Land at Highover Farm, Hitchin

David Wilson Homes

Character Areas - Highover Green

Highover Green will be the heart of the neighbourhood forming a natural hub and meeting place, framed by the Primary School, the neighbourhood level facilities and Highover Park all coming together in a pedestrian and cycle friendly urban square.

To create this ‘special place’ it will be important to achieve the following points:

  • Delivering a grouping of the largest and most prominent buildings within Highover Farm an actively facing the square and bus gate.
  • High quality hardscape that will be distinct from the neighbourhood areas, so users feel they are entering a special place, landscaping/seating and hardscape will also need to be carefully coordinated.
  • Distinctive planting palette to reflect this contrast.
  • Carefully integrated visitor/customer parking to read as a public space first and foremost.
  • Integration with the Bus Gate, located centrally in this area.
  • Provision of pedestrian crossing points.
  • School to be positioned at the edge of the urban square to provide a focal space and to frame the square.
  • Pedestrian and cycle movement to be prioritised.
  • Predominant use of local materiality from surrounding areas.
  • Access to allotments to be provided.

Character Areas

Character Areas

The sketch layout provided is for illustrative purposes and will be subject to full consideration as part of Reserved Matters Application.

Guidance Elements

MASSING AND SCALE:

  • Up to 3 storey height
  • Up to 1 storey on the northern boundary of the school facing the associates playing fields

ROOF TYPE:

  • Pitched or Flat roof

BUILDING LINE AND SPACE BETWEEN BUILDING:

  • Consistent building line with tight spacing is required to achieve the appropriate level of enclosure.

APPEARANCE:

  • Materials used on opposing elevations must complement each other.
  • The underlying principle for the choice of material is that these individual buildings should display a collective harmony required from a ‘key grouping’.

HARD AND SOFT LANDSCAPE:

  • High quality hardscape that will be distinct from the neighbourhood areas.

PARKING:

  • Carefully integrated visitor/customer parking to read as a public space first and foremost.

Architectural Reference