Project show and tell – Darwin Green, Cambridge

A landscape design for people and wildlife

The aim of the project is to create a community with a strong sense of local identity, celebrating the unique setting and qualities of the site and enabling residents to live healthy and environmentally conscious lifestyles.

Green space is a critical component of that vision, and Rural Solutions’ landscape architects have designed a multifunctional landscape setting with community facilities and extensive open space at its heart.

Our landscape architecture team has been involved since 2010, developing detailed landscape proposals for numerous reserved matters applications, the majority of which are now well under construction. The team have also been helping to secure outline planning permission for Phases 2 and 3 which was awarded earlier this year.

These latter phases will allow for more new homes, two new schools, community facilities, and significant areas of open space – including the development of a large country park.

An urban expansion on the edge of Green Belt

The journey to achieving outline planning permission has been long and complex. Matt Jarvis, Associate Director for Landscape at Rural Solutions provides an insight into the process:

“We set out to develop a sustainable landscape design to create a vibrant new community for Cambridge, with a focus on accessible green space, wildlife habitats, connectivity and community facilities.

“As an urban expansion on the edge of the Green Belt, it was imperative for the development to be integrated within the wider context, connecting with the local community. The process involved working closely with the client and design team, the local planning authority and various other stakeholders to understand the context of the site.

“Our proposals responded to a significant number of complex site constraints including the interface with new and existing local communities, the wider Green Belt setting, integrating complicated water management processes, existing flooding events along with establishing a suitable landscape buffer to the A14. This detailed work ensured the needs of all parties were addressed, and that the local distinctiveness was protected.

“As well as creating a landscape masterplan and providing detailed input into the Environmental Statement through a Landscape Visual Impact Assessment, we produced a comprehensive landscape design strategy, an open space and countryside enhancement strategy, a site-wide landscape management strategy, and various sports, youth and play strategies.”

Read the full case study here.

About Rural Solutions – Landscape Architecture

Rural Solutions landscape team specialises in designing in sensitive and often highly complex landscape settings, blending creativity and technical rigour to unlock a sites potential, whilst ensuring that proposals protect and enhance the local area.

Working with clients across the country, we create landscape concepts, masterplans, visualisations, and designs that are inspiring, accessible and functional. Do get in touch if you would like to find out more about our work or to discuss a project by emailing info@ruralsolutions.co.uk or calling us on 01756 797501.

Illustrations (c) Allies and Morrison