Landscaping and open spaces
Prioritising green open space to create vibrant and well connected community areas
As part of the proposals, Bloor Homes is proposing to retain almost 70 hectares (equivalent to 130 football pitches) will be retained as areas of public open space that will be accessible to all, designed to foster community activities and recreational opportunities, demonstrating Bloor Homes’ commitment to prioritising the protection and enhancement of the existing landscape.
The Green Infrastructure masterplan is comprised of six core component areas, which employ varying characteristics and functions, along with additional landscaping features embedded within the residential area, delivering on the objectives of the Place Strategy and vision for the scheme.
Proposed landscape masterplan
Priory Piece Parkland
Formal parkland restoring the historic extents of Priory Park.
- Potential to restore the historic extents of Priory Park, drawing from its parkland characteristics to act as a setting for the new neighbourhood.
- Amenity green space to serve new and existing residents, accommodating play space, SuDS and accessible routes.
- Specimen trees set within meadow and amenity grassland and strands of woodland along boundaries provide visual enclosure, echoing Priory Park.
- Road improvements to create safe crossings and integration between Priory Park and Priory Piece Parkland.
Rowley Common
A versatile common linked to the River Great Ouse.
- Rowley Common encompasses a variety of uses and habitats, and acts as an extension to existing common land along the river corridor.
- Potential to complement the existing characteristics of Island Common through the provision of multifunctional natural and amenity open space, acting as an alternative accessible green space buffer to Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, maintaining the separate identity of St Neots and Little Paxton.
- Provision of safeguarded wildlife areas along the river corridor, with limited access, drawing from the floodplain meadow character of the Great Ouse valley.
- Areas of open grassland character, retaining expansive views across common land to adjacent open space and Paxton Hill.
- Potential for low key playing fields, in keeping with the character of St Neots Rugby Club, and an extension to Rowley allotments.
- Safe crossing to Mill Lane and links between commons, incorporating inclusive pedestrian & cycle routes.
Priory Meadow
Transitional landscape between town and country.
- Gradual transition between formal parkland to south and river corridor and Paxton Pits to the north.
- Stormwater flows and filters through a system of features via attenuation areas, through nature rich waterbodies to Gallow Brook.
- Substantial landscape buffer along Gallow Brook, with potential to widen channel, regrade banks and create in-stream habitats. Potential for access routes to be provided along the brook corridor with potential links to adjacent open access land and Rights of Way network within Hawkesden Leys Common.
- Visual and physical link northwards from residential area on upper slopes to river and Paxton Pits in the valley.
Gallow Fields
Accessible countryside close to home.
- Arable land to be retained that, in combination with Rowley Common, acts as a landscape buffer between the development and Little Paxton and Paxton Pits.
- Potential for margins along river, brook and fields to be enhanced for wildlife and potential for permissive routes (and loop) within field margins providing access to the countryside and river corridor.
- Potential river crossing to Paxton Pits, providing a safe and sustainable link to the nature reserve and recreational facilities, subject to feasibility.
Conservation Island
A refuge for wildlife.
- An ecologically rich environment. Bound by two channels of the River Great Ouse, Conservation Island acts as a stepping stone between SSSI’s along the river corridor.
- Access to be restricted and habitats managed (potentially through conservation grazing) to maintain the biodiversity value of the landholding.
- Acts as a natural buffer between St Neots and Little Paxton, maintaining separate identities of the two settlements.
Brook Cemetery
Woodland and reflection.
- A tranquil and reflective community space, set against a backdrop of woodland, elevated above the river valley and bordered by Gallow Brook.
- Gallow Brook to be buffered and enhanced for biodiversity, with pedestrian routes linked to the brook corridor and Hawkesden Leys common.
- Wildflower glades punctuated by small naturalistic groupings of trees, tying into the wooded character of Paxton Hill.
- Potential for Brook Farm conversion to community and commercial space.
Priory Development
Living with wildlife.
- Development located on higher ground out of the floodplain, separating the new neighbourhood from Huntingdon Road and Ouse Valley landscape.
- Provision of a landscape buffer and planting (20m minimum) along eastern boundary to visually screen views from the east and form a wooded backdrop in views from the west, helping integrate the development with wider landscape.
- Residential area to be integrated with Green Infrastructure to increase biodiversity and amenity value of the neighbourhood.
- East-West hedgerow and ditch retained through centre of residential area to act as green artery, linking green spaces and green streets.
- North-South tree lined avenue connected to a sequence of local parks and play spaces, with cycle and pedestrian routes leading to open spaces and links beyond residential area.
- Opportunities to design in nature friendly features for bird, bats, bees (and friends).
