed attenuation lagoons, are located in Flood Zone 1 (as mapped by the Environment Agency). This is the area at lowest risk of flooding.

Surface water runoff has been a critical consideration in the evolution of the masterplan. The drainage strategy is being designed to incorporate Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) that will help better manage rainwater, ensuring no increase in upstream and downstream flood risk and provide a betterment for local residents by improving the way surface water is managed on the site, reducing uncontrolled runoff, improving flood flows over the floodplain and enhancing local resilience to heavy rainfall .

The Sustainable Drainage System will include attenuation lagoons that will intercept rainwater prior to any surface water outfall. These lagoons will provide storage to help regulate runoff rates and manage water volume, reducing the risk of flooding to show a net-improvement.

The potential impacts of climate change are fully accounted for in all flood modelling and drainage design. In line with current guidance, a 45% uplift in rainfall intensity is applied to reflect future climate scenarios, ensuring the system remains resilient over its design life.

Any reduction in flood plain storage to gain access to the development will be replaced by lowering the ground elsewhere to provide equivalent flood storage capacity. In addition, proposed crossings will be subject to detailed hydraulic modelling to demonstrate that they do not negatively impact flood levels or flow patterns beyond the site boundary.

Sustainability

Buildings will follow a ‘fabric-first’ approach for energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions. The masterplan will utilize the site’s southern aspect, orienting houses to benefit from views and passive solar gain while avoiding overshadowing neighbours. Retained hedgerows and landscape corridors will provide wind breaks.

The ‘Green Grid’ network established as a founding masterplan principle, along with water features, will help cool the area and mitigate heat island effects. Development design will consider height, scale, and density to avoid negative visual and overshadowing impacts. Planted buffers, street trees, and public open spaces will create a pleasant micro-climate and provide summer shade.