Marnel Park is being developed by David Wilson Homes.
The development provides 751 dwellings, predominately 2, 3 and 4 bed dwellings and around 200 affordable dwellings for rent and shared ownership. The proposed layout will comply with the approved Development Masterplan for Phase I - 4. The development provides open space and allotments, equipped play and two sports pitches. The
Popley Fields 'Master' and 'Phasing' plans can be downloaded for viewing at the bottom of this page.
Planning permission has been granted for Phase 1, 2, 3 & 4A, 4B and 4C as well as for a 63-bed Care Home. The design concept for the development and the housing is set out in the approved Design Statement.
Development of Phase 1, 2 and 3 is complete. Development of Phase 4C and the Care Home is nearly complete. The Development Masterplan for Phases 1 & 2 and Phases 3 & 4 is available to download at the bottom of this page. Please note, the file size of this document is very large.
Provision has been made for the Great Crested Newts by constructing landscape corridors linking the Popley Ponds habitat to the wider countryside beyond the development.
Development Quality
David Wilson Homes will retain full responsibility for the development proposals. The central themes that run through the proposals include:
A traffic-calmed distributor road, running in an east-west direction through the site.
- The development will be designed to ensure no existing public access is lost and links to the new neighbourhood centre are provided.
- Buildings will front onto streets, squares and greens.
- Design to provide natural surveillance, ensuring safety.
- Variety in the dwelling types will be used to establish individual character for blocks and streets as well as providing opportunity for socially mixed neighbourhoods.
- Building materials and an architectural style will be coordinated to provide a strong identity to the development.
- At prominent locations, landmark buildings will be provided to give a real sense of place.
- Squares, greens and play-areas.
- The close proximity of the local centre and community facilities at North Popley will provide important links for residents, together with the provision of two sports pitches, open space and play on the Marnel Park site near Marnell Dell.
- Landscape and Great Crested Newt mitigation proposals.
Development Phasing
Marnel Park will be developed in four/five separate phases of development in accordance with the Marnel Park Phasing Plan.
Infrastructure Provision
Vehicular access to the site will be from two locations on Carpenters Down and take the form of a traffic calmed road network through the development. Traffic speeds are unlikely to exceed 20mph, with slower speeds in courtyards and squares. The overall development and access to the site has been designed to mitigate the impact on the Great Crested Newt population which inhabit the area including the nearby Popley Ponds.
The overall design objective seeks to avoid a car dominated development by giving priority to movement by foot, bicycle and public transport. Bus routes will link through the development from Carpenter’s Down and subsequently run east-west across the site towards Chineham lane. As later phases evolve, the bus route will extend through Merton Rise to Aldermaston Road.
It is a requirement that the site implements Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) as a means of reducing the impact of storm water runoff derived from developed areas thus helping to reduce flood risk which may occur elsewhere at populations. Sustainable drainage also alleviates the risks of erosion and pollution as well helping to maintain valuable wildlife habitats and providing a wetland habitat for the Great Crested Newt populations.
Landscape Strategy
The provision of structural landscape planting will be carried out in accordance with the Landscape and Woodland Management Strategy along the northern and western boundaries of the development will supplement the existing hedgerows and reinforce the perimeter landscaping adjoining the edge of the development. Existing footpaths will be enhanced by the proposed planting adjoining the existing hedgerow to the south and the proposed planting to the north. This planting will soften the edge of the development and comprise a planting belt of 15-20 metres in width. Woodland planting will also be provided around the remaining boundary to the site next to Popley Ponds to the south, to help enhance the newt habitat adjoining the ponds.
