Archived decisions

APPENDIX

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

AND

PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL

Transport and Works Act

Transport and Works

(Applications and Objections Procedure) Rules 1992

THE SOUTH HAMPSHIRE RAPID TRANSIT ORDER

Urban Design & Landscape Guidelines

These guidelines should be read in conjunction with the draft Planning Conditions, Development Briefs, draft Code of Construction Practice and the mechanical, electrical and civil engineering specifications for the tramway.

1. OVERHEAD LINE EQUIPMENT & STREET LIGHTING

1.1 A coherent approach must be adopted to the design and layout of overhead line equipment, replacement street lighting and related street furniture taking full account of the town and landscape context.

1.2 The following design principles should be followed:

· masts should be of a minimum number of variant designs, of simple functional outline and have the minimum cross-section and footprint. Wire tensioners should be integral with masts. Insulators should be as small as possible. Span wires, separators and bracing wires should be kept to the minimum number and cross-section;

· mast colours should be selected to suit the locality and, where appropriate, to match existing street furniture;

· on street-running sections, a regular pattern of masts and building fixings at the maximum practicable spacing should be provided. Building fixing is preferred where this will minimise visual impacts and is structurally and visually appropriate to the building concerned. Masts should, wherever possible, be located at the kerbside and provide for the replacement of existing street-lighting columns or the enhancement of street light provision; and

· on segregated sections, double span masts, located between the tracks should be used wherever possible. Where cycleway lighting is to be provided and trackside masts are being used, these should be combined.

2 STOPS

2.1 The design of tramstops should be simple, functional yet distinctive. Individual facilities should be combined into a minimum number of structures to be provided at each tramstop. A standard design and layout of facilities should be used throughout the network, wherever possible.

The following design and siting principles should be followed:

· Platforms. These should be paved with durable dark materials, incorporating edge markings and textured areas as required. They should be graded without steps into surrounding paved area, wherever possible;

· Pedestrian and Cycle Access. Safe pedestrian and, where possible, cycle access must be provided to the nearest public footway and cycleway. All access to platforms should have a minimum width of 1.8m, be ramped at a gradient of no more than 1:12 and permit access for wheelchairs and prams without steps;

· Facilities. The minimum facilities to be provided at each tramstop shall normally be a passenger shelter, seating and cycle racks, tramstop nameboard and service information. All facilities must be useable by persons with mobility or sensory impairment;

· Fencing. Safety fences shall be provided if these are required by HMRI. Boundary fencing shall be provided if required to protect residential privacy;

· Lighting and Security. All tramstops shall have adequate lighting of the platforms and access ways. CCTV and customer alarms, both linked to a central control facility, shall be provided;

· Colour and Materials. Durable easily cleaned materials should be used. Predominant colours should be agreed with the local planning authorities as being suitable for use throughout the network or to match particular localities.

3 LANDSCAPE DESIGN

3.1 Plant selection and design should reflect the landscape context and character of the adjoining area.

Town Centre - Planting should comprise extra heavy standards with underground guying and tree grills where appropriate. Species selection should be limited within each area to strengthen local identity. Suitable species include London Plane (Platanus x hispanica), Norway Maple (Acer platanoides ), selected sterile forms of Sycamore (e.g. Acer pseudoplatanus "Negenia") and Horse Chestnut (ie Aesculus hippocastanum "Baumanii"), Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus "fastigiata") or aphid resistant species of lime (eg Tilia tomentosa "Brabant"). The use of urban tree soil or equivalent should be considered where trees are to be planted within hard areas. Shrub planting within these areas may not generally be appropriate, however where this is desired it should restricted to clearly defined planting areas. Species selection, with the exception of "accent plants" should generally be restricted to plants below one metre in height.

Green Space - Where the surrounding area is dominated by regenerated vegetation, species selection should reflect this. Suitable species for these areas could include Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Oak (Quercus robur ), Field Maple (Acer campestre), Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) and Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Transplant or feathered stock would be appropriate in these areas. Where the surrounding area is dominated by semi -ornamental planting, selected ornamental forms of the above species and Sorbus cultivars would be appropriate along with shrub species such as Prunus laurocerasus cultivars, Cornus spp and Cotoneaster spp. Feathered or light standard stock would be appropriate for tree species and container grown stock for shrubs.

Residential Areas - Species selection in these areas should be similar to Green Space areas, with the exception that larger tree stock should be used in close proximity to pedestrian access.

Industrial Areas - In these areas a rapid screening function may be the prime objective. Species with a rapid growth rate would therefore be appropriate. Suitable species could include Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Grey Alder (Alnus incana),Ash (Fraxinus excelsior),and sterile forms of Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). Cell grown or transplant stock coupled with a limited number of feathered stock would ensure optimum growth rates.

3.2 Planting proposals should include detailed specifications to comply with BS 3936 (Nursery Stock) and BS 5236 (Advanced Nursery Stock).

3.3 Plant handling should comply with Plant Handling Guide issued by the Horticultural Trade Association.

3.4 Planting should be carried out in accordance with BS 4428:1989 (Code of Practice for General Landscape Operations).

3.5 Approved non-peat soil ameliorant should be used in planting pits.

Tramstops

3.6 At tramstops the following additional requirements apply, in the interests of personal security:

· the canopy of proposed tree planting should not conflict with adequate lighting of the platform and pedestrian access; and

· shrub planting in the immediate vicinity of the platform and pedestrian access should not exceed one metre in height.

4 PAVING AND SURFACE TREATMENT

4.1 The specification and design of paving materials should be determined by the following factors:

· function;

· character of the surrounding area; and

· compatibility with existing retained surfaces or any general resurfacing proposed by the local authorities.

4.2 The range of paving materials to be used within specific areas should be restricted and should seek to reinforce local identity. For example, in the vicinity of Westbury Manor the following materials are currently used:

· bound gravel within the boundary fencing;

· Marshalls Tegula on the driveway;

· square aggregate paving paviors on pavements;

· concrete pavers on vehicular access routes; and

· granite kerbing.

The selection of new surface treatments in this location should use the most appropriate of these materials for the purpose.

4.3 In segregated sections or where the character of the surroundings is less urban, a simple standard range of surface treatments should be selected.

5 BOUNDARY AND SAFETY FENCING AND NOISE BARRIERS

5.1 Sufficient fencing must be provided to meet requirements for safety, security or noise attenuation. Designs should be appropriate to the landscape or townscape context.

5.2 Wherever possible, fences should serve more than one purpose, for example, combined noise and safety barriers between the tramway and parallel cycleway.

5.3 If trackside fences are required where the tramway crosses Forton Field, a ditch or ha-ha should be used.

5.4 Noise barriers shall be designed to meet the requirements of BS EN 1794:1998. Unless otherwise agreed, they should be prefabricated by an approved manufacturer. They should be sited to minimise visual impact and damage to existing trees and shrubs, consistent with achieving the required levels of noise attenuation at sensitive receivers.

6 DEPOT

6.1 Buildings and other structures should be of simple, functional yet distinctive design and appearance.

6.2 The depot building and other facilities should be sited to minimise adverse impacts on nearby residents or other sensitive receivers by reason of noise, light or other emissions. Working areas should be enclosed within buildings or otherwise shielded to achieve acceptable emission levels. The depot layout should seek to retain existing trees, shrubs and any areas of wildlife interest. Additional landscaping should be designed to shield visually intrusive elements of the depot from residential or other areas to which the public has access.

6.3 The depot should be constructed from materials appropriate to its function and context.

7 OTHER STRUCTURES

7.1 Engineering structures, including bridges, retaining walls and sub-stations, should be of simple yet functional design. Surface finishes should be in keeping with the landscape and townscape context. Abutments, retaining walls and sub-stations should have brick finishes unless this is impractical for engineering reasons.

6959A/LH