5: victorian villages - The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

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Public Realm & Streetscape The streetscape is characterised by wide tarmac streets with concrete kerbs, tarmac pavements and sometimes wide mown grass verges. Parking is generally provided in communal parking bays and garages. Visitors’ parking is clearly defined. Parked cars often dominate the public realm. Communal open space forms a setting for the flats (Green Lane, Windsor). Parked cars dominate the public realm, such as at these flats in Hanover Way, Windsor. Outer development boundaries are often marked by high brick walls, while internal boundaries have lower walls. Building frontages are varied - many flats have uniform elevations, with no clear backs or fronts. The distinction between public/private realms is often unclear as a result of the presence of communal open space around the flats. Street trees are uncommon; however small ornamental trees/shrubs on communal greenspace around the flats make a small but valuable contribution to the streetscape. Street lights vary in style according to the age of development. Open Space/Greenspace Communal open space is generally ‘designed’ into each development and consists of amenity greenspace which provide a setting for the flats. Small scale ornamental planting within amenity greenspaces does not relate to the character of the underlying physical landscape. There are occasional pockets of remnant woodland, shelter belts or hedgerows, which relate to former land uses and the provide links to underlying physical landscape characteristics. Views/Landmarks Views within the flat complexes are often short and terminated by the large buildings. However, medium and long distance views are available from the upper storeys of flats. Some developments form ‘gateway’ statements and are focal points in their own right. Experience Post War Residential Flats have a private and quiet character. Flats with commercial / retail / office development at street level have a sense of vitality at street level during the day. Some inward facing blocks, such as those at Ward Royal in Windsor, have their backs to the street, presenting a severe façade to the public realm. B. EVALUATION Condition The urban form, land use and much of the architecture of these areas remains intact. However, some of the boundaries, verges and vegetation in communal spaces are in a declining condition. RBWM Townscape Assessment 65 Final Report 2010: Volume 3
Within this type, one character area (11A: Grand Regency Heights, North Ascot) is judged to be in particularly good condition/an intact example of the type. Forces for Change Forces for change which were evident during the site visit are as follows: Gradual decline in condition of boundaries, verges and communal open space, particularly in older developments. Provide access to open space, with careful consideration given to the ratio between built form and open space. Retain important trees, planning for new tree planting to ensure continuity of tree cover and a diverse age structure. Use a coordinated approach to street tree planting in terms of species and stature. Consider the planting of larger trees at key visual locations and where they would help soften the appearance of larger buildings. Gradual decline in condition of facades, particularly of older buildings. Past conversion of community greenspace into car parking bays, resulting in a loss of greenspace which once provided a setting to the development. Sensitive contemporary design which responds to its immediate context will be appropriate, where it makes reference to existing building heights, massing and proportion, or stylistic references. Reference to existing materials may also be appropriate. Guidance/Opportunities It is recommended that the following principles are taken into account in the development design process and in public realm improvement projects: Seek to create opportunities for landscape and boundary enhancement, encouraging soft boundary treatments including hedging. Development and management decisions should seek to reduce the impact of parking provision and access through sensitive design and landscape screening. Parking areas should be provided behind and to the side of buildings to help reduce dominance from public areas. Character Areas ASCOT GROUP There are only 3 local character areas in the Ascot Group as follows: 11A Grand Regency Heights, North Ascot 11B Liddell Way, South Ascot 11C St James Gate, Sunningdale Character areas within this type have either evolved as part of post war suburban development, or as isolated redevelopment plots within older areas. These three areas are of the generic post war flat type, but vary locally in terms of age of development and architectural style. Photos showing variation in this type are presented overleaf. Area 11A Grand Regency Heights, North Ascot is a modern development, built on the site of the former ‘Royal Ascot Hotel’ (which was demolished in 1964). The architecture is an RBWM Townscape Assessment 66 Final Report 2010: Volume 3
Page 1 and 2: 5: VICTORIAN VILLAGES Key Character
Page 3 and 4: has occurred along most village str
Page 5 and 6: many through-routes) and the human
Page 7 and 8: This area is located along Ascot Hi
Page 9 and 10: including lodges with large gardens
Page 11 and 12: 8: INTER-WAR SUBURBS Key Characteri
Page 13 and 14: Streets are of generous proportions
Page 15 and 16: Erosion of grass verges due to pres
Page 17 and 18: 9: EARLY POSTWAR SUBURBS (TO 1960)
Page 19 and 20: Architectural style is unified and
Page 21 and 22: Conserve the traditional use of low
Page 23 and 24: 10: LATE 20TH CENTURY SUBURBS (1960
Page 25 and 26: Public Realm & Streetscape Typical
Page 27 and 28: ensure continuity of tree cover and
Page 29 and 30: Photographs showing variations in c
Page 31: A. DESCRIPTION Location/distributio
Page 35 and 36: Photos of character areas Area 11A
Page 37 and 38: A. DESCRIPTION Location/distributio
Page 39 and 40: landmarks are not a feature of the
Page 41 and 42: Photographs showing variations in c
Page 45 and 46: the key forces for change which wer
Page 47 and 48: Photographs of character areas Area
Page 51 and 52: There are no obvious landmarks, and
Page 53 and 54: Character Areas ASCOT GROUP There a
Page 55 and 56: RBWM Townscape Assessment 88 Final
Page 59 and 60: Views/Landmarks Glimpsed views are
Page 61 and 62: All of the generic guidance applies
Page 65 and 66: fenced boundaries within the indust
Page 67 and 68: Photographs of character areas Area
Page 69 and 70: STEP 1 COLLECT INFORMATION SETTLEME
Page 71 and 72: GLOSSARY OF TERMS Term ‘Ancient L
Page 73 and 74: Term Gable Gault brick Georgian GIS
Page 75 and 76: Term Definition courses of gault br
Page 77 and 78: Appendix 2: Field Survey Form
Page 79 and 80: Nodes: Landmarks: Key views: KEY IS
Page 81 and 82: HUMAN INFLUENCES Evidence of evolut
Page 83 and 84:
Block Pattern (including plot form
Page 85 and 86:
Frontages to street incl. fenestra
Page 87 and 88:
Trees and their contribution to the
Page 89 and 90:
Distribution of open spaces, intera
Page 91:
Experience Vitality/tranquillity; c
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5: victorian villages - The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

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