The North Popley Urban Extension consists of three principal sites: Popley Fields (Marnel Park), North of Popley Way (Merton Rise) and the John Hunt of Everest School Site. Various contributing factors such as the scale of the proposals, the topography of the site, its setting and close proximity to the town centre together provide an excellent opportunity form an integrated urban extension to Basingstoke.
The main requirements of the sites can be summarised as follows:
- The existing landscape and topography will provide the context for development.
- There will be new tree planting on the ridge and along the boundaries to maintain visual separation between town and country.
- The layout and design of public space, including roads and paths, will create a network of routes and places.
- The network will provide a strong sense of enclosure with buildings fronting roads, streets, squares and open spaces. This will establish a hierarchy of places and routes.
- The new local centre will be a key public place for the whole development area.
- Each new neighbourhood will have its own identity and internal focal points.
- The development will have a high degree of permeability, designed for public safety.
- The development will provide: a new community School; landmark buildings; variations in housing density, heights, and materials accommodating different sizes, including market and affordable dwellings.