Project aims/ background:
Bringing a derelict site back to life
CEC delivered a package of ecology, arboricultural and landscape consultancy services for the redevelopment of this important site in Falmouth as care home. We worked closely with ArchitecturePLB to come up with a scheme that emphasised health and wellbeing design whilst preserving the existing landscape resources on site.
Four Winds – a much loved and locally well-known site in Falmouth – is characterised by its treed boundaries with Monterey pines and cypresses forming a distinctive entrance to Falmouth town centre. The presence of these trees and the site’s proximity to residential dwellings were two key constraints that had to be considered in the design and had a strong influence on the final layout and appearance of outline proposals.
Working with the site’s assets
CEC undertook a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, a Tree Survey and a Landscape and Visual Appraisal to ascertain baseline conditions and input to the layout development and design process. Following initial surveys, further ecological surveys for reptiles and bats were undertaken also feeding into the design process.
CEC also produced wireframes for key viewpoints to illustrate potential visual changes and the massing and height in views close to residential receptors.
Health and wellbeing design
A landscape strategy was developed that dealt with tree retention and planting of new trees to be able to replace the existing trees once they start to fail due to their age. It also made the most of the external environment to promote health and wellbeing for the care home’s residents.
CEC’s contribution to the layout and appearance of the scheme ensured that it responded to site and local context and that a forward-looking landscape strategy was adopted.
Outcome for client: Planning permission secured
Our conversations with the tree officers and our presentation at the Design Review Panel helped the decision makers to understand the proposals better and see that this high-quality scheme could be sensitively integrated into the existing local landscape. Ultimately, that helped to achieve outline planning permission for an 80-bed care home on this distinct site in Falmouth.
Feedback:
“CEC provided a range of services from landscape design, through to tree and ecological surveys and a visual impact assessment.
Their ability to combine these services was invaluable in the delivery of a robust coordinated planning submission for a very complex, constrained site.”
Paul Phasey, ArchitecturePLB
