Mar 8, 2012 - It is served by Moulsecoomb Train. Station to the east .... the 1920's and is characterised by long, .....
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Hollingdean Visual Survey
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Coursework Submission for BEM29 University of Brighton Weibing Chen Robin Hodgetts Julie Middleton Amanda Newport Louise Tucker Andy Taylor 8th March 2012
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.. .. .. . Hollingdean Visual Survey Table of Contents 1.
Introduction ................................................................ 4
1.1.
Purpose ................................................................. 4
1.2.
Methodology .......................................................... 5
1.3.
Structure of the Report ............................................ 7
2.
Hollingdean: Overview and Context ............................ 8
2.1.
Location ................................................................. 8
2.2.
Landscape and Topography ...................................... 9
2.3.
Demographics and Population ................................ 10
2.4.
Key Stakeholders .................................................. 11
3.
Biophysical Characteristics ........................................ 14
3.1.
Housing Development ........................................... 14
3.2.
Built Environment - Character Areas ....................... 15
3.3.
Social Housing ...................................................... 19
3.4.
Designations ......................................................... 20
3.5.
Public Realm ......................................................... 21
3.6.
Community Buildings............................................. 24
3.7.
Commercial Spaces ............................................... 27
3.8.
Open Space and Green Infrastructure ..................... 29
3.9.
Current and Proposed Development ....................... 42
3.10.
Environmental Quality ........................................... 43
4.
Movement and Transport ......................................... 44
4.1.
Movement ........................................................... 44
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4.2.
Transport ............................................................. 47
5.
Public Realm Safety ................................................... 50
5.1.
Traffic and road safety ........................................... 50
5.2.
Fear and perception of crime ................................. 53
6.
Analysis .................................................................... 57
7.
Drivers for Change..................................................... 69
8.
Conclusions ............................................................... 70
9.
References ................................................................ 72
.. .. .. . 1.
Introduction
1.1.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to carry out a visual survey of the Hollingdean area of Brighton in order to identify the key characteristics of this area and how they interact to form a sense of ‘place’. The rationale for the study was two-fold: •
To provide the students participating with a practical case study through which to apply theoretical knowledge and develop practical field-based visual survey skills.
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To provide information and an interpretation of the area which could be used by local community leaders and Councillors in their endeavours to bring about positive change in the area.
The student group was thus provided with an overall brief for the project and a supplementary analysis of key local urban design issues as developed by two local councillors for the area (which is contained in Appendix 1).
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1.2.
Methodology
The methodology used was designed to provide an understanding of Hollingdean as a ‘place’. In broad terms, the concept of ‘place’ is made up of three interacting elements, as shown in the diagram below (A Hards, pers comm. 2012): Physical setting – the various physical and environmental elements found there, its setting within the surrounding landscape, its climate, accessibility and so on. Activity - i.e. how it is used. Meaning - values held about a place, memories, cultural meaning and so on.
Physical Setting
Activity
Place Meaning
Figure 1: Conceptualisation of ‘place’ (Source: A Hards, 2012, personal communication)
In addition, the future of a place is influenced by various ‘drivers for change’, some of which may come from within the area whilst some of which come from external sources, policies and trends. Thus, the methodology for this study fell into three strands: •
Understanding the community, its use of the area, its values, perceptions and concerns.
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Understanding the various bio-physical1 characteristics of the area and how these contribute to its visual appearance and function.
•
Developing a greater understanding of the planning and development context of the area and the various trends, influences and initiatives which may be acting (or could act in the future) as drivers of change.
Understanding the community, its use of the area and key issues of concern The group carried out initial desk based research to gather an understanding of the area, activities taking place there, main facilities and so on. Main sources of information included community newsletters and documents from the local authority2. A meeting was also held with Ms Liz Lee, Community Development Officer for Hollingdean who is based in the Community Centre. Ms Lee provided us with the results of a recent survey of residents and information on activities and perceptions of the area held by local people. One of our group was a resident of the area, while another lived just outside Hollingdean to the south. This local knowledge supplemented our other research and furthered our understanding of the community, its initiatives and perceptions of residents. Carrying out a visual survey of the bio-physical characteristics of the area This was done by walking the area in small groups in order to understand: •
The structure of the place – its main biophysical components and how they related to each other.
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Key landmarks or places of importance in the area, both in terms of visual impact and function.
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How the place was used by people and for what purpose.
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Movement through the area (pedestrian and vehicle).
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Our own perceptions and ‘responses’ to the area.
Photographs were taken of places and features of interest. responses to the area were noted.
1 2
Observations and personal
By this we mean both the built environment and the natural environment and green infrastructure of the area Brighton and Hove City Council.
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These walkabouts took place at different times of day and on different days of the week across a three week time period. Specific visits were made at weekends to observe use of the area in key community and recreational spaces. Developing a greater understanding of the planning and development context of the area Desk based research was carried out to identify broader policies and initiatives emerging from Brighton and Hove City Council relating to the area. Telephone conservations were also held with the following to identify uses, initiatives and influences on Hollingdean from the surrounding area: • •
1.3.
Mark Hayward, Ranger Service, South Downs National Park Follow up conversation with Liz Lee
Structure of the Report
The findings of this study are presented within this document as follows: Section 2 provides a brief overview of Hollingdean, its location, history, demographics, socioeconomic characteristics and key stakeholders. Section 3 then provides a more detailed description and analysis of its biophysical features, i.e. the main elements of its built and natural environment which influence its appearance and function as a place. Section 4 analyses movement through Hollingdean in terms of primary routes for pedestrians and vehicles, reasons for movement, boundaries, issues of permeability and/or barriers to movement and current transport provision. Section 5 identifies aspects of public realm safety within the area. Section 6 provides an analysis of key issues within the area and drivers for change. Section 7 concludes the study by providing some recommendations for future urban design interventions.
.. .. .. . 2. Hollingdean: Overview and Context 2.1.
Location
Hollingdean is a residential suburb of Brighton and Hove, which lies on the south-east coast of England, almost directly due south of London. Lying approximately 2km to the north-east of the city centre it is formed of the land that lies between two major arterial routes: Ditchling Road to the west and Lewes Road (A270) to the east. The Hollingbury Golf Club, which is included within the boundary of the South Downs National Park, forms its northern boundary and the Hollingdean Waste Transfer Station and railway borders to the south.
Figure 2: Location of Hollingdean within Brighton (Source: Brighton & Hove City Council, 2009)
It is served by Moulsecoomb Train Station to the east and a limited bus service. Hollingdean lies within the Hollingbury and Stanmer Electoral Ward.
Figure 3: Map showing the boundaries of the Hollingbury and Stanmer Ward of Brighton and Hove. (Source: Brighton & Hove City Council) 8
2.2.
Landscape and Topography
Like much of Brighton and Hove, Hollingdean is built on a hill giving it a significant amount of slopes and valleys. Figure 4 shows the land-form profile of the surrounding area with Hollingdean’s built environment signified approximately by the area outlined in blue.
Figure 4: Topography of Hollingdean and surrounding area (Source: Brighton and Hove City Council)
The area generally slopes downwards from north to south with the central north-south line forming a ridge. The land also slopes away from the central ridge to the east and west giving the area a distinctive topographical layout. While this elevated nature of the area provides excellent views and aspects for many of the properties it also comes with inherent problems. For example, if properties are built too close together the possibility of overlooking and loss of light become problematic. This is particularly true of the council housing flats in the east of Hollingdean. This appears to have been overcome, to a degree, by significant separation of the blocks.
Plate 2: Open space between flats Plate 1: View from Uplands Road (Source: A Newport, 2012)
(Source: R Hogetts, 2012)
.. .. .. . 2.3.
Demographics and Population
The population as of the 2001 Census was 7,904 of which 51.8% were female and 48.2% male. This is roughly analogous with the rest of Brighton and Hove. Hollingdean appears to be historically a largely white, working class area that is becoming infiltrated by young, professional middle-class urbanites, typically not originally from Brighton and Hove. It is 94.3% white (90.9% national average) and 63.2% Christian indicating a largely conservative, traditional residential suburb. There are some statistics that do stand out as unusual and outside the national average. It has a significantly higher percentage of young, single people than the national average, especially in the 20 to 29 age bracket. This is probably because of the large student population of the area with 12.4% of the population comprising students. This is considerably greater than the national average of 7.3%. Other significant statistics are the high proportion of single parent families, 8.8% (6.5% national average) and council housing, 22.7% (13.2% national average). The high proportion of students is of particular interest to this study. As a demographic, students tend to live in relatively poor condition housing and are unlikely to spend money on the local economy, preferring to travel to the city centre for their entertainment. It can also lead to the fairly recent phenomenon of mass clusters of student housing which can, in turn lead to specific challenges for the area. The first of these is that with students often, but not always, comes a degree of antisocial behaviour. This is usually not malicious but can lead to noise nuisance and other associated problems. The difficulty with this is that it is not something that planning can really address and depends largely on the individuals involved. The second issue, which is something that town planning can and has addressed, is that where these clusters of student housing exist often become empty ghost streets during the summer months when the students are not at university but have usually travelled back to their parents’. This has lead to a change in the Use Class Order, with a new class of property specifically designed with student houses in mind: C4 – the small HMO (House in Multiple Occupation). Although currently there is a permitted change of use between C3 (residential house) and C4 this can be restricted by local authorities if they feel that student “ghettos” are jeopardising the character and vitality of an area. By restricting this permitted change planning permission would be required to turn a family home into a student house and this would allow much greater control for the Council. Brighton and Hove City Council are currently exploring this but have not yet implemented it.
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2.4.
Key Stakeholders
There are many important stakeholders within Hollingdean, both internal and external to the community. These are shown in Figure 5.
Government Community Skills and Learning
South Downs National Park
Sussex Police Active for Life City Clean
B&H City Council Sussex Community
City Parks Dept
Foundation
Community Primary Care Trust
Local Action Team
(HNF) Hollingdean Development Friends of Burstead Wood Trust
Trust for Developing Communities
Schools
Allotments Group
Residents
Tenants Association
Residents Action Group
St Richard’s Church
Community Spaces Hollingdean News
(Lottery)
Hollingdean Skaters Coachwerks
Local Shop Keepers
Brighton and Hove 10:10
Other University of Brighton
Novas Scarman Healthy Neighbourhood Funding
Funding & Support
Figure 5: Key Stakeholders in Hollingdean (Source of Information Liz Lee Personal Communication, 2012)
Hollingdean benefits from a very active set of community based organisations and groups which strive for community development, improved cohesion and funding for the area. The Hollingdean Development Trust and the Trust for Developing Communities recently carried out a survey of residents in Hollingdean in order to find out what people think about living in the area. It was a fairly broad survey, concerned with identifying general levels of satisfaction and the key problems, safety concerns and elements of the area they would like to improve.
.. .. .. . Of 3000 questionnaires distributed, there were 199 replies from residents. This was therefore a fairly small sample but its results are considered useful nonetheless (Pers Comm. Liz Lee, 2012). Tables 1 & 2 outline the key findings of the survey. Table 1: Broad levels of satisfaction Question Result Overall satisfaction with the 29% very satisfied area 55% Fairly satisfied 3% very satisfies Favourite things about living 30% Location in Hollingdean 27% Transport 26% Environment 13% People 11% Facilities Least Favourite things in 44% Environment Hollingdean 19% Transport/ Traffic 15% Safety/ ASB 12 % Housing 9% Facilities Table 2: Key issues by category (with top two responses shown in descending order) Category Favourite Least Favourite Things to improve Things Things Environment 1. Open Space 1. Litter 1. More Trees and access to 2. Dog Mess 2. Planting at the Dip Downs 2. Park Location 1. Close to No Data No Data Town 2. Quiet Transport 1. Good Bus 1. Traffic Speed 1. Traffic Speed Service 2. Buses =2. More Buses/ Better 2. Good Parking spaced =2. Reduce Traffic =2. Speed Bumps Facilities 1. Handy Shops 1. Greengrocers 1. More activities in the and PO 2. No Bakers park 2. Community 2. More for young Centre people People
1. Neighbours 2. Community
No Data
No Data
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Category
Favourite Things No Data
Least Favourite Things to improve Things Safety/ ASB 1. Late night =1. More Police revellers =1. Noise of Bikes 2. Noisy neighbours Housing No Data 1. Student Houses 1. Less Student Houses =2. Multi-occupancy 2. Houses Painted =2. Paint Peeling on houses (Source: Hollingdean Community Questionnaire 2011, Results)
In terms of urban design, the question related to what people would like to see improved in their local environment is of interest. The ‘word cloud’ below identifies that the two ideas with most support are: • Planting of more trees • Planting at ‘The Dip’.
Figure 6: Word Cloud showing relative frequency of responses to question of what people would like to see improved in the Hollingdean environment (Source: J Middleton 2012 via tagcrowd.com).
.. .. .. . 3. Biophysical Characteristics 3.1.
Housing Development The area appears to have been constructed predominantly in two waves of house building that are typified by the layout of the street and design of the properties. The first wave appears in the west of the area adjacent to Ditchling Road. This housing development was largely constructed in the 1920’s and is characterised by long, straight terraces of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom houses on a grid-like pattern of streets. The second wave of house building occurred largely in the post-war era of the 1950’s and constituted a significant push to provide council housing for lower income workers. This has a very different character and vernacular to the terraces that came before World War 2. The streets are less grid-like in their layout and often comprise shared-space areas, presumably to encourage community activities.
Figure 7: Plan showing the two predominant styles. 1920’s edged in red to the west and 1950’s in green to the east
There were also a number of blocks of flats built in this period which was common in town planning at the time, influenced by the modernist movement of Le Corbusier and Van der Roew.
Plate 3: 1920’s housing (Source: R. Hodgetts, 2012)
Plate 4 1950’s council flats. (Source: R Hodgetts,2012)
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3.2.
Built Environment - Character Areas
The Urban Characterisation Study of Brighton published in 2009, identified four distinct ‘character areas’ in Hollingdean, which broadly mirror the historical pattern of development of the area. Thus one includes the majority of Edwardian housing developed in the 1920s (West Hollingdean) while another includes the later public housing projects of the 1950s to the east of the suburb. This study also identifies two additional areas to the north and east of Hollingdean which are slightly different in their date and type of housing, opens space and proximity to open space and green areas. Box 1 contains the description of the four character areas, while Figure 8 identifies their location within Hollingdean. Box 1: Summary of Character Areas of Hollingdean. 1. Lower Hollingdean: A small mixed area of industrial uses, a school and high rise housing. Lacking coherent character. 2. Crestway: A typical low density 1970s residential development in suburban street pattern, based upon cul-de-sacs of two storey houses accessed from a radial road of houses and three storey blocks of flats. 3. Upper Hollingdean: An early 20th century, medium density residential development of two storey terraced housing on a regular street pattern. A coherent area with a sense of place. 4. Brentwood & Lynchet: A mixed urban fringe area without cohesion, including very low density late 20th century housing, schools, allotments and a business centre. (Source B&HCC 2009)
Figure 8: Character Areas of Hollingdean (B&HCC 2009)
.. .. .. . In our investigation of Hollingdean’s urban character a specific detailed study was undertaken to produce a deeper set of results than the general ‘2 periods’ of construction and broad character areas. Figure 9 shows the camera path taken. Mapping of the period of construction of houses is shown in Figure 10. Help in analysis of the properties was aided through contact at a local surveying agency. Figure 10 identifies that while the older housing in western Hollingdean could roughly be considered to have been developed in one phase, it is in fact made up of housing from several time periods, which is also reflected in their different architectural styles. The western area, either side of Hollingdean road was constructed between 1910-20, with expansive terraced streets. A number of the properties in the northern area of Hollingdean are amongst the oldest in the area, many of the renovated properties built in flint wall construction. There is a strong Edwardian building presence in the area (1901-10) and a large amount of the housing constructed in the period preceding WW1. Similar to most of the England, building ceased in the area during the WW2 era, with a large number of the properties in East Hollingdean built from 1945-60. Following this period is significant amount of the properties (in the main regions) can be seen to the northern and eastern areas, in addition to the high rise towers (dated in the 70’s).
Plate 5 & 6 (above) Different period of housing found on Roedale Road. Figure 9(left): Camera route taken during observation of building types and ages (Source: EDINA Digimap, ed. A Taylor)
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Figure 10: Period of construction of housing in Hollingdean. Source: EDINA Digimap, ed. A Taylor)
.. .. .. . A detailed examination was carried out on one road (Roedale Road), which demonstrates several types and ages of housing. This is shown in Box 2 below and helps to illustrate the variety and mix of house styles found in this area. Box 2: Detailed study of housing types and construction periods in Roedale Road, Hollindean (Source: A Taylor 2012)
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3.3.
Social Housing
As noted above, this is located in the east of Hollingdean. The relatively high amount of social housing does have an impact on the character and appearance of the area. Areas of low ownership tend to be in a worse physical condition than other areas. It is only natural that ownership encourages a greater sense of pride in your property. Council money is in relatively short supply although the recently elected Green Party Council (the first in the country) has undergone a considerable program of council house improvements including provision of solar panels and other renewables. Figure 11 (right) : Map showing all land and property that is Council owned in yellow and that was previously owned but sold by the Council in green
Plate 7 & 8 Social housing blocks in eastern part of Hollingdean (Source J Middleton, 2012)
.. .. .. . 3.4.
Designations There are no designated areas within Hollingdean. However, there are two adjacent conservation areas (Preston Park and Roundhill) to the west and south of Hollingdean. The South Downs National Park also sits to the immediate north of Hollingdean. The full implications of this new designation on the area are not yet known, but it is likely that it will ensure the protection of the open areas to the north of the area into the future and may provide some opportunities for the development of Hollingdean as a ‘gateway’ to the Park.
Figure 12 Designation adjacent to Hollingdean. Conservation Areas (Preston Park and Roundhill) in yellow and the edge of the South Downs National Park (SDNP) in pink. (Source: Brighton & Hove City Council (2012))
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3.5.
Public Realm
The following features make up the detail of the public realm within Hollingdean: Street Furniture Observation identified only 2 public benches found on streets within Hollingdean, both of which are beside bus stops in the east of the suburb. There are some seating facilities within bus shelters in addition to these. It is notable that no seating is provided as a focus for green spaces or for experiencing the views of the city from the area. Those provided are standard green metal (installed with function rather than appearance in mind). Plate 9. Street Furniture adjacent to bus stop on The Crossway (Source: J. Middleton, 2012)
Street Lighting The design of lampposts differs between the older Edwardian terraced area to the west of Hollingdean, and the newer estates to the north and east. Those in the west are of an ornate/period design which is in keeping with the architecture of the terraced streets. These lampposts are a distinctive feature of these streets and make a positive contribution to their character.
Plate 10: Period lamppost on Roedale Road (Source: J. Middleton, 2012)
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Those elsewhere within Hollingdean are of a standard modern and unembellished design which are functional rather than ornate. They add little to the character of these areas and are in stark contrast to the more ornate period lampposts to the west.
Plate 11 Modern lamppost on Barrow Hill (Source W.Chen, 2012)
Street Signs There is nothing distinctive about signage provision in Hollingdean. Standard street signs and road signs are present although it is noticeable that there are few route-marking signs or directional signs locating community facilities within the area. There are also no signs marking the boundaries of the area and as such it is not distinguished from surrounding areas in this regard. Pavement Surfaces Pavement surfaces are predominantly tarmac, paving or a mixture of both. Where one is chosen over the other, it is not obvious as to whether this has been done with a specific purpose in mind. Similarly, where the two surfacing types are used together this may have had an initial design or reason in mind. However, over time subsequent phases of work have resulted in a mixture of surfaces which appear messy and reduce the visual quality of the pedestrian surfaces. The street approaching the Dip (see Plate 12 below) is an example of such a mixture of surfaces.
Plate 12 (left) Tarmac pavement, Stanmer Villas & Plate 13 ( right) Mixture of tarmac and paving on pavements at the Dip (source J Middleton 2012).
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Street Trees The west of the area characterised by Edwardian terraced housing is completely devoid of street trees. These houses also tend to have small front green areas and the overall result is a very hard/ non-green urban experience. The exception is those areas which sit adjacent to the strips of woodland to the north and west of Hollingdean. This compares with the much greater ‘greener’ appearance of the eastern part of the area, although this is due to higher amounts of amenity greenspace and larger front gardens. Street trees are also very limited in the east although there are some trees scattered along the northerly end of The Crestway and new trees have been planted in the open area at the bottom of Davey Drive/ Upper Hollingbury Road. There is strong support from within the community, particularly in those streets in the west of the area, for more tree-planting in Hollingdean. Residents of Roedale Road and Hollingdean Terrace have recently requested surveys to identify suitable locations for street trees although no planting has yet taken place3.
Plate 14 (above) Stanmer Park Road (no street trees) (Source J Middleton, 2012) Plate 15 (right) Tree planting in grass area, Davey Drive (SourceJ. Middleton, 2012)
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Personal Communication, Liz Lee, March 2012
.. .. .. . 3.6.
Community Buildings
There are several community facilities and spaces which support a diverse range of support services and community led activities and events. In general terms, the community is well catered for in this regard and the facilities are well used. However, most are located to the north and east of the area and their pattern of use reflects this. For example, the community centre on Thompson Road is most well used by residents from the immediate vicinity4. Schools There are three schools within Hollingdean: • Hertford Infant School & Nursery • Hertford Junior School • St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School. Their location is shown in Figure 13. In addition, the Cedar Centre, located on Lynchet Close, provides special needs education. There are no secondary schools in the area so older children travel to adjacent areas, such as Hollingbury, to attend school. Figure 13 Map showing the locations of the schools in Hollingdean. 1 & 2: Hertford Junior 3: Hertford Infant and Nursery 4: St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School (Source: Brighton and Hove City Council)
Plate 16 Hertford Infant School (Source: J Middleton, 2012) 4
Plate 17 Hertford Junior Schoo (Source: A Newport, 2012)
Personal Communication, Liz Lee, March 2012
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Community Centre
Plate 18 Hollingdean Community Centre Source: http://hollingdeancommunitycentre.org.uk/photo-galleries/
This is a small, brick building containing a main hall and office accommodation. It is supported by the Hollingdean Development Trust and provides a focus for a vibrant community development team which sets up arts and health based activities, supports community groups and development projects and events. Children’s Centre/ Sure Start Centre This modern landmark building is located on Brentwood Road, at the northern edge of Hollingdean. The Centre offers services for families with children under five from Hollingdean and adjacent areas. Services include Cherry Tree Nursery , health visitors, community nursery nurse and speech therapists. Group activities are also held in the children's centres which also contains a café, which is open from Monday to Friday and is popular with parents. Plate 19: Children’s Centre, Hollingdean (Source: J Middleton, 2012)
Citygate @The Dip This building is located on Roedale Road, just off The Dip. It is a modern building which is available for use by community groups and is used for a diverse range of activities. Plate 20 Citygate@The Dip (Source J Middleton, 2012)
.. .. .. . Coachwerks This provides studio space which is available for hire and is used on occasion by community based groups. St Richard’s Church, The Crossway This Anglican Church is located on The Crossway and in addition to Christian Services, it provides a venue for group activities and events.
Plate21 St Richard’s Anglican Church, The Crossway. (Source J Middleton,2012)
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3.7.
Commercial Spaces
There are two small, local shopping parades within Hollingdean. “The Dip” is located on Hollingbury Place in the geographical centre of the area and consists of just 14 units. A number of these appear to be empty or have been converted to other uses and it is not clear if this parade can survive in its current state. More imaginative uses for the buildings may need to be found in order to reduce the risk of losing the parade completely.
Plate 22 Hollingbury Place (“The Dip”) (Source R Hodgetts, 2012)
Key: Red: A1 retail Yellow: A2 financial services Blue: A3 cafe/restaurant Purple: A4 drinking establishment Green: A5 hot food takeaway Figure 14 Retail offering within The Dip (Brighton and Hove City Council)
Plate 23 Shops at the Crestway (Source: R Hodgetts, 2012)
There is also a very small parade of 4 units (only 2 remain open) to the east of the area on The Crestway (see Plate 23).
.. .. .. . A more extensive range of shops and services are provides on the western boundary of Hollingdean – along Ditchling Road. These are within 10 minutes walking distance of the streets in the north/ west of Hollingdean. Key: Red: A1 retail Yellow: A2 financial services Blue: A3 cafe/restaurant Purple: A4 drinking establishment Green: A5 hot food takeaway
Figure 15: Retail Provision, Ditchling Road. (Source: Brighton and Hove City Council)
The closest large supermarket is on Lewes Road (Sainsbury’s) approximately 10 minutes walking distance from Upper Hollingbury Road.
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3.8.
Open Space and Green Infrastructure
There is a variety of open space found within Hollingdean or on its immediate periphery with the following ‘types’5 represented. Typology Parks and Gardens Natural and Semi natural greenspaces Green corridors Outdoor sports facilities (including those with hard surfaces) Amenity greenspace Provision for children and teenagers Allotments and community gardens Cemeteries & churchyards Accessible countryside at urban fringe areas Civic spaces, including market squares and other hard surfaced areas designed for pedestrians
Present? ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺ x
It is notable that there is virtually no open civic space within Hollingdean which is hard surfaced (such as a market square or large paved area). Any public spaces of significant size are ‘green’ in nature and provide some sort of environmental as well as social benefits in the community. It can therefore also be categorised as ‘green infrastructure’ 6. The presence and spatial distribution of green infrastructure adjacent to and within Hollingdean is a significant feature of the area and are shown in Figure 16 overleaf.
5 6
This typology is taken from PPG 17 Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation For definition see http://www.greeninfrastructure.net/content/definition-green-infrastructure).
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Figure 16 Hollingdean’s green infrastructure (Source: EDINA Digimap, ed. A Taylor)
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The majority of the open/green space in Hollingdean is located along its northern and eastern edges and within its eastern ‘estate’ developments. The areas of older Edwardian terraces are relatively bereft of green space, with quick access to such spaces restricted to their own small garden areas or requiring up to a 10 minute walk to the woodland and open spaces to the north of the suburb (B&HCC 2009). All open space is within recommended ‘Accessibility standards’ in terms of walking distance (see table 3 below), although this does not factor in the steep south-north slope within Hollingdean which may be a real barrier to access of the open spaces at the north of the suburb by less mobile residents. The circular one-way bus route round the suburb also dissuades some residents from the lower areas using the park as they can access this by bus but then cannot get home again by bus quickly or easily7. Table 3. Standards for compliance with best practice (B&HCC 2008) Accessibility Standard Parks and Gardens 15 mins walking distance Natural and semi-natural 15 mins walking distance space Amenity Green Space 10 mins walking distance Outdoor Sports Facilities 20 mins walking distance Allotments 15 mins walking distance Of great significance to the area is the large area of protected green, open space along its northern boundary which provides opportunities for informal recreation. This is now within the South Downs National Park and thus will remain a protected open space into the future. The National Park Authority has not yet completed its Management Plan for this area but is in the process of doing so and will be working with Brighton and Hove City Council to address all management issues relevant to this area. Its priorities to date include improving the quality of access points, improving the quality of such urban fringe areas (e.g. by reducing fly tipping etc.) and improving the view of the urban edge from within the National Park. It is thus interested in how the urban edge appears when ‘looking in’ to the city and will set out to try to soften this hard edge through sympathetic planting schemes (pers. Comm. Mark Hayward, South Downs National Park, 2012). As well as the large areas of green space on the edge of Hollingdean, the suburb does contain areas of beneficial green space although these are relatively small and of poor ecological and amenity value at present. Most obvious is the network of small green spaces and corridors in and around the 1950s houses and flats in the east. Interestingly, these spaces tend to run up
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Personal Communication, Community Development Officer, March 2012.
.. .. .. . and down the slope within the suburb and where they exist, they provide some visual and landscape ‘connectivity’ in this north/south direction. It is notable that there is no green connectivity across the slope within Hollingdean and that this east-west connectivity happens only at the north of the area where the golf course and National Park converge in one large expanse of open green space. This is one of the many reasons why this expanse of green space to the north is of such significance to the area. Many of the larger green spaces within Hollingdean, including the areas of amenity green space between and around the flats in the east, have been included in the Green Network for Brighton and Hove as ‘connecting zones’ (SWT 2009). Thus, whilst they may currently have limited ecological value, the importance of their presence has been noticed as has their potential for enhancement for this function: “Connection Zone: areas linking core areas and ecological development areas where urban greening and habitat creation is a priority. These zones might incorporate sections of urban roads, housing and industrial estates where biodiversity enhancements could be undertaken, e.g. tree planting, green verge creation, widening and planting, traffic control and creation of ‘home zones’ and incentives to enhance private gardens. Connection zones might also include spaces or parts of spaces with other primary uses such as public parks and school grounds”. (SWT 2009, p5).
An analysis of the various components of the open space in Hollingdean is provided below.
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Parks and Gardens Hollingdean Park on Brentwood Road. This moderate sized park is the only significant park within Hollingdean and contains open green space, a football pitch (for community use) and a children’s play area. A new skate park is soon to be developed within the park which may increase its appeal to a wider age group. It is situated beside the popular Children’s Centre and is well used by residents. It is within a 10 minute walk of most residents of the area although its location on the very northern edge of the area, at the top of the slope may limit its use by less mobile residents or those with a long walk with a baby buggy.
Plate 24: Playpark within Hollingdean Park (Source: J Middleton, 2012-03-05)
There are no public toilets at the park, although park users are welcome to use the facilities in the adjacent Children’s Centre. However, this centre is not currently open at weekends and there are calls from resident’s groups to extend the opening hours of its café in particular to weekends, to provide both café and toilet facilities for park users and make the park a more attractive location at this time of the week. Natural and Semi Natural Green Spaces Large area of open grassland on the northern urban edge. This is part of the extensive area of the South Downs National Park and is used for walking and dog walking by residents and visitors to the area. This is a very important natural asset on the edge of Hollingdean providing not just opportunities for recreational activity but spectacular views and pockets of woodland and grassland with biodiversity value. Its designation within the National Park means it will remain a protected area of open, green space for years to come – and one which will be proactively managed for both biodiversity and public access. Hollingbury Golf Course also sits to the north of the urban area and as well as a venue for golf, it also provides opportunities for walking and is part of a circular walking route which includes Hollingdean.
.. .. .. .
Plates 25 & 26 Views from the open area on the northern urban fringe around Hollingdean (Source: J Middleton, 2012)
Hollingbury and Burstead Woods This small area of well managed urban woodland lies along the north west edge of the area and is well used as a pedestrian route through route to schools, shops and services in adjacent ‘Five ways’ and Ditchling Road. It has a publicized walking trail suitable for buggies, wheelchairs and those with restricted mobility and is used as a route by the Hollingdean “ Fit for Life” walking group. It is managed by a well organised local group and makes an important contribution to local biodiversity.
Plate 27 (above) Easy access surface and railings through Hollingbury Woods (Source: J Middleton, 2012) Plate 28 (right)Attractive glade within Hollingbury Woods(Source: J Middleton, 2012)
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Plate 29: Entrance to Hollingbury Woods from Ditchling Road, showing the notice board providing details of routes and features of the wood.
Green Corridors The woodlands above also act as semi-natural green corridors in the area, as do the Roedale Valley allotments and areas of green amenity space in the east of Hollingdean (see below). Also important in this regard is the linear area of grass/scrub which runs along the railway line along the eastern boundary of Hollingdean. Although not accessible to the public, this green corridor is an important for local biodiversity and wildlife linkages and is part of the green network for the city. It is adjacent to several allotment areas and areas of unmanaged scrub/woodland which increases its connectivity and thus value for biodiversity. It is notable that most of these corridors work in a north/south orientation with none crossing Hollingdean from west-east. Outdoor Sports Facilities Hollingdean Park contains one football field (already noted). Hertford Junior school at the north/eastern edge of Hollingdean also has a grass football field which abuts onto the open grassland area of the National Park. The other schools in the area have smaller areas for sport within their boundary. Hollingbury park to the west of Hollingdean contains both tennis courts and bowling greens. Amenity Green Space There is significant amenity green space in the east of Hollingdean located around blocks of flats, on street corners and along grass verges. This is uniform, mown grassland and thus while it does soften the urban appearance of this area it is not currently a valuable ecological resource or a well used or attractive amenity space. Some of this space is used as outdoor drying space for the flats but no other features or infrastructure which would encourage its use is present in these areas (such as seating, landscaping or planting).
.. .. .. .
Plate 30 (above) Drying space between flats (Stephens Road) (Source J Middleton, 2012) Plate 31 (top right) : Wide grass verges in Stephens Road (Source: J Middleton, 2012) Plate 32 (bottom right) Amenity Green Space between flats (Source: R Hodgetts, 2012)
One notable exception is a small area of amenity green space around the flats in Tavistock Drive. The community in this area requested assistance from the Community Centre for the development of a small play area for the children and this addition to the space has now been provided and is well used, as shown in Plate 33 below.
Plate 33 New children’s play area in amenity space, Tavistock Drive (W. Chen, 2012)
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Some tree planting has also been done at the large corner area on Davey Drive/ Upper Hollingdean Road as an attempt to diversify the appearance and interest of this area, which is used by many pedestrians walking from Hollingdean through to Lewes Road and the Sainsbury’s store. In the Brentwood and Lynchet area of Hollingdean, there is some higher quality amenity green space where areas between buildings have been planted with trees and more actively landscaped around buildings and new development placed sympathetically within its natural surroundings. This area also benefits from a visual point of view by being adjacent to areas of woodland and open space. Plate 34 (left) Flats at Burstead Close with mature trees retained around development Plate 35 (below) Houses on Golf Terrace located in and along the woodland edge to the north west of Hollingdean
Provision for Children and Teenagers Hollingdean Park provides the main play area for young children and will soon be the location of a new skate park for older children, following its movement from a more isolated location further to the north of the play park. This move was requested by local teenagers given their concern over its isolation and this impact on their safety and has been funded by the Hollingbury Development Trust. The play area is well used, although local parents do find it frustrating that the play area is not visible from the café space in the adjacent Children’s Centre. As a result older children are not
.. .. .. . encouraged to explore and play in the park on their own as they are out of sight of their parents. Plans to change the landscaping between the park and the café have been suggested but no action has yet been taken on this point. Older children when interviewed as part of the recent survey of residents, also found the play area ‘boring’ and lacking in sufficient risk. Thus it is not well used by children of junior primary age (8-11 years old)8. A small play area specifically for very small children is located outside the Children’s Centre, adjacent to the larger play area at the park. This is within clear sight of parents within the centre. The development of another new small outdoor play facility at Tavistock Drive was noted above. Again, this was developed at the request of local residents. Otherwise, there are few outdoor places within Hollingdean which contain facilities specifically for children and teenagers.
Plate 36 (left)) Playpark at the Children’s Centre and adjacent play area at Hollingdean Park (Source: R Hodgetts, 2012) Plate 37 (right) Existing Skate park, soon to be removed and redeveloped as a car park. New skateboard facilities will be developed within the nearby Hollingdean Park (Source: J.Middleton)
Allotments and community gardens The Hollingdean area is very well provided for in terms of allotments, with 4 areas located within or immediately adjacent to the area.
8
Personal communication, Liz Lee, 2012.
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The Roedale Valley allotment site is the largest of these and has over 200 plots within it, which stretch along the narrow valley to the north west of Hollingdean. There are other smaller sites to the north of Brentwood Road, to the east of Thompson Road (adjacent to the railway corridor) and to the north east of Hollindean adjacent to Moulscoomb station. These provide an important social function, bringing people together from within Hollingdean and adjacent areas. They also provide important ecosystem functions, particularly as corridors and locations for biodiversity. As for other green areas, all allotments are located either to the north or east of Hollingdean, leaving residents in the south and west less well served with allotments within their close proximity.
Plate 38 and Plate 39: Views into Allotments in Roedale Valley (left) and Brentwood Road (right). (Source J Middleton, 2012).
Cemeteries & churchyards There is only one small cemetery in Hollingdean, located to the south of Upper Hollingdean Road. This is a Jewish cemetery of historical interest but its small size makes it of little interest in terms of green infrastructure. Accessible countryside at urban fringe areas The large areas of open grassland, pockets of woodland and golf course located on the boundary of Hollingdean are a significant feature of this area. They provide opportunities for recreation for residents and visitors provide spectacular views over Brighton and surrounding areas. There are three possible ‘gateways’ to these areas. These are shown on Figure 17 (overleaf). • • •
Pathway (served with a small car park) above the park on Brentwood Road. This provides access directly onto a large expanse of grassland and is very popular with dog walkers A small footpath from Moulsecoomb station, north to woodland and open grassland and the adjacent ‘Wild Park’ (a local nature reserve accessed primarily from Lewes Road) From Ditchling Road/ Hollingbury Park – from which access is possible to Hollingbury Woods and paths across Hollingbury Golf Course.
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Hollingbury Park sits at this north west corner and provides access from Ditchling Road into the National Park
Main pedestrian access point to the National Park in Hollingdean. Small car park is located at the start of a short path into the grassland area.
It is possible to walk up into the open areas from Moulscoomb station, although this path is not obvious at present.
Pedestrian access to Hollingbury Woods
Figure 17 Location of main access points from Hollingdean to the adjacent open spaces within the South Downs National Park (Source: EDINA Digimap, ed. A Taylor)
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As noted above, this area lies within the South Downs National Park. The Ranger Services for the National Park and Brighton and Hove City Council are working together to identify future management needs of these areas. Whilst already important for landscape and local biodiversity, it is possible that more could be done to improve the quality of the grassland immediately behind the junior school. The National Park Authority is examining the option of establishing new woodland planting in this area in order to make a positive contribution to its attractiveness as well as softening the urban edge with the park (Personal Communication, Mark Hayward, SDNP, 2012). Other Derelict Land A gap site at ‘The Linkway’ which was formerly a day centre for the blind. This was demolished to make way for a residential care facility for the elderly. Building has not yet started on this new development and the site remains empty, gated and secured. However, a significant number of large, mature deciduous trees have been retained around the perimeter of the site and are some of the few mature trees in Hollingdean.
Plate 40 Vacant site at The Linkway (Source J Middleton, 2012)
The Twitten This narrow unsurfaced alleyway runs between Hollingdean Terrace and Roedale Road. It is accessed through several sets of steps between houses and has a generally uncared for appearance and feel. This area is one of the lowest in Hollingdean in terms of topography and is subject to flooding during periods of prolonged rainfall. Green Roofs This is a planned project being designed by the Community Development Officer, to develop living green roofs on the disused bins sheds for the council flats, starting with those on Horton Road. To develop these roofs, vegetation is planted on a waterproof membrane on the roof of the building as a proactive way of expanding green infrastructure in the area. Plate 41 Access route to the Twitten off Hollingbury Terrace (Source: Julie Middleton, 2012)
.. .. .. . 3.9.
Current and Proposed Development
Plate 42 & 43 Bursted Close development & The LInkway (Source: W. Chen, 2012)
A substantial redevelopment is currently being carried out in the cul-de-sac of Bursted Close, in north west Hollingdean. This was the site of a large residential house which had been converted into a care home. This was demolished to make way for this five story building which will be made up of residential flats. This had created some concern among current residents in the area who are worried about increased traffic and parking issues. There are also plans for a substantial redevelopment of land on the Linkway, as already noted above (see derelict land).
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3.10. Environmental Quality Litter and fly tipping One incident of fly tipping was noted during the survey period, within the allotment car park to the north of Brentwood Road. The Twitten, between Hollingbury Terrace and Roedale Road, also seems to be targeted for fly tipping/ littering.
Plate 44: Fly tipping within the allotment car park, Brentwood Road (Source: J Middleton, 2012)
Plate 45: Litter dumped in the Twitten (Source: J Middleton, 2012)
Dog waste Bins Overflowing dog waste bins appears to be a specific problem at the main path from Brentwood Road onto the Downland to the north of the area. The state of these bins was noted on three separate occasions, and on two of these the bins provided were full and overflowing.
Air Quality and Noise There may be intermittent issues along areas of Upper Hollingbury Road close to the Waste Transfer Station, although measures are taken by this facility to minimise such impacts.
Plate 46: Dog waste bin north of Brentwood Road (Source: J Middleton, 2012)
.. .. .. . 4. Movement and Transport 4.1.
Movement
The Brighton suburb of Hollingdean is defined by its boundaries. With the South Downs National Park to the north, entrances to Hollingdean from the Park are mostly limited to walking trails. On the western boundary, which is made up of Ditchling Road, there are only three streets leading into Hollingdean. The area’s southern and eastern boundaries are created by the railway line. As a pedestrian, Hollingdean can be reached by crossing the bridge over the railway at Moulsecoomb station, or by going through the railway tunnel on Upper Hollingdean Road. However, by car this boundary can only be passed via the railway tunnel. Despite the fact that Hollingdean is only a short distance from central Brighton, the area is somewhat isolated by its transport layout. Hollingdean also has boundaries within its borders. As has been previously explained, Hollingdean is divided into east and west by a variety of factors. One of these factors is the road system. The Dip and the Crossway form the only tenuous link between the two halves of the suburb. Whereas western Hollingdean is relatively permeable due to its grid system of roads, eastern Hollingdean is full of dead ends and cul-de-sacs which severely impede movement and legibility of the area. The east’s curvy roads and cul-de-sacs make it very difficult to create a mental map when wandering or driving through the area. One could easily get lost here, as many houses and blocks of flats look similar. Pedestrian movement and access One of the intrinsic problems in Hollingdean is the steep slope upon which it resides. The incline creates a potential barrier for anyone who is unable to scale it, while also acting as a disincentive for cyclists. Many residences in Hollingdean have flights of stairs up to their front doors, which impedes access for people with disabilities. Movement between the two sides of Hollingdean is restricted to a small footpath on Hollingbury Rise and the Crossway, which is often seen as a dangerous road for pedestrians to cross. This lack of access is likely to have an effect on community cohesion, with people being more comfortable staying within their own part of town. However, cohesion and community feeling could be built up by advocating the positives of each side to the other. The west could emphasize its central shopping area, The Dip, if it underwent some improvements. The eastern section of Hollingdean has great access to the South Downs, although this fact has not been capitalized upon. The entrances to the South Downs National Park are Plate 47: Access to the South Downs (Source: A Newport, 2012)
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simply a couple of overgrown paths. The east also has a larger number of green spaces, which could be rejuvenated to attract people from the west. There are several main areas of conflict between drivers and pedestrians: Upper Hollingdean Road Traffic speed and volume are major problems on Upper Hollingdean Road. The road curves around the southern edge of Hollingdean, passing by the Hollingdean Depot Waste Transfer Station. This curve creates a blind corner, meaning that drivers cannot see traffic or pedestrians further down the road. With only one pedestrian crossing in the Hollingdean area, this road is extremely dangerous for pedestrians. Traffic congestion is an issue here, especially at peak times of travel in the evening. The railway tunnel creates a pinch point which worsens the congestion problem. As Upper Hollingdean Road is a main gateway into Hollingdean, and the only entrance for vehicles from the east, the current layout is inadequate for the needs of the area. Plate 48 (left): Upper Hollingdean Road’s only pedestrian crossing (Source: A Newport, 2012)
Plate 49 (above):Traffic congestion at the railway tunnel. (Source: A Newport, 2012)
The Dip The central area of Hollingdean known as The Dip is also perceived as an area of traffic and pedestrian conflict. For years many residents of Hollingdean have been calling for increased safety measures in the Dip. The perceived lack of safety in this area not only affects parents taking their children to school, but also people who would otherwise shop locally, but do not feel safe in the Dip’s environment. The Council has attempted to alleviate the problem of traffic speed in the Dip by creating pinch points on either side of the Dip. Plate 50: Lack of pedestrian crossings at the Dip (Source: A Newport, 2012)
.. .. .. . However, these have done very little to slow down traffic in the area, as pedestrians still have to sprint across the road in order to avoid cars. Hundreds of residents have signed petitions to campaign to improve safety at the Dip. Unfortunately, thus far the council have deemed that the Dip is safe enough. Since there have not been any major or fatal accidents there, Brighton and Hove City Council do not feel that increased pedestrian safety measures are necessary at present (Lewis, 2011). Pedestrian safety at the Dip is not only important for the wellbeing of residents, but it is also vital for the success of the businesses there. Ease of movement between sides of the street and a feeling of security would allow people to shop longer and perhaps spend an afternoon sitting in the café or one of the other restaurants. The Dip is also an important crossroads between the east and west sides of Hollingdean. If this area were improved, the Dip could become Hollingdean’s High Street, bringing both sides together to a central area. Access to schools Since Hollingdean is home to several schools for young children, weekday mornings are often busy with parents walking their children to school. There are no pedestrian crossings in Hollingdean that are safe enough for parents to allow their children to cross on their own. There are no crosswalks outside of schools and no signal-controlled pedestrian crossings anywhere in Hollingdean, even though they are sorely needed.
Plate 51: No crossing outside of St. Joseph's Catholic School on a busy road and intersection (Source: A Newport, 2012)
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4.2.
Transport
Bus Figure 18 (overleaf) provides an illustration of bus routes through the suburb. Hollingdean has only one bus line, the 50, that serves the whole of the area. This bus has a fairly comprehensive route. Other bus routes are within about 20 minutes walking distance of Hollingdean, including route numbers 26, 46, and 79 on Ditchling Road and route numbers 25, 23, and 49 on Lewes Road. A number of residents in the Hollingdean Community Questionnaire sited the bus service as one of their favourite things about living in Hollingdean (Community Development Trust, 2011). However, one of the bus stops has gained many complaints from those who use it. The number 50 ‘built-out’ bus stop at the Dip is in a very bad position. The stop is right in the middle of the Dip, with the stopped bus taking up a majority of the road. Cars coming from the west often race around the stopped bus, which is dangerous for oncoming traffic as well as pedestrians who are trying to cross the road. At peak hours of the day the bus comes every 10 minutes, so the traffic problems caused by the stop are frequent. Plate 52: Bus at The Dip (Source A Newport, 2012)
Train Although part of Hollingdean’s boundary is defined by the railway line, there are not any convenient stations that can serve the majority of Hollingdean. The two closest stations to Hollingdean are around a 15 to 20 minute walk for the majority of Hollingdean residents. For people who work in central or northern Brighton, using the train is not very feasible as Moulsecoomb station, on the northeastern corner of Hollingdean, is in the opposite direction of Brighton. London Road station, which is near the southern edge of . Plate 53: Parking, Upper Hollingdean Rd (Source: A Newport, 2012)
Hollingdean, is a 15 minute walk from the Dip. It is only one station away from Brighton, so paying the fare for such a short journey is not sensible. The train is not a regularly used mode of transport for residents of Hollingdean.
.. .. .. . Car Hollingdean is dominated by cars. Nearly every street is lined with parallel parked cars, which detracts from the streetscape. A recent urban survey of Hollingdean showed that 46% of working people in Hollingdean drive their own cars or vans to work, compared to the 16% who take the bus and only 5% who take the train. When one wanders through Hollingdean, it seems as though every household owns at least one car, and those cars are normally parked on the road due to lack of off road parking. Plate 54 Parking, Barnett Rd (Source: A Newport, 2012)
These lines of cars not only detract from the aesthetics of the area, but they also reduce safety for pedestrians. People, especially children, who are trying to cross the road in between parked cars are far less visible to drivers than when the view of the pavement is clear.
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Figure 18: Transport links in Hollingdean (Source: EDINA Digimap; ed. by A Taylor)
.. .. .. . 5. Public Realm Safety 5.1.
Traffic and road safety
A key issue for Hollingdean residents is the perception of certain roads and areas as dangerous to pedestrians due to traffic, the layout of crossings and speed limits. This conflict has been raised frequently by both residents and councillors at local meetings and in local media (Brighton and Hove Labour, 2012; Brighton and Hove News, 2011). Particular focus is placed on the danger of routes to school for children travelling to and from Downs Infants and Juniors, Hertford Infants and Juniors and St. Josephs. Hollingdean Dip A particular point of conflict is the Hollingdean Dip, a major pedestrian route and a busy junction used as a cut through for much traffic and as the main junction between East and West Hollingdean . In the community survey (Hollingdean Development Trust, 2011), it was one of the most mentioned places where people felt least safe, likely to be because of traffic.
Plate 55 Hollingdean Dip (Source: L. Tucker, 2012)
Residents’ main concerns focus on the road layout and bus stop location, vehicle speeds through the Dip and parking on corners and double yellow lines (Brighton and Hove News, 2011). These factors are perceived to make the area dangerous for young children to use when travelling to and from school, making them and their families less likely to use the area as pedestrians. There have actually been few recorded accidents, yet it is a problem for residents trying to cross the road safely or conveniently. The road is not laid out to provide a convenient crossing position for users of the Dip and this is worsened by the speed and volume of cars travelling through. The council have already adjusted the road layout and improved lighting and signage (Councillor Theobald, 2011), but the area is still seen as hazardous, and dominated by speeding cars. This is especially true for stakeholder groups such as the elderly, who will be unable to cross the road quickly. This issue impacts on how residents and visitors use the area, having knock on effects on local businesses and services and community cohesion between east and west Hollingdean.
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This space needs a more pedestrian friendly space less dominated by cars to ensure pedestrians feel more comfortable in the area. Mechanisms prompting cars to slow down and be more cautious could be introduced to make drivers more aware they are in an area being used by pedestrians. A safer experience will increase use of facilities and services to a wide range of stakeholders in the Dip. Hollingbury Road/Hollingbury Crescent Junction
Plate 56. Junction between Hollingbury Road and Hollingbury Crescent (Source: Google Maps, 2012)
Another factor influencing perception of traffic safety is the crossing point approaching the Dip at the junction of Hollingbury Road and Hollingbury Crescent (Brighton and Hove Labour, 2012). This is a sharp blind corner on a steep hill making it difficult to cross safely. The corner is difficult to negotiate with vehicles approaching from three directions often at speed (Brighton and Hove Labour, 2012), especially for school children using the route at peak times with less experience of road safety. This could exclude users living in Hollingbury Road and Hollingbury Crescent from accessing facilities at the Dip. Signage or a change in road surface could be introduced to let drivers know they are approaching the Dip where pedestrians will be in the road and crossing. This would encourage slower speeds and more awareness of pedestrians and cyclists. Number 50 Bus Stop In the Dip, the ‘built-out’ number 50 bus stop is perceived as the cause of hazardous situations (Brighton and Hove News, 2011). Cars must overtake the bus in the remainder of the narrow road often at high speeds, making crossing the Dip difficult. Also, as the bus is stationery traffic
.. .. .. .
jams may form behind it forcing pedestrians to riskily cross between cars or in front of the bus where they are not visible. The bus stop itself is quite obstructive on the pavement, dominating the footpath and forming a barrier to pedestrian flows. Although the bus stop is an essential facility providing access to the Dip from across Hollingdean, there is potential for the bus stop to be redesigned to improve the streetscape and increase the area’s permeability. It should be more harmonious and balanced with the surrounding streetscape rather than sticking out. However, removing it as has been suggested (Brighton and Hove News, 2011) would be highly detrimental to businesses in the Dip.
Parking The amount of parked cars and their positioning is a clear barrier for pedestrians and cyclists to safely and conveniently negotiate around the Dip. Pedestrians, especially school children, are less visible behind parked cars making crossing here even more hazardous. Thus a redesign of the parking facilities here is necessary to ensure cars can still gain access to the businesses but pedestrians feel safer to stroll around the Dip as they wish.
Upper Hollingdean Road
Plate 57. Upper Hollingdean Rd (Google Maps, 2012)
Plate 58 Upper Hollingdean Rd. (L.Tucker, 2012)
Another site of conflict is Upper Hollingdean Road, a main route in and out of Hollingdean which is often very busy at peak times with backlogged traffic towards Ditchling Road. Upper Hollingdean Road does have somewhat higher crime rates than elsewhere in the ward (Crime Mapping, 2012), but these are not road accidents or traffic related, and just a result of being a main route. Despite low occurrences of traffic accidents, it is perceived as a health and safety hazard especially for children due to the heavy traffic, volume and speed of cars using the route. Pedestrian crossings are absent or incorrectly positioned to provide the feeling of a safe or convenient movement across the road and is unpleasant to walk along. Plate 57 a shows the continuous parked cars along the road also forming a barrier to crossing the road safely, which is harder to negotiate in busy periods when there are two rows of traffic.
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The wall surrounding the waste depot and tower block on the left hand side, and the housing opposite worsen this effect by enclosing the road, hemming in pedestrians and cyclists, contributing to perceptions of danger (Plate 58).
Plate 59 Graffiti on Upper Hollingdean Rd (Source: L. Tucker, 2012)
Plate 60 Disused property on Upper Hollingdean Rd (Source: L. Tucker, 2012)
In addition to traffic issues, some features along the road contribute to an unsafe feel of the area giving off perceptions of anti-social behaviour, such as vacant and unkempt commercial properties and graffiti, as shown above. A well-positioned zebra crossing would be beneficial to force vehicles to give way to pedestrians and provide a safe and convenient crossing point, particularly for school children. This would require a re-organisation of parking along the road which would also be helpful to pedestrians and cyclists, and remove a barrier to open out the area and enhance the environment. Some improvements to the environment, for example street trees, would be positive for perceptions of the public realm and slow cars down. A clean up of shop frontages, litter and graffiti would improve opinions of the area, and feel safer by removing the presence of anti-social behaviour.
5.2.
Fear and perception of crime
Crime figures in Hollingdean are not bad and aside from some general problems common to other areas such as anti-social behaviour, perception of Hollingdean as a safe area is generally good. A priority for the local neighbourhood police team is the supply and misuse of drugs and related anti-social behaviour, but any drug issues do not seem to affect people’s feelings of safety in the area.
.. .. .. . In the community survey, a positive sign was that 51% of people said there were no places in Hollingdean they or anyone in their family felt unsafe (Hollingdean Development Trust, 2011). Although this is promising, 29% of those surveyed did mention certain parts of the neighbourhood where they experienced fear of crime. Aside from the Dip, the estate in east Hollingdean was mentioned by 6 people out of 35, one of the highest markers of fear. Police figures (Crime Mapping, 2012) show no particular problems here, thus this must be a perception issue with residents. The area may give off a negative feeling due to some incidences of vandalism such as broken windows, shattered bus stops and destroyed grit bins as shown in the photo. The bin is surrounded by litter and alcohol containers, negatively influencing the aesthetics of the Crossway and signifying anti-social behaviour. Underused and unattractive green spaces in the east of Hollingdean appear threatening due to their isolation and proximity to imposing residential buildings. Contributing further to fear of crime is the lack of community cohesion between the distinct east and west Hollingdean, where the lack of association between them provokes fears of what goes on the other side of the neighbourhood. Thus community cohesion and improving the sense of community ownership over the green spaces would be beneficial to better this negative image, in addition to ensuring incidences of vandalism are promptly reported and fixed. Plate 61 (left). Isolated green space in east Hollingdean. (Source: L. Tucker, 2012) Plate 62 (right) . Vandalised grit bin on The Crossway (Source: A. Newport, 2012)
However, there are some points of interest where improvements could be made. Hollingdean Skatepark This area is perceived as unsafe, particularly at night, due to groups of teenagers hanging around prompting anti-social behaviour and drug issues. This was represented in the community survey where some residents mentioned feeling unsafe there (Hollingdean Development Trust, 2011). With this reputation, it has generally become a space avoided by the local community with its perception as a dangerous area.
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Plate 63 . Hollingdean Skate Park (Source: J. Middleton, 2012)
A focus group revealed young children and the elderly were intimidated by youths at the park (Hollingdean Community Development Worker, 2012). Its isolated location and domination by older teenagers meant younger children felt unable to enjoy the skatepark. This prompted the rebuilding of the skatepark in a new, less deserted location to discourage anti-social behaviour and provide a more accessible activity space and meeting place for teenagers. This is a positive move towards removing a cause of fear of crime but the new park must be maintained and kept as an inclusive public space, ensuring users feel safe in and around the skatepark.
Moulsecoomb Station Although Hollingdean generally feels safe to walk through, the station was mentioned in the community survey by some residents as a place they felt unsafe (Hollingdean Development Trust, 2011). The footpath entrance to Moulsecoomb train station from Hollingdean is overgrown, enclosed, deserted and badly lit at night. This is the access point to key transport links to Brighton so it is important residents feel safe when using it. However, the path is not overlooked or well-lit which could dissuade women, young people or lone persons from using it as it is perceived hazardous. Plate 64 . Entrance to Moulsecoomb Station (Source: R. Hodgetts, 2012)
.. .. .. . This path could have better lighting and appear more welcoming by cutting back the overgrown bushes and opening out the path so it is less sheltered and intimidating. Green Spaces There are some examples demonstrating how fear of crime has prevented the full use and enjoyment of Hollingdean’s green spaces. The allotments are an asset to the area, but are not seen as a safe place to go at night, as specified in the community survey. Their nature means they are unoccupied in evenings and during the night, making them prone to anti-social behaviour. This similarly happened with the original skatepark and the green areas to the north of Hollingdean, which experience desertion and isolation being away from the built up residential areas, and so not being used to their full potential by the community. These spaces need to be enhanced so they can be optimally used by the community and could be a key driver for a more cohesive Hollingdean.
Plate 65. Hollingdean Allotments. (Source: J. Middleton, 2012)
Another issue is the pathway through Hollingbury Woods, which is used by teenagers living in Hollingdean as a shortcut to and from Varndean school. This is not perceived as very safe for school children to use – it is isolated and unlit, especially in dark evenings. Therefore access to Varndean School could be improved to avoid young people feeling insecure on the route. This could then be used by all residents as a useful access point to green space.
Plate 66. Entrance to footpath through Hollingbury Woods to Varndean School. (Source: Google Maps, 2012)
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6. Analysis The initial brief for this study (see Appendix 1) contained four strands of concern for local residents: •
Public Realm Safety
•
Access/Transport
•
Amenity
•
Tourism
Of the above, the concept of amenity brings many issues together and so provides a useful framework within which to look holistically at the area of Hollingdean. This area of concern was also one given emphasis within the study brief. Amenity is a broad ‘composite’ concept which relates to how an area is seen, used, experienced and enjoyed by people. Formal definitions of amenity value are hard to find but the following is useful: “those natural and physical qualities and characteristics of an area that contribute to people’s appreciation of its pleasantness, aesthetic coherence, and cultural and recreational attributes” (NZ Resource Management Act 1991) Whilst the sections above have provided a description of the key characteristics of Hollingdean, it is worth summarising how these currently either contribute to or detract from the overall ‘amenity’ of the area and in particular its pleasantness and enjoyment by people. Thus, if the objective for the area is to improve its amenity, those characteristics which contribute to amenity value should be maintained, enhanced and perhaps used as a focus for developing greater amenity value. Those which detract from amenity value should be the focus of improvement, management, enhancement or perhaps removal, depending on the nature of the issue. Tables 4 and 5 overleaf provide a specific analysis of the features of Hollingdean which either contribute to or detract from amenity and may be useful in the future for targeting overall regeneration and enhancement strategies for the area.
.. .. .. . Table 4: Summary of Factors contributing to Amenity Value Factor
Strategy Maintain community buildings and facilities and upgrade older buildings as required. Consider extending opening hours of the Children’s Centre to weekends to provide access to café and toilets.
Good provision of facilities and events for families and young children.
Presence of attractive natural spaces and habitats adjacent to western and northern areas
Continue to promote access to these spaces and their ongoing management to ensure quality is maintained. Consider opportunities to improve appearance of specific access points to these areas, and in particular the access onto the South Downs National Park at Brentwood Road. This is an important gateway to the National Park for local residents, however the convoluted access routes for vehicle and pedestrian to this point from outside Hollingdean reduce its potential to be a significant gateway for tourists. This is likely to remain Stanmer Park or other more easily accessed areas of the National Park. Maintain as an asset of the area and improve lighting to decrease perceptions of isolation/ safety fears.
Good provision of allotments
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Factor
Strategy Protection of these mature trees as landmark features of the area. Both are in the private realm (school grounds and at The Linkway)
Presence of pockets of mature trees
The presence of basic green infrastructure in the east of Hollingdean
Such areas are not easy to ‘install’ into a street layout once houses are built and so their very presence is a positive factor. Whilst not of high amenity/ biodiversity value at present, there is great potential for future enhancement of these areas as part of an overall enhancement of the green infrastructure of Hollingdean and Brighton as a whole. Their proximity to the South Downs at the north of the suburb also provides opportunities for their management as part of an urban green link to the wider areas of Downland. See suggestions under ‘factors which detract from amenity value’ below for suggestions for future enhancements. Maintenance of distinct features, such as period lampposts
Distinct architectural character and associated street furniture in west Hollingdean
Replication of traditional
When renovation of traditional building styles is undertaken, strong protocols and monitoring of process should be taken to provide tasteful, appropriate facades.
.. .. .. .
Factor building styles
Strategy
Maintain older attractive building from important era’s and examples of attractive building techniques (i.e. Flint wall construction). Renovation of existing older properties in area
Consider listed building status of older properties.
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Table 5: Summary of factors detracting from amenity value Factor
Strategy Use of distinctive public realm features to ‘pull the area together’ into a distinct neighbourhood.
Little coherent sense of place or neighbourhood identity
Suggestion: Unity of signage, street furniture and planting to create a greater sense of coherence of character.
Creation of ‘softer’/ greener streets Suggestion: Planting of Street Trees and planters; encouragement of private house owners to manage and develop their private gardens. Lack of green infrastructure in west Hollingdean
This should all be done as part of an overall strategy for enhancing and increasing green infrastructure in Hollingdean and for using it as a way of linking the suburb internally (west to east) and with the wider area of the South Downs to the north. Development of the potential of amenity green space to provide spaces of recreational, aesthetic and biodiversity value.
Poor quality of amenity greenspaces in east of Hollingdean and little connectivity between green areas
Perceived lack of safety in green spaces
Suggestion: development of small play areas, planting and landscaping schemes where supported by residents. Inclusion of trees in planting schemes to provide more vertical structure. Extend schemes to the wide grass verges to increase their biodiversity interest and aesthetic value.
General enhancement of the green spaces in Hollingdean will improve their appearance and increase use, thus reducing perceptions of fear in these areas. However, there are specific measures which may help to achieve this.
Factor
.. .. .. .
Strategy Better lighting and greater use will create passive surveillance and reduce the sense of isolation of green spaces, discouraging anti-social behaviour. Better maintenance of green spaces and facilities (e.g. cutting back overgrown trees, removing litter, getting rid of graffiti) will increase the permeability of the suburb as a whole and contribute to a sense of community ownership of green space. In terms of the path through Hollingbury Woods, this requires more surveillance at key times when children are using it to travel to and from school. More lighting should also be considered along the main section to Fiveways to reduce fears of crime there especially for school children.
Poor aesthetic quality of ‘The Dip’
Safety concerns at the Dip
Improve and enhance the public realm at ‘The Dip’ to ensure its continued contribution as commercial centre and geographical focus of the community. Suggestion: unity of design and materials for surfaces, street furniture and signage. Planting and use of street trees to define the area and provide linkages to other green spaces. Design of parking spaces to reduce conflict with traffic and reduce fears related to pedestrian safety.
Improve pedestrian access. One possible solution would be to create a shared space along the short commercial section of the Dip. This would include: better parking design, improved signage, changing road surface, redesigning the bus stop to remove built-out kerb so that this is less obstructive in the road, reducing speed limits, providing a raised pedestrian crossing. These initiatives would also dovetail well with proposals to improve the visual appearance and attractiveness of the Dip (above).
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Factor
Strategy Consideration of demolition and proposed new build properties to open up areas of North Hollingdean.
Modernisation or replacement of large properties
Renovation/Modernisation of exisitng high rise properties
Renovation of new properties with re-painting of brickwork and replacement of windows. Retouching of facades to provide a more attractive landscape. The small number of high-rise properties in Hollingdean could be replaced with smaller properties and additional properties in potential redevelopment areas. This would increase sight lines, lead to more attractive sky line, prevent overcast areas and minimize potential for high rise ‘ghettoed’ dwellings.
Provision of more seating as part of overall design for enhancing appearance and use of amenity green spaces and main pedestrian routes
Very poor provision of seating of any kind and no seating in areas for recreational/ amenity purposes
Localised environmental Quality problems from litter, fly tipping & overflowing bins
Removal and Management of the problem Provision of adequate bins and increased frequency of emptying. Discussion of management of fly tipping problem with B&HCC and SDNP
Factor
.. .. .. .
Strategy Development of more facilities and events for this group Relocation of the skatepark and its use as a focus for the development of new facilities and events will greatly enhance the current provision.
Poor provision of facilities for older children and teenagers & a need to increase feelings of safety at such facilities.
Underused shopping area on the Crestway
However, it will be important to make sure that once installed, use by children of all ages is encouraged and maintained all year round so not to attract antisocial behaviour. Police patrols may be necessary so that children feel safer and parents feel more relaxed. Its new location within Hollingdan Park should improve passive surveillance. Improve building face. Add zebra or pelican crossing to slow down traffic and improve accessibility to the shops. There is a wheelchair accessible bus stop, but no safe way of crossing the road. Safety for pedestrians further decreased by cars parked on the pavement in front of the shops. So, create alternative parking area, or allow parking only on one side of the road. Improve signage and change in road surface so drivers are warned they are entering a shared space area where pedestrians are walking. This will mean they are approaching at slower speeds and being more alert to pedestrians using the space.
Dangerous intersection at Hollingbury Crescent and Hollingbury Road Upper Hollingdean Road – a difficult environment for pedestrians.
Add a zebra crossing in a well-situated position for use by all stakeholders to improve road safety and create better access. A re-organization of parking facilities removing to continuous line of parked cars, this will make crossing safer and provide less of a barrier, improving permeability. To improve perceptions of the road as hazardous – street trees would aesthetically enhance the
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Factor
Strategy environment (large trees especially near tower block to soften its harsh look) and slow cars down. Remove graffiti from billboards, clean up of litter, clean up of shop fronts and houses to make it visually less intimidating.
Enhance usage of green spaces. Add in furniture i.e. chairs and tables to encourage community activities and meetings. More variation in green spaces so they are welcoming and usable by all community stakeholders e.g. trees to sit under, planting areas. Clean up of graffiti and vandalism.
East of Hollingdean (Estate) Moulsecoomb station access
Open out entrance so that this is less hidden and more accessible. Cut back overgrown shrubs so less intimidating, street lighting needed along the footpath for health and safety needs but also to reduce fear of crime. Better paving for health and safety – access for disabled people for example.
Figure 19 below provides a spatial representation of the changes that could be made to the Hollingdean area in terms of improving its amenity value. Figure 20 provides a similar analysis for changes that could be made to ‘The Dip’. Box 3 contains some examples of innovative approaches to small spaces and public realm detail which have been carried out elsewhere and may provide some inspiration for an approach in Hollingdean.
.. .. .. .
Figure 19: Overview of Hollingdean improvements (Source: EDINA Digimap, ed. by A Taylor)
These proposals centre around the importance of open space and green amenity space in Hollingdean and the need to protect and enhance this green infrastructure. Street trees are proposed as a way of introducing new green infrastructure into those areas where this is needed but where the creation of larger open green areas would be difficult. Improved access to the station and the development of new pedestrian crossing points on Upper Hollingdean Road are also suggested as a way of making the suburb more accessible and pleasant for pedestrians to use.
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Figure 20: Detail of possible improvements to the Dip (Source: EDINA Digimap, ed. by A Taylor)
These proposals are designed to make the Dip and safer, more pleasant and attractive focus for the community of Hollingdean. Changes to the public realm would be used to support this location as a place for local people to meet, shop or pass time in cafes etc. These would include: • • • • • •
Developing a shared area for use by pedestrians and traffic as a way of changing the nature of the place, slowing down traffic and making pedestrian activity more dominant This would be flanked by street trees which would soften the hard urban appearance, act as attractive features and have the effect of further slowing down traffic through the shared area. Street trees will be established throughout the area where viable, as a means of extending the green appearance of the Dip and linking it to amenity green spaces further to the east – and to new street tree planting in the Edwardian terraced streets to the west. Diagonal parking spaces will be created to take parked cars off the road thus reducing conflicts between parked cars, traffic, buses and pedestrians. A currently disused garage in the vicinity could be developed as a parking place for shoppers Sympathetic street furniture (lampposts, bins, benches) will be provided to complement the above, in line with an overall strategy for street furniture for the suburb (in order to develop continuity of appearance and more of a distinctive sense of place)
.. .. .. . Box 3: Examples of small projects and public realm improvements elsewhere
An area can often be relatively quickly and cost-effectively improved with some simple changes. The low standard of affordable/low income housing is an issue that could be attractively addressed within Hollingdean. Many of the projects surfacing in the past 10 years have been visually very appealing, also to an affordable budget. The vast differences in housing styles make Hollingdean an interesting environment to study, and a feature that would allow for cotemporary building projects to surface that could not pass in central Brighton. There could also be a large amount of potential for small installation projects like those shown below which raise profile for the area and also have many other positive effects. A good example is the ‘World’s longest bench’ in Littlehampton, which has had a galvanizing, iconic effect for the seafront and community. Examples of innovative street furniture are shown below.
Coed Gwern Bird Hide, Machynlleth by CAT Professional Diploma Students “Avian architecture: all the timber for this student-built bird hide was sawn and processed within 500 metres of its location.” (The Guardian, 2012)
Times Eureka Pavilion, Kew Gardens, by NEX “Close to nature: the design of this pavilion was developed using algorithms which replicate leaf capillaries. The walls collect and channel water down the pavilion's walls. It won the Small Projects Sustainability award.” (The Guardian, 2012)
Old Workshop, London by Jack Woolley “Wall-to-wall carpentry: a rundown carpenter's workshop set behind an old wall is converted into a splitlevel space with a subtle, yet dramatic, new door. This design won the £1,000 first prize.” (The Guardian, 2012)
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7. Drivers for Change There are several important initiatives in Hollingdean and the wider Brighton area which will act as ‘Drivers for Change’ and may help to bring about improvements to the area. These include: •
The South Downs National Park & proposed Biosphere Reserve Status: this will provide protection for urban fringe areas and enhancement of green corridors throughout the area and assist in leveraging funds for green infrastructure projects. Both are interested in extending the impact of green space beyond the wider open areas into the urban realm. The National Park in particular is interested in working to soften hard urban edges through sympathetic planting schemes and has recently been designated as a ‘Nature Improvement Area’ with funding to improve green infrastructure links into neighbouring urban areas.
•
The new development at The Linkway. This will develop the current empty space and section 106 funds will be available for transport and public art in the area.
•
The Lewes Road Improvements. This project will involve improving pedestrian access to the South Downs and may thus be able to assist in improving key walking routes in the east of Hollingdean and from Moulscoomb station up to the Downs.
•
There are vibrant and diverse community groups in the area which will help to drive change from within (e.g. clean up days, community gardens, selling of locally grown produce at a Hollingdean farmer’s Market). They may not represent the whole of the community, given the relatively high levels of disengagement of local residents with community activity. However, they can help realise small but important changes through public realm and community development projects.
•
Wider sustainability initiatives within Brighton and Hove CC. These include reducing traffic speeds, sustainable community strategies, reducing carbon output, improving access to green space, developing green roofs/walls etc. All can help to support small scale changes, which if planned as part of a greater vision, could help to stimulate positive change in Hollingdean.
.. .. .. .
8. Conclusions Hollingdean would benefit greatly from a number of changes in order to improve the welfare, safety and cohesion of the community. • Improving the quality, connectivity and use of greenspace throughout Hollingdean Development of ‘new’ green corridors throughout Hollingdean through the planting of street trees and the enhancement of existing green infrastructure would create a sense of continuity throughout the community, and aid community cohesion by lessening the ‘visual’ divide between east and west. The enhancement of existing amenity areas would create spaces that could be used by both sides of the community. Improvements to the attractiveness and function of these areas through planting, landscaping and the provision of seating/ play spaces would be key in making them usable and adaptable to different sections of the community and their needs. Creating a connection between these ‘internal’ green spaces and the extensive open spaces to the north within the South Downs National Park, would be beneficial in promoting healthy lifestyles, developing a more extensive urban green network and providing opportunities for residents to use the green space on their doorstep. Hollingbury woods already act in this capacity and are an example of an effective linkage between the urban area and the park beyond. All of the above would result in opportunities for people from all ages and groups within the community to more actively use the open/ green space in Hollingdean. There are already innovative ideas being developed for use of the green spaces in the area and these should be encouraged and facilitated. Examples include the use of green spaces for community gardens tended to by community groups, a cafe with an outdoor space and seating areas and safe play areas. All of tehse initiatives would prompt community cohesion with an increased feeling of inclusion and residents feeling they have ownership over the spaces in their neighbourhood. • Ensuring safety of green space and reducing perceptions of crime in green space Making the green spaces occupied and fully usable would make users feel safe in the area and would discourage anti-social behaviour. The community should have ownership and feel responsible for the green spaces, in order to give them a choice about how they want it to be used. For example, including furniture, play areas, seating areas and community gardening/planting schemes within these areas if supported by local residents. This would promote a sense of ownership and attachment to these spaces and provide constant passive surveillance. As a result, people would be less afraid to go there and crime would be discouraged. This would also help to protect spaces from litter, graffiti, vandalism and drugs issues. People would be outraged and would quickly report and remove vandalism because they care about the space.
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•Redeveloping the Dip The continued presence of the Dip as a commercial centre is vital to the goal of seeing a revitalized and improved environment and sense of place in Hollingdean. It sits at the geographical centre but with the character of its commercial offerings changing away from shops to offices/ take-aways etc. – there is a risk that its commercial heart could dwindle and eventually cease to exist. Improvement of the appearance and street layout of the Dip could go some way to supporting its function as a commercial centre and community hub. Such improvements could also encourage community cohesion by bringing people into the centre from east and west. Visual cohesion and a sense of linkage could be created through the use of green infrastructure, street furniture and the use of shared surfaces. The vision would be to provide a vibrant shopping area and a pedestrian friendly shared space which is frequently used by pedestrians and where they have a sense of dominance over drivers/ cars. • Traffic safety and movement Making people feel safe as pedestrians and cyclists throughout Hollingdean would allow them to access the green spaces and community facilities more readily. Parents would feel more comfortable letting young children travel to play areas and schools if there are more crossings, slower traffic speeds and generally more provision for pedestrians. Better safety for pedestrians in green spaces would also encourage people to spend more time outdoors and engage in more exercise thus encouraging a trend towards a healthy lifestyle, family activities and sustainable living.
• Improving access to the national park Hollingdean has an enviable location adjacent to the South Downs National Park. It has several important local gateways and should make much more of these, in terms of their appearance and accessibility and benefits for the lifestyle and health of the local community. It is possible, that with publicity and improved entrances to the park areas, these gateways could attract non-residents into the area for the purposes of accessing the National Park. However, the lack of permeability in the suburb for both vehicles and pedestrians makes it difficult for non-residents to navigate and despite changes proposed above, Hollingdean would probably remain a ‘secondary’ tourism gateway to the South Downs when compared with more accessible gateways, such as Stanmer Park. However, it would still be beneficial to work with the new South Downs National Park Authority to generate proposals for access and tourism in the area and to look at opportunities to link Hollingdean to a network of other gateways areas, local historical sites, viewpoints, footpaths, trails and long distance paths. As part of a wider access and tourism strategy for the urban fringe areas of the Park, it may be possible to put Hollingdean on the map and generate some tourism interest.
.. .. .. . 9.
References
Affordable Architecture: AJ Small Projects Competition. Brighton and Hove City Council (2009) Brighton and Hove Urban Characterisation Study . Downloaded from http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1162887 Brighton and Hove City Council (2008) Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study. A Report by PMP for the Consideration of Brighton and Hove Council. Downloaded from http://www.brightonhove.gov.uk/downloads/bhcc/ldf/Open_Space__Sport_and_Recreation_Study__Final_Report_Mar_2009_3.pdf Brighton and Hove News (2011) Hollingdean residents plead for safer roads. March 29th 2011. [online] [Accessed from: http://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2011/03/29/hollingdeanresidents-plead-for-safer-roads/6439] Guardian, The (2012) ‘Affordable Architecture: AJ Small Projects Competition’, 10 Feb, *online] Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2012/feb/10/architecture-ajsmall-projects-in-pictures Hollindean Development Trust (2011) Hollingdean Community Questionnaire 2011 Results (unpublished). Labour for Brighton and Hove News (2012) Labour Councillor calls for safer crossing in Hollingdean. [online] [Accessed from: http://brightonhovelabour.com/2012/02/labourcouncillor-calls-for-safer-crossing-in-hollingdean/] Lewis, J. (2011) ‘A Fatality Is Waiting To Happen At Dip, Warns Hollingdean Candidate’, News from Brighton, 28 March, [online] Available at: http://newsfrombrighton.co.uk/brightonpolitics/green-party/a-fatality-is-waiting-to-happen-at-dip-warns-hollingdean-candidate/] Sussex Wildlife Trust, Sussex Environment Partnership, Brighton and Hove City Council (2009) A Green Network for Brighton and Hove. Final Report.
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Appendix 1: Brief for the Project
