July 2008: University of Bath IEM Award

MSc Integrated Environmental Management – Nicholas Pearson Associates Award

The Masters has been run for over 10 years as a distance learning degree and the standard of the students has always been especially high. In recognition of the efforts of students, each year we award a cheque and certificate to the student whose Dissertation is, in the opinion of the external examiners, of a particularly high standard. This year’s Award has been presented to Emmanuel Munyikwa for his dissertation ‘Does ISO14001 lead to improved environmental performance? – a case study of Alcoa’s Banbury plant’.

June 2008: Planning approval granted for Unite

Proposals for a 300 bed student accommodation development on the Lower Bristol Road, Bath have received planning consent. The sensitive site is adjacent to the River Avon SNCI and Bath Conservation Area and includes the Listed Charlton Buildings.
 
As part of the multidisciplinary team, we undertook ecological surveys at the site and prepared landscape and ecological designs for enhancements along the riverside, including a floodplain compensation area, and a high quality courtyard.
 
Construction work will commence in July with an expected completion in September 2009.

May 2008: Dam by Trevor Turpin

Dam , written by Director Trevor Turpin, was published in May by Reaktion Books -   ‘a profusely illustrated exploration of a previously neglected subject, the book is neither a polemic against nor a defence of the proliferation of dams. It offers a fresh and much needed account of their design, function and construction which will appeal to dam engineers, historians, students and environmentalists as well as those who previously only recognized the Dambusters March’. www.Reaktionbooks.co.uk

April 2008: Social benefits of River Restoration

Trevor Turpin presented a paper on the Social Benefits of river restoration at this year’s annual conference held at the University of Exeter. We have been members of the Centre since its inception following considerable experience of the restoration particularly of urban rivers since the mid 1990s. The paper, written by Trevor, Paul Jolliffe and Naomi Harris, focused on the experience of the restoration of the River Marden which had been channelised in the 1960s. Its transformation has acted as a catalyst for the regeneration of the centre of the town of Calne and has initiated other community based works along the river.

March 2008: On track at Gloucester

We are part of the successful team, led by GVA Grimley, which has won the master planning commission for the Railway Triangle, Gloucester. The client is The Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company Ltd (GHURC), responsible for the renaissance of Gloucester and for the attraction of £1billion of private sector investment to the city in the next ten years. Working with Lead Master planner Nash Partnership, and infrastructure and transport consultant  Alan Baxter and Associates, we are defining a development and open space strategy for this 43 hectare English Partnership site which is a key gateway to the City.

December 2007: Redevelopments moving ahead for historic college

We have been working with Malvern College for just over a year now as part of a multi disciplinary team supporting a significant programme of development projects. We were invited to join the team because of the need to respond to the sensitive environment; Malvern College lies adjacent to the Malvern Hills AONB, within a Conservation Area, contains numerous Listed buildings and provides a range of excellent habitats for bats. We have variously undertaken and prepared landscape and ecological appraisals, bat surveys, landscape designs and detailed proposals and specifications, and coordinated arboricultural surveys, in support of a range of proposals and planning applications. We are now also assisting the college in their plans for combining their preparatory school with The Downs School at Colwall.

November 2007: BALI award for external realm design

The Bath Spa Hotel has won a National BALI award under the category of Mainly Hard Landscaping - Construction cost over £100,000.00. As part of a major refurbishment of the hotel a previously unmanaged and unused area was redesigned to provide a new garden and associated spaces linking the main hotel to an extension. Key constraints were significant changes in level, as well as mature trees and access requirements.   The overall design involved ground reshaping, removal of some retaining walls, as well as the careful design of paths to achieve required access and open up the views of the building facades. Nicholas Pearson Associates produced the design which was implemented by ISS Waterers.

October 2007: Green light for new park and ride

The Salisbury District Council Planning Committee met last month to consider the planning application for the proposed Petersfinger Park and Ride site south-east of Salisbury, Wiltshire. The committee voted on the motion to approve and the outcome was in favour of the application. The submission was praised for the design of the site and the quality of the planning application.   This was also recognized by IEMA who gave the Environmental Statement a very high review rating. Nicholas Pearson Associates recognize this as an appreciated compliment for the work which we produce. We will continue to be part of the design team as the project enters the construction phase with the preparation of the contract documents.

September 2007: Upgrade for an Army barracks

North Wiltshire District Council granted planning permission in September for the multi-million pound redevelopment of Basil Hill Barracks, Corsham.   We worked closely with Laing O'Rourke, FaulknerBrowns Architects and Halcrow Yolles to produce a masterplan, which includes a new Global Operations Security Control Centre, 1850 work-spaces, new living quarters for 180 service personnel, sports amenities, a new nursery and retention of existing operational and logistical facilities. We will now continue to develop the scheme to tender stage ready to start on site early 2008.

August 2007: Working with the Royal Shakespeare Company

Bennetts Associates Architects have appointed Nicholas Pearson Associates, to provide landscape design support, as part of the multi disciplinary design team, which includes Buro Happold, working on the transformation of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the surrounding site, in Stratford upon Avon.

The Royal Shakespeare Company announced earlier this year that it had secured over £100 million in its international campaign to transform the Royal Shakespeare Theatre into "the best theatre in the world for Shakespeare." Further improvements include a double-height rooftop restaurant with views across the River Avon and Bancroft lawns as well as increased space and facilities for artists and staff. Perhaps most significantly, these considerable improvements will be made while restoring the original riverside façade, the foyer and circle bar of the 1932 building.

External works include the redesign of the circulation, approaches and riverside edge and consideration of the relationship with Centenary Gardens, as part of the proposals for flood compensation.

July 2007: Graduate Award Announced

Every year, Nicholas Pearson Associates award a prize to the student completing the Integrated Environmental Management course at the University of Bath with the highest dissertation mark. The winner of this year's award is Alexandra Hetherington. Her dissertation examined the extent that waste collection affects the environmental performance of a sustainable waste management system. Alexandra is currently working for the University as a module tutor and investigating e-moderating for future use on the course. Dr. Trevor Turpin presented her award on 21st June.

June 2007: New technologies for new facilities at Wiltshire estate

A new 43 bedroom hotel and health spa facility has gained planning permission at the Bowood Estate.  The new hotel, located within the Grade 1 registered landscape will open in late 2008.  A key element of the development will be its use of a Biomass system to provide hot water and heating.  Wood from the estate will be used in the environmentally friendly wood fuel heating system, which converts energy from wood into heat for water and rooms.  We have provided advice on landscape design, planning and the siting of buildings; together with supervision of the initial clearance and setting out works.

April 2007: Tidy design solves watery problem

Stourhead Gardens and House, owned by The National Trust have recently completed improvements to their existing Visitor Centre car parking facilities.  The original car park consisted of a gravel access track with the majority of parking taking place on grass.  Due to a combination of very high visitor numbers and very poor surface water drainage the site quickly became a quagmire.  In conjunction with National Trust Staff, Nicholas Pearson Associates were involved in the design, planning and implementation of the new scheme, which consists of tarmac access routes and gravel parking bays concealing extensive strip soakaways to deal with surface water.  The new parking layout responds to the rural context and Grade II registered surrounding parkland by breaking up the formalisation of parking spaces with ornamental planting, diversifying surface materials and incorporating timber fencing and bollards to control traffic. The opening ceremony took place in April.

March 2007: New Use for Old Quarry

The Plymstock Quarry remodelling planning application was successfully delivered last month. This planning application involves the re-shaping of the former Blue Circle cement works and associated 30m deep limestone quarry to form the ground levels and profiles required for the site’s future re-development as a mixed use development. The redevelopment proposals are currently being formulated with NPA providing landscape assessment and design advice. Approximately 1 million cubic metres of rock will have to be blasted or moved to enable this to happen. As part of the application, NPA prepared the landscape chapter for the Environmental Statement (using LSS as a major tool), and co-ordinated a plan for the future management of all the associated historic woodlands and pastures around the remaining parts of the site and the areas of ecological interest.

February 2007: More rooms to enjoy at Dyffryn

St. David's Day (1st March) was celebrated with the opening of the new visitor facilities at Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan, complete with new tea room, shop, car park, and toilets in the East Lodge.  The works are part of a substantial Heritage Lottery Funded project to restore the great Edwardian gardens, by Thomas Mawson and Reginald Cory.  Nicholas Pearson Associates prepared the Historic Landscape Survey and Restoration Plan in support of an application by the Council to the Heritage Lottery Fund, and resulted in a two phase grant award totalling over £5 million. We have been the Consultant Curator for the landscape restoration works and also produced detail designs for key parts of the project .

January 2007: Planning application for 'Church Fields', Daventry submitted

An outline planning application has been submitted for a major and comprehensive urban extension at Daventry, Northamptonshire, on behalf of Croudace Homes. Nicholas Pearson Associates has been involved with this site, in its various forms for about 15 years, having carried out ecological and landscape appraisals during its promotion through two Local Plans, a Structure Plan, and a Sub Regional Examination in Public. For the planning application itself we have played a major and significant role in the team: comprising assisting with public exhibitions and consultations; coordinating the Environmental Impact Assessment, preparing the Environmental Statement (including the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment and Ecological Assessment); coordinating/ preparing the Design and Access Statement; and designing the environmental Master Plan and Green Infrastructure including mitigation and enhancement measures.

December 2006: Urban extension development granted planning permission by Inspector

The Planning Inspectorate has granted planning permission for five planning applications for mixed use and infrastructure development at Newton Abbott, Devon.

The Jetty Marsh Planning Inquiry was held in late October and early November after an appeal by our clients WBB Minerals and Arnold White Estates against the lack of determination by the local authority. The mixed use proposals include for housing development, a business park, sports facilities and associated infrastructure.  We prepared the landscape assessment and design for the original applications, including a comprehensive masterplan and landscape framework. We also provided EIA advice, which gained the Council's agreement that EIA was not required. Subsequently We prepared landscape evidence and a statement on EIA Screening for the inquiry. The Inspector determined that EIA was not required, which allowed for the resolution of other issues and for the permission to be granted.

November 2006: Centre for Clinical Excellence, Bath

Proposals for a new Centre for Clinical Excellence at Bath have been submitted to Bath and North East Somerset Council. The design is a response to the needs of a new generation of smaller facilities balancing the ever more technically advanced clinical departments with the requirements of patient and staff welfare. The approach includes a sensitive and responsive approach to the environment, both in terms of the existing landscape and the creation of more natural and sustainable healing surroundings for patients. The combination of new technology and natural environment formed the basis for the design concept.

As part of the multi disciplinary team, led by Foster and Partners,   Nicholas Pearson Associates provided the landscape and visual appraisal and landscape design for the proposals. The landscape design sets out to provide a high quality 'healing landscape' and a sheltered, enclosed environment, whilst integrating the proposals into the surrounding landscape. The design features the use of a 'shared use' approach framed by strong planting, a series of planted terraces and green walls and an enclosed courtyard garden for use by patients and staff.

September 2006: Ships Ahoy!

This year’s company day was loosely themed around Brunel to mark his 200th anniversary. The activities included :

• A Brunel tour of Bristol Temple Meads station, including the old platform, a gothic style boardroom and vaults.
• Time on the Matthew learning about rigging and putting up the sails. The Matthew is a replica 15th century sailing ship which crossed the Atlantic on several occasions.
• A treasure hunt on Brunel’s SS Great Britain and the Bristol dockside area.  

The day ended with a cast off/harbour cruise in the Matthew.

The annual company day is an opportunity for all staff from the Bath and Tiverton offices to join together and complete a variety of educational and fun exercises.

August 2006: Planning progress for Boscastle

The Environment Agency’s plans for flood defences on the River Valency in Boscastle were submitted to North Cornwall District Council in August . The submission covered 3 main planning applications:

• Car park area – a joint planning application with the district council to widen the river to provide capacity for sediment and debris to drop, including raising the car park with barriers to stop vehicles washing into the river in a flood.
• Downstream of Cornish Stores – widening and lowering the river bed to increase the channel capacity to carry high flows.
• Lower bridge – an outline application to demolish the existing bridge and replace it slightly further downstream.

The council planning committee held a site meeting in Boscastle on September 1 to see the locations and proposals at first hand.

Nicholas Pearson Associates provided landscape character and visual assessment advice to a project team led by the Environment Agency and Halcrow. We played a key role in identifying where changes could be accommodated to deliver a flood defence scheme that is sensitive to its historic landscape context, whilst providing a safer environment for the future.

Since receiving detailed planning consent, we have contributed to the preparation of contract documents, to enable work to commence this winter.

July 2006: University of Bristol Master Plan Adopted as SPD

The ambitious master plan for the University of Bristol’s main precinct has been adopted as a supplementary planning document (SPD) by Bristol City Council. Nicholas Pearson Associates provided landscape and ecological advice to the University as part of multi disciplinary team. The work included the preparation of detailed townscape and landscape analysis, public realm design strategies and concepts, as well as proposals for the enhancement to the historic Royal Fort Gardens.
The area covered by the masterplan, which lies to the north-west of Bristol’s city centre, includes parts of Clifton, Cotham and Kingsdown and four separate conservation areas.
The plan will guide the physical development of the heart of the University area over the next 20 years, underpinning the university’s efforts to strengthen its global position as a centre for leading-edge research and education. It is keen to improve public access through the university, conserve historic buildings fronting St Michael’s Hill and enhance important landscapes such as Royal Fort Gardens.
The multi disciplinary team was co-ordinated by the university’s Estates team in partnership with the city council’s planning team and included CSJ Planning, project managers Northcroft, architects Feilden Clegg Bradley and Arup as transportation engineers.

June 2006: Royal Opening at Lydiard Park

Simon Bonvoisin, Regional Director was introduced to Princess Anne on her recent visit to Lydiard Park to open the Corporate Games. The park, which was once a medieval deer park, is the setting for a Georgian Palladian manor house with landscaped grounds. Both the house and grounds are undergoing a significant period of restoration with the aid of a Heritage Lottery Fund Award.  Nicholas Pearson Associates helped to secure the £4.8 million Award and is the lead consultant for the landscape restoration, including the reinstatement of a lake, repairing the castellated dam wall and restoring the ornamental garden, icehouse, paths and vistas.

May 2006: Initial Phase of Park Planting Completed

For the past few years, Nicholas Pearson Associates has supported the Castlefields Community Pocket Park scheme in Calne, Wiltshire by offering discounted fee rates and additional time. The park comprises new footpaths, landscaping and the partial restoration of a section of canal. The site was an existing area of open space and part of the gardens belonging to Marden House which had become overgrown. The landscape designs include using native plants and water margin plants to improve drainage. The first phase of the community planting has been completed. More information about the project or the support that Nicholas Pearson Associates have provided can be obtained from Paul Jolliffe .

April 2006: Proposed Urban Extension at Daventry out for public consultation

Plans for a major urban extension at Daventry have  been unveiled at a public exhibition this month. The outline planning  application has proposed approximately 4000 dwellings, four schools, a  district centre and two local centres. Nicholas Pearson Associates has co-ordinated the  masterplanning and the Environmental Impact Assessment on behalf of the  developers, Croudace. In addition we prepared all the presented materials.  Additional information regarding the proposed development can be found from  dedicated Croudace Churchfields website, linked here. www.churchfieldscroudace.co.uk

March 2006: Winston Churchill Chance of a Lifetime fellowship bursary

Nicholas Pearson Associates director, Trevor  Turpin, has been awarded one of the coveted Winston Churchill Chance of a  Lifetime fellowship bursaries to investigate lessons for the UK from monsoon climate water management systems.  Trevor will travel to Sri Lanka in the summer to investigate the 2,000 year old techniques of countries which have to deal with drought and monsoon conditions . The applicability of these systems and their management to the UK under predicted climate change conditions will be analysed.

The  Winston Churchill Memorial Trust offers Fellowships to British citizens  resident in the UK from all walks of life to gain a better understanding of the lives and cultures of people  overseas. Applicants need to demonstrate that their project is feasible,  worthwhile and of benefit to their community and to the UK on their return.  More information about the work of the T rust can be found on their website www.wcmt.org.uk