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Masterplanning

MasterplanningMasterplans address the complex issues that affect our towns, cities and neighbourhoods, by responding to the issues that face anyparticular environment to visualise and communicate how it can change for the better. They provide a vision as well as a strategicdecision-making tool, with economic and market elements, explaining how a site, series of sites or an area will be developed. AtAtkins we have been successfully responding to this challenge across the world, for <strong>more</strong> than 25 years.Our first step is a vision and concept, followed by a strategic framework, setting out the baseline physical, economic, social andpolitical context. We then move on to a detailed masterplan and implementation plan. The masterplan must make the most ofexisting assets, for instance historic buildings and townscape, as well as introducing new dynamics. It must capture the imaginationof stakeholders and the wider public and realise their aspirations for a thriving, attractive, accessible and people-friendly environment.It must also be the catalyst for attracting funding and inward investment. High quality and sustainable development, long termeconomic viability and the protection of the environment are central.The challenge is to develop an imaginative masterplan that will create a sense of identity and inspire change, but is also practical anddeliverable. A successful masterplan therefore requires an innovative and forward thinking approach, underpinned by comprehensiveunderstanding of the underlying technical issues.At Atkins we respond to this challenge by assembling specialist multi-discipline masterplanning teams from the UK, Middle East andChina. Our projects range from major metropolitan masterplans in large cities, through plans for brownfield and greenfield sites of allsizes, to urban design frameworks for market towns and declining district centres. We work for private sector developers, investorsand landowners; local, regional and national government; and other public sector clients of all kinds. In developing masterplans weuse specialists with a wide range of expertise including:• urban and landscape design• site development and masterplanning• planning policy and land use• economic and social development• strategic urban regeneration• transport• communication, consultation and consensus• market analysis• environmental impact assessment• sustainability• heritage and archaeology• tourism and leisure• architecture• civil engineering

Panama Pacifico, PanamaAtkins prepared an outline masterplan for a 2,000ha site located half a mile from Panama City on the western side of the PanamaCanal. The site is a designated Special Economic Area and is partially occupied by the former US Howard Air <strong>For</strong>ce Base.The masterplan covers a period of 40 years and relies on sustainable planning and urban design principles to create a self-sufficientmixed use community providing industrial, residential, retail, commercial, leisure and tourism uses. It responds to a wide range of localsocial, economic and environmental issues and has involved specialist technical inputs from a multidisciplinary team comprised oflandscape and urban designers, architects, urban and transport planners, economists, utilities specialists and environmental engineers.Part of Atkins’ work included the formulation of design guidelines for the various character areas to be developed on the site. Theseguidelines have been adopted by the Panamanian Government, alongside the masterplan, and will form the basis for a new urbanzoning system for the area.

Almada Docks, PortugalThe work on the Almada Docks in Lisbon, Portugal is one of themost extensive dockland regeneration projects within Europe,covering a site of 150 hectares. Almada’s rebirth will create a city oftwo margins, centralising and creating a feature of the River Tagus.Atkins is developing an overall urban design masterplan and urbanplanning framework based on sustainable urban design principlesand the detailed investigation, identification, and remediation ofthe contamination issues for the site prior to development.The mixed-use masterplan will reinvent the Lisbon ‘praca’ to createstreets and public space which are human, lively, intimate andsecure. As the site is exposed, buildings will be used to create awell-tempered environment, giving the pedestrian priority overthe car and creating a place that works for people and fosters aninclusive community.The project methodology is a model of best practice. Initialtechnical studies have been carried out in parallel with thedesign process, ensuring articulation and integration between alldisciplines and all areas of understanding.All baseline studies have been carried out by discipline specialists,both local and international. Each can stand alone as relevantand up to date pieces of research in their fields. Internationalbenchmarking has also been important.Community involvement throughout the project has been central,with a whole range of initiatives to ensure everyone who wishesto can take an active part in the development of the masterplan.The process has, in effect, been a collective education forconsultants, client and community. It has resulted in a genuinedepth of understanding, by all involved, of philosophical andsocial constraints and opportunities, matched with environmental,geological and geotechnical knowledge.Combine this comprehensive local understanding and sense ofplace with the international expertise of the consortium andthe result is what Almada Municipality describe as a reality; anambitious, commercially viable and sustainable vision for Almada.Images provided by Richard Rogers Partnership

Asian Beach Games, OmanWe were commissioned to develop a masterplan for the 2010 Asian Beach Games, held in Muscat, Oman. The Asian Beach Games areorganised by the Asian Olympic Committee and are the biannual event for beach sports such as volleyball, handball and kabbadi as wellas a range of watersports. Our commision is to prepare a conceptual masterplan for the site for the games to the north of the city ofMuscat. The masterplan illustrates the layout of the sports facilities, competitors village, hotels, games support facilities and associatedinfrastructure. The centrepiece of the masterplan is a new harbour created to accommodate the water sports crafts around whichare located the new hotels, cafes, restaurants and a public boulevard which will host the opening and closing ceremonies and medalpresentations. The masterplan accommodates environmental protection measures to safeguard the sensitive dune system and a seasonal‘khwar’ feature which is prone to occasional flooding during periods of heavy rainfall. The scheme also includes an area of date palmswhich will be transplanted from adjacent areas subject to rising salt water levels. The masterplan has been prepared with the legacy afteruse of the site in mind so that the infrastructure installed as part of the games can be reused after the beach games are complete.

Ras Al Hamra, OmanAtkins’ masterplanning for Ras Al Hamra retreat & resort has created a flagship of sustainable development recognised internationally as anew benchmark for life, work and play in an exceptional coastal landscape. This development is expressed architecturally and in urban formas an elegant and modern interpretation of traditional Omani Heritage and Culture in Muscat.The site covers an area of land located to the west of the Qurm residential area and accommodates a housing community, social andrecreational facilities for Petroleum Development Oman staff and their families. The aim of the project was to examine the feasibility ofredeveloping the site as a high quality residential area, with resort attractions and to provide a product positioned to attract a differentmarket segment from other planned developments in Muscat by virtue of innovative planning, design concepts and ideas, as well asproviding a top quality lifestyle, range of services and amenities for the community.The design for the Ras Al Hamra Retreat and Resort built on the site’s many natural benefits including a variety of native flora, a rich andproductive marine environment and archaeological features, as well as a varied topography including hills, beaches, complex coastline, wadiareas and dramatic views.

heasfBuilding HeightsLimitation Study,Abu Dhabi, UAEAbu Dhabi Municipality commissioned Atkins to develop a strategy fordefining appropriate heights and locations for development. Abu Dhabihas come under increasing development pressure in recent years, and inparticular within the CBD. Guidelines were produced sometime ago on theheight and design of buildings, these rigid development guidelines haveto some extent created a monotonous urban form and have stifleddevelopment. As part of the study we have developed a strategy for howthe city can accommodate new tall buildings in a way that enhances theCity’s skyline and creates an improved public realm. This has involvedcreating a 3D model of the City to test a variety of future developmentscenarios in terms of impact on how the city will look, internationalu r e Pbenchmarking l a n f o r Wto iassess l a y athe t Mmerits a s eof r adifferent h a n d approaches L o c a l Pto l tall a n buildings f o r M a s e r a h T o w naround the city, and assessing the impacts on the transport network r e l e vofa n t e x p e r i e n c ey different scenarios. The output from the study is a new set of developmentguidelines identifying building heights for different parts of the City.thinft

Jakarta, IndonesiaThe Pantai Mutiara development scheme in Jakarta is a privately fundedproject comprising ten 30-storey residential towers, a 40-storey landmarkhotel, two 5-storey serviced apartment blocks and an 11ha central waterpark. The development area is located on a reclaimed island off theJakarta coastline.Our role was to create a landscape masterplan for the entire developmentarea. The concept for the development is simple but dynamic withthe proposed towers creating a cluster of sails. This nautical theme iscontinued in the landscape with the towers being orientated arounda compass feature, designed to be visible from land, sea and air. Thecompass points alternately comprised hard and soft landscape, with therich colours of the granite paving contrasting with the lush green of theplanting. Each point provides residential space including swimming pools,paved forums and colourful gardens. The central water park is a ParadiseIsland with wave machine, water slides and lazy river winding its waythrough temple ruins, grottoes, giant lizards and a fisherman’s cove, in arich planted setting.Tanjung Priok, the main port in Jakarta, is expanding rapidly. Land on thewestern side of the port closest to the city centre was identified as havingthe potential for the development of a new passenger ferry terminaland transport interchange with associated commercial development.We were commissioned to carry out a feasibility study and then toprepare conceptual design proposals. We then went on to produce thedetailed designs. The new centre will include a hotel, office and retailcomplex facing the waterfront, a new bus/rail terminal and an exhibition/convention centre. The entire development will be linked by pedestrianroutes on elevated decking to improve the environmental quality of thearea. A light rapid transit facility linking the development to the citycentre is proposed.

Bao’an, ChinaSituated to the west of Shenzhen in close proximity to Shenzhen International Airport, theproject is to plan a new central business district for the Bao’an district. The CBD developmentarea occupies an area of about 110 hectares (excluding the central parks) and provides atotal accommodation space of 3 million square metres for office, commercial, hotel andresidential uses.Given the scarcity of land that remains in this well established district the plan looks to createa comprehensive and compact development both vertically and horizontally while maximisingconnectivity with future metro stations and landmark cultural buildings. The plan also providessufficient development flexibility to better respond to future changing market conditions, whileat the same time maintain different degrees of control to ensure design consistency and overalldevelopment framework.

Xia Sha, ChinaThe first phase of this project covers an area ofabout 1 sq km and is located along the easterncoastline of Shenzhen City in the Pearl River Deltaof southern China.The plan intends to create a new cultural and tourismdestination utilising the intrinsic values of the placeincluding the local Ke Jia ethnic culture and Nin Nanarchitectural style. It also includes an all-weather watercentre using energy from the nearby power station toprovide heating in the winter.Business centres, corporate accommodation and a7-star hotel are planned to provide a new conferenceand event venue for businesses operating in the PearlRiver Delta. The second phase of the project includes ahilltop golf course that overlooks the South China Sea.

Xunliao, ChinaLocated to the east of Shenzhen City in the Pearl River Delta ofsouthern China, this new tourism and resort destination maximisesthe 16km coastline, pristine sandy beaches and natural resourcesincluding mangroves, paddy fields and fishing villages.The project includes plans for some ten international hotels andresorts (Sheraton Hotel & Resort is scheduled to open in 2008), aninternational standard 18-hole golf course in the first phase, yachtclubs and luxury villas with private marinas. The core townshipprovides a range of resident and visitor facilities including directroad and sea transportation to major cities such as Shenzhen,Macau, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.The planned 60,000 resident community lifestyle will be in the formof family homes, holiday retreats, healthy ageing communities andtourist accommodation, all based on the concept of family valuesand healthy lifestyle.

Zhujiang, ChinaAn international design competition for the design of the undergroundspace and central square in the new Zhujiang CBD in the heart ofGuangzhou City. The site occupies an area of 140 hectares with a grossfloor area of 43 hectares of underground space.A multidisciplinary team of designers and engineers provided anintegrated solution including 1) the planning of the undergroundcommercial and supporting space and requirements, 2) design of the5 “exposed” mass transit stations along the continuous undergroundspace, 3) comprehensive underground road and intelligent transportsystems design, 4) computer-modelled pedestrian planning forthe interchange stations between the internal mass transit andthe city-based metro systems, 5) seamless vertical and sub-tropicallandscape designed to bring natural lighting and environment intothe underground space, 6) construction planning for the complexdesign, 7) design-driven structural design as well as other engineeringfeasibility and costing works.This project was jointly managed by and involved staff from variousteams and offices in mainland China and Hong Kong.

Durrat Island, BahrainThe Durrat Al Bahrain development in the Kingdom of Bahrain will be a world-famousresort and residential destination. The Islands will become a model resort city forBahrain and set a benchmark for projects in this unspoiled coastal region.Atkins was awarded the comprehensive masterplanning, design and projectmanagement contract for this development because of our significant global presenceand our respected reputation for producing innovative and iconic designs. We areresponsible for the design and management of the whole project. This includes a redesignof the masterplan to create this signature world-class development.The project comprises an overall area of 20 square kilometres and includes a series ofparadise islands and all related infrastructure at the southern tip of the island.

Technopolis andE-village, SyriaThe Syrian Government wished to establish two‘Special Economic Zones’, one a high tech city,Technopolis, for heavy and light industry, andthe other an ‘E-village’ to cater for educationaland service sector organisations. We preparedmasterplans for these zones to demonstrate theirphased development. These plans identifiedinfrastructure requirements for which preliminarycapital cost estimates were prepared.

Socotra Archipelago,YemenThe Socotra archipelago is one of the least developed parts of the YemenRepublic, famous world-wide for its flora and fauna. Atkins was commissionedto prepare a masterplan for the islands’ development over a ten year period.We looked at the existing situation in a variety of sectors - environment,population, health, education, fisheries, agriculture, livestock, tourism,economy, infrastructure, utilities, local government administration, water andland use - and devised projects for implementation in each sector, whichwould not threaten the wildlife. In response to the enormous tourism potential,a phased eco-tourism development plan was recommended, based on thebuilding of eco-lodges and involving training programmes for local people.

Londonderry,Northern IrelandAtkins has been working on an integrated urban design strategicframework for the ‘Heart of the City’ in Londonderry.Commissioned by the Department of Social Development’sLondonderry office, we took a comprehensive long-term view of the‘Heart of the City’ in order to identify what would be achievable inthe next 15 years. Our urban design strategic framework has beguna wide dialogue about what character is desirable for LondonderryCity Centre.We have developed proposals under eight headings - river, movement,major developments, opportunity sites, walled city, commercial core,parks and the public realm and neighbourhoods. A very successfulpublic consultation programme won wide support for the proposals.Our Strategic Framework also shows, in some detail, how designguidance can help deliver the strategy. It is designed to be flexible andto avoid dependence on any single element which may not be realised.Its aim is to achieve an environment that is vibrant and animated,reflecting the new ideas on urbanisation and the cultural importance ofCity Centres being seen throughout Europe.

Ashford Growth Area, Kent, UKAshford in Kent is earmarked by the Government as one of the Sustainable Communities Growth Areas and is also being promoted as a keylocation for attracting inward investment to the region.We have been working for The Church Commissioners on a masterplan for a new community on their land at Cheeseman’s Green, on thesouth east outskirts of the town. Ashford Borough Council has adopted our development brief which pursues village principles, offeringa mix of uses, density and building type as Supplementary Planning Guidance. An outline planning application for the new mixed usesustainable village, providing 1,100 new homes and up to 70,000 square metres of business space, has also been approved.The principles of sustainability have been central to the development of the proposals for Cheeseman’s Green, as has an emphasis onenvironmental considerations, the need to achieve transport sustainability and a commitment to the highest standards of urban design,including the public realm.

Bay Pointe, Cardiff Bay, WalesBay Pointe is a contemporary waterfront residential development on the peninsulasite at Cardiff’s International Sports Village (CISV). We were appointed to develop amasterplan for the scheme, which comprises 2400 apartments in 10 buildings, alongwith associated public realm and waterside spaces. The 3 Conran-designed landmarktowers are the focal point of the scheme, standing 41 storeys high.While the buildings may be breathtaking, <strong>more</strong> than 65% of the site is dedicatedto open and public spaces, with the creation of a 1.7 hectare park as part of theproject. Bay Pointe will also provide a 500m wide waterside footpath and cyclewaythat allows public access to the waterfront, and links to the boulevard that runsthrough the heart of the development. Bay Pointe is designed to be a place wherepeople will be proud to live, and be a part of.

Grays, London, UKAtkins has been working on a number of commissions designed to improve and revitaliseGrays on the River Thames in Essex, reconnecting the town across the railway line whichdivides it and linking the centre back to the river. We were first commissioned by ThurrockThames Gateway Urban Development Corporation to produce a masterplan for the towncentre, which then provided the basis for <strong>more</strong> detailed studies looking at improvements tothe railway station and surrounding area and a study to design an achievable marina schemefor the riverfront. The projects have involved a team drawn from a wide range of planning,design, environment and engineering disciplines. In addition to the masterplan and detaileddesign, our work has included sustainability appraisal, environmental impact assessment andextensive consultation. We have also developed a VISSIM highways model which is beingused to test the proposals for the town.

Lea Square,London, UKThe £180m Lea Square development willprovide a new vibrant vicinity at the westernextremity of the Thames Gateway in theLea Valley, Newham, between the Cityand Stratford.Lea Square, which includes offices, retail,leisure, residential, community spaces andexhibition facilities, is on a 1.4 hectarebrownfield regeneration site at theconfluence of the Rivers Lea and Bow Back.The three ‘floating cloud’ towers providea strong landmark statement at the‘Gateway to Newham’. The buildingdesigns include integrated renewable andlow energy initiatives, setting exemplartargets for sustainability.New public piazzas will be defined, and anew wharf is also included in the plans.Residential town houses and gardenapartments along the riverside are integralto the character of the street context.The scheme is currently at planning stageand Atkins has been commissioned for fullinter-discipline architecturally led services.

North Riverside, Derby, UKAtkins was commissioned in association with Savills to undertake a masterplanning, viability appraisal andforward planning strategy exercise for an area of land known as North Riverside, Derby.The re-development of the North Riverside area is a key component of Derby Cityscape Limited’srevised masterplan for Derby City. The area is a currently under-used part of the city centre, which failsto contribute fully to its vibrancy. Derby Cityscape Limited therefore commissioned Atkins to developmasterplan options for the site, including a 4*/5* hotel, commercial offices, residential apartments, amulti-storey car park, retail, leisure and public realm improvements.The proposed masterplan schemes were appraised for their financial viability and recommendations fora preferred scheme provided. Market research was also undertaken for the proposed site outputs alongwith a degree of soft market testing. The results of this were used to inform both the layout and viabilityof the masterplan schemes proposed. Once a final masterplan scheme had been determined for the site,a <strong>For</strong>ward Planning and Delivery Strategy for the site was produced.

Area Action Plan,Burslem, UKAs the ‘Mother Town’ of Potteries, Burslem is rich inheritage and still retains much of the town’s originalfeatures. The town has suffered from the gradual declinein its manufacturing base and its retail core, but is nowbeginning to witness developer interest and the challengeis to ensure that new development is in keeping with thehistoric character.Working with the Local Authority and other stakeholdersour task was to deliver a masterplan and urban designaction plan for the town centre, to guide regeneration.Consultation formed a significant element of thecommission, involving extensive interaction with communitygroups (partly through a special community conference)and with stakeholders and businesses.

Kettering Masterplan, Northamptonshire, UKAtkins was commissioned by Northamptonshire Partnership to develop a masterplan for Kettering in Northamptonshire. The designprocess included the creation of a Strategic Framework for each town that determined the location of new developments andtheir use, public realm schemes and transport proposals. More detailed proposals were developed from these frameworks andformatted into development briefs that gave guidance on the mix of uses, urban form and design of individual sites. Stakeholderand community consultation formed an integral part of the masterplan process.

Town Centre Masterplan,Hinckley, UKWe led a consortium of consultants in the preparation of a masterplanto promote the renaissance of Hinckley, a market town in the EastMidlands. Our study placed Hinckley in context and examined thephysical, social and economic aspects which govern the town. Wideranging consultation was central to our work. We identified the factorsresponsible for the town’s underperformance, the existing assetswhich could be developed and exploited, as well as identifying newsources of demand. Particular focus was given to the redevelopmentof key development sites within the town centre as well as an in-depthstudy into a new leisure/cultural facility. Our aim was to develop astrategy for Hinckley town centre that would provide a welcomingimage, promote design excellence, attract new investment and createa high quality environment where people would want to live, workand visit. A wide choice of housing was proposed, varying in priceand tenure in new buildings as well as in converted hosiery factoriesand above shops. There were proposals for business premises rangingfrom small workshops to office accommodation. Under the proposalspeople would find a varied range of shops, restaurants and pubs andHinckley will be a lively and safe place with overlooked public spaces.Pedestrians and cyclists would enjoy improved accessibility to the towncentre and new leisure and cultural facilities would be an integral partof the town centre.

Area Action Plan, Matlock, UKMatlock with 11,000 residents is the largest town in the Derbyshire Dales. The townwas formerly a spa resort and is a popular destination for visitors to the Peak District.Atkins was commissioned to provide an imaginative and deliverable masterplan andArea Action Plan that will breathe new life into Matlock.The key services provided by Atkins’ integrated team, comprising planners, urbandesigners, regeneration specialists, landscape architects, heritage consultants andtransport engineers included:• masterplanning• commercial appraisal of development sites• urban design• planning• architecture• transport planning• economic development and regeneration

Whitechapel Masterplan,London, UKWe have completed the production of a masterplan for Whitechapel, in theheart of London’s East End. It focuses on revitalising the area around the popularstreet market, and includes two major development schemes - the new PFIRoyal London Hospital and the proposed Crossrail station. These projects willincrease development pressures in the area, and our brief was to produce avisionary document that would identify the unique character of the area, andoutline how this can be enhanced and incorporated in future developments.The study involved working closely with a range of stakeholders, includingTransport for London, who have their own improvement scheme for the A11Whitechapel Road, which runs through the heart of the scheme. Suggestionscovered improvements to transport, open spaces and the public realm throughoutthe study area. The document is currently undergoing a final round of publicconsultation before being adopted as SPD within the Tower Hamlets LocalDevelopment Framework.

Kidbrooke SPD,Greenwich, UKAtkins was commissioned by LB Greenwich toprepare an SPD for the Kidbrooke area. It wasto elaborate on the Area Based policies in theGreenwich UDP and develop the KidbrookeVision Masterplan to provide design guidanceto prospective development partners. Our workincluded the review and design development ofthe masterplan and the development of characterarea guidelines relating to urban form for the fourmain character areas within the development area,covering issues of built form, public realm andopen space, access and parking. The preparationof the SPD also included a sustainability appraisaland community involvement was of centralimportance throughout.

Lytham Quays, Lancashire, UKAtkins won a major international competition to design a £600m tourism and business development on the Lancashire coast. The brief wasto prepare a concept scheme for a 29 hectare brownfield site adjacent to the Ribble Estuary, with a mixed use development focusing onTourism, Culture, Environment, Business and Commercial. The proposals include a marina for 300 yachts, hotel, shops, cinema, leisure, retailand 3000 apartments, all with underground parking.

Barking Station Interchange,London Thames Gateway, UKWe are in the process of being appointed by London Thames Gateway Development Corporation to produce a major public transportgateway masterplan for the Station Quarter in Barking, including an overhaul of the station itself and analysis of opportunities afforded bythe surrounding urban block.Our multi-discipline team is joined by Grimshaw for transport architecture and Savills for property advice.

RICHARD ALVEYWoodcote GroveAshley RoadEpsomSurreyKT18 5BWEnglandTel: 01372 726140Fax: 01372 740055Email: richard.alvey@atkinsglobal.comwww.atkinsglobal.comThe Atkins logo, the open “A” device and the strapline “Plan Design Enable”are trademarks of Atkins Ltd, a WS Atkins plc company. © Atkins Ltd except where stated otherwiseThis Brochure has been printed on Hello Matt Paper. This paper is made from a sustainable wood source, produced at a mill that is certified to the ISO14001environmental management standard and is also certified to the EMAS environmental management standard.