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Decision details

Christchurch Gardens Landscape Improvement Scheme

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Environment and City Management

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Hard and soft landscaping scheme designed to protect and enhance the gardens in line with Westminster’s adopted planning policies.

Decision:

Recommendations

That the Cabinet Member for Environment and City Management approved the concept design for Christchurch Gardens as attached as Appendix C and explained in Section 6 of the report;

The Cabinet Member for Environment and City Management approved the use of S106 funds, secured in respect of developments within the vicinity of the gardens, to fund completion of the detailed design and delivery of the proposed gardens scheme as set out in Section 9 of the report.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and City Management gave approval for delegated authority be given to the Interim Executive Director City Management and Communities, and Director of City Highways in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member for minor modifications to the approved scheme.

Reasons for Decisions

There is a future need for high quality green spaces in Victoria as the local population continues to grow, with developments in the area bringing forward additional homes. This presents increasing pressures on green spaces such as Christchurch Gardens to provide leisure and play space for children and families.

Approval was hereby being sought for the concept design for Christchurch Gardens set out in Appendix C of the report.  The proposed scheme is supported by officers as it offers potential to:

·        Protect and significantly improve the quality of the green space in Christchurch Gardens and encourage greater biodiversity;

·        Foster a sense of place, providing a tranquil open space in a busy office district;

·        Create a more attractive community space – optimising opportunities for positive activity within the gardens and therefore discouraging anti-social behaviour.

The proposed widening and opening of new Garden entrances will help to enhance pedestrian routes and movement within and around the Gardens as well as establish a better connection between the Gardens and nearby Strutton Ground Market – itself the subject of planned public realm improvement works.

The establishment of additional signage and improved walkways in the gardens will enable better wayfinding in the area and the potential to link the gardens to nearby walking routes away from the main road and traffic.

The scheme and its proposed delivery programme have been designed to enable delivery during the winter when the gardens would likely be least used.  An opening date in early summer 2019 will be sought to give time for new plants to establish ahead of the gardens opening at a time when the gardens would likely be used more.  It was critical that Cabinet Member approval is gained at this stage to enable the detailed design work to be completed and materials ordered in-line with these proposed dates.

S106 funds have already been collected from development schemes within the vicinity of Christchurch Gardens.  Four, totalling £2.5m have already been allocated internally for spend on this project.  All 4 are detailed in Table 2, in Section 9 below. 

Cabinet Member support for the spend of these contributions was hereby sought to enable delivery of the gardens scheme, in line with the intentions of the original S106 agreements.

 

Publication date: 26/02/2018

Date of decision: 07/11/2018

Effective from: 13/11/2018

Accompanying Documents: