Mixed-use Development in Oxfordshire
About This Project
Project Team:
JTP Architecture and Masterplanning
Site:
Thornhill Park, Oxford
Project Brief:
To provide updated arboricultural reports and guidance through the project design to accompany a planning application.
Project Description:
Thornhill Park is situated on the east side of Oxford and is a land parcel between residential properties and Thornhill Park & Ride. Part of the site has already been converted from offices to residential flats. A recent application for the provision of 402 homes, new hotel and innovation centre was unanimously approved at planning committee in early December.
We provided an updated tree survey and collaborated with the design team and Oxford City Council Tree Officer to ensure that those trees of highest arboricultural quality and longevity were retained and incorporated within the design scheme. This was particularly important for the site frontage and boundaries, which contribute to the sites setting.
Due to the scale of development and location of existing trees, it was not possible to retain all trees within the site. As such, some tree loss was inevitable, however we worked with the Landscape Architects and Ecological Consultants to develop a replacement planting scheme that not only complimented the architectural design, provided Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) but also satisfied the Local Plan requirements for tree canopy cover post-development. This was captured in a bespoke Canopy Cover Assessment that ensures the loss of tree canopy cover will be mitigated by 25 years after development. This will guarantee that not only the immediate site benefits, but also the wider community and Oxford’s urban forest.
You can read more in a brief article prepared by UK Property Forums