Proposed Development
Monkton Heathfield Phase 2 Illustrative Masterplan
Prepared by the Developers' design consultant Pegasus.
001 P16-1020_57D INDICATIVE masterplan[1].pdfObjectives
A clear identity:
- A distinctive local identity as a new garden neighbourhood;
- An attractive and functioning district centre co-located with the through school and children's play area;
- A new garden neighbourhood focused on high quality landscaped open spaces including green corridors and green necklace; and
- A welcoming development through a series of landscaped town gateways.
Great Homes:
- Offering a wide range of high quality, distinctive homes;
- Heritage and contemporary ranges, bespoke apartments and non-residential buildings;
- Affordable housing and a mix of tenures for all stages of life; and
- Legacy and stewardship arrangements for the care of community assets, infrastructure and public realm for the benefit of the whole community including proposals to transfer the POS to a management company which would ensure management in perpetuity. Alternatively liasing with the joint Parishes to take on the POS.
Future proofed:
- Providing a network of swales, dry and wet drainage basins and rain gardens to allow for flood risk mitigation;
- Providing a Biodiversity Net Gain;
- Homes designed to the latest building regulations standards, including a fabric first approach; and
- Electric vehicle charging points to each home and within the district centre.
A well-designed place:
- A vibrant mixed-use community supporting a range of local employment types and premises;
- A district centre with a range of retail, commercial, health and community uses;
- Easy connections to a new employment park co-located with the Bus & Ride facility;
- A series of walkable neighbourhoods focused on a space containing opportunities for art, micro allotments, doorstep play, rain gardens and other community facilities;
- A green necklace and green corridors featuring existing natural features and new planting, swales, wetlands, orchards, allotments, rain gardens, woodlands and meadows; and
- Outward looking development providing frontage along the Eastern Relief Road and the green corridors.
A well-connected place:
- Priority given to pedestrian and cycle links including from Phase 1 and the Bus & Ride facility;
- Residents able to travel onto Taunton town centre, Bridgwater and Wellington on an express bus service;
- Residents able to access a local bus service connecting the new garden neighbourhood with neighbouring areas;
- A network of streets connecting the district centre with the surrounding residential areas;
- A range of local accessible service, education and employment uses which minimise the need for residents to travel;
- An environment planned to achieve lower traffic speeds; and
- Residents able to walk into the district centre using a network of footpaths an cycle paths.
Indicative Sketches of Monkton Heathfield Phase 2 Development
Spine Road Character Area
Neighbourhood Spaces Character Area
Porters Park Character Area
Green Corridor Character Area
Homes
The development will provide a wide range of high quality, distinctive homes including affordable housing and a mix of tenures for all stages of life. 10% of dwellings within the West Monkton and Cheddon Fitzpaine neighbourhood area will be single storey dwellings. Adaptable homes will also be provided subject to discussions with the LPA.
Highways
The benefit of providing the Eastern Relief Road is the downgrading of the existing A38 to transform it into a high qualty sustainable link. This downgrading includes reducing the carriageway width, providing a cycle path and a bus route whilst reducing the dominance of the car. The Eastern Relief Road will provide a cycle path along one side.
The design and layout of the new garden neighbourhood has been considered to promote sustainable and active modes of travel over all others. The spine road provides a corridor for local buses. The main east to west green corridor provides a cycle and pedestrian link from Phase 1 to the Bus & Ride facility. This also connects the network of other green corridors and existing footpaths to the district centre and through school increasing potential movement by walking and cycling which has benefits for the health and well-being of individuals and the vitality of the wider urban environment.
The proposals facilitate the use of cycles and electric vehicles, encouraging movement for regular journeys that are beyond comfortable walking distance by low-emission transport modes.