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| Rossington Ecotown Outline of Revised Proposals - 23/07/2008 |
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Following extensive discussions with DCLG and DMBC, along with stakeholder, community and Ecotown Challenge Panel feedback, the Rossington Ecotown proposals have been revised to take account of the areas of greatest concern. The following key points form a summary of the revised Ecotown Proposals and are intended to inform the activities of the Ecotown team and more detailed community engagement going forwards over the next few months.
For further information, please visit the Rossington Ecotown website.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF NEW PROPOSALS
The Rossington Ecotown will now be set in the context of a Doncaster Eco-borough that will include multiple environmental initiatives and communities developed around a strong, borough-wide sustainability and environmental agenda.
The Rossington Ecotown is being designed to deliver a target of 5000 new homes in a range of sizes and tenures with a significant emphasis placed on meeting the affordable housing needs and providing greater choice for the community.
No homes will be built in the greenbelt or Flood Zone 3.
ALL new homes, shops and commercial development will be constructed on the former colliery and/or previously developed land.
The majority of the land is in the ownership of UK COAL with the residual forming part of the Bankwood Estate. 4.9ha (12 acres) of the existing employment area within Bankwood Estate will be retained and in addition the total employment opportunities in Rossington will be increased through the Ecotown proposals.
A range of sports, recreation and leisure opportunities and activities targeted at children and young people.
DEVELOPMENT MIX: HOMES AND EMPLOYMENT
The Rossington Ecotown will be a genuinely mixed use development and has been designed to include:
A target of 5000 homes on previously developed land including a regenerated Bankwood Estate (an underutilised brown field site of low density employment to the north of Rossington that borders onto the former colliery site);
Two new neighbourhood centres each with local shops, medical centre, primary school and community facilities within walking distance of every new home;
A net increase of up to 2300 new jobs within new, dedicated employment floor space; and
Additional employment opportunities within the proposed new schools, retail units, medical centres and services infrastructure, PLUS a diverse range of new construction related jobs.
SKILLS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
It is recognised that the new and emerging construction standards required to deliver an Ecotown will create an opportunity to re-skill parts of the existing, local workforce. This re-skilling will facilitate the delivery of the required standard of new housing, designed and built to the higher levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes, as well as commercial development built to the latest BREEAM standards. Dialogue has begun with organisations and agencies that can help deliver both the necessary training as well as assist in the establishment of new, on site manufacturing facilities utilising Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).
A REGENERATION STRATEGY
A regeneration strategy for Rossington is being prepared that will develop a partnership approach with public sector agencies to deliver the following benefits:
Act as a regeneration catalyst to raise the level of ambition and aspiration within the existing community;
Facilitate the diversification and strengthening of the local economic base;
Create social, health and community enhancements including a revitalised town centre and market;
Create enhanced local education provision including opportunities for new, extended and upgraded facilities;
Increase local housing choice, mix and tenure;
Remove an existing blight - i.e. the former colliery;
Create enhanced linkage and connectivity within and beyond the existing settlement;
Deliver environmental and green space improvements including increased availability, access and quality; and
Provide sporting and wellbeing enhancements.
A NEW PUBLIC PARK
The land to the south of the tip that is owned by UK COAL will be remodelled using some of the existing colliery spoil to form a new public park that integrates and is continuous with the Holmescarr Wood. This public park would include water features, sports facilities and recreation areas including cycle, bridle and walking connections to the west and to the St Leger Horse Park to the east. It also provides one of a number of potential locations for renewable energy generation subject to the outcome of more detailed, ongoing technical investigations.
TRANSPORT STRATEGY
A transport strategy is currently being prepared that includes:
A new northern gateway to the site in the form of a quality bus corridor with frequent direct bus service from the Rossington via White Rose Way;
The quality bus corridor will provide access to junction 3 of the M18 Motorway and White Rose Way (which leads directly into Doncaster Town Centre) with peak time restriction of access to the strategic road network for private car users;
Investigations into the opportunities and implications of opening a new rail station with direct and frequent services into Doncaster (the timescale and feasibility of delivery will be subject to support from Network Rail, network capacity issues, rail operators and third party landowners);
A general vehicle design speed within the Ecotown of around 10mph with every home no more than 400m from a bus stop and local services;
All houses adjacent to a cycle route and pedestrian oriented environment with accessible cycle storage
AN ENERGY STRATEGY
An energy strategy is being prepared that includes:
A mix of sustainable on-site power generation sources;
The majority of buildings and houses oriented to maximise passive gain;
The vast majority of domestic gardens to be south or south-west facing;
Houses capable of accommodating existing, new and emerging renewable energy technologies.
AN ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY
A wider environmental strategy is being prepared and integrated with the wider masterplan that includes:
A network of green spaces with ecologically connected green corridors and linkages to the Holmescarr Wood SSI, Potteric Carr SSSI, River Torne and the proposed new country park to the south;
A network and hierarchy of water corridors, designed to work alongside the green corridors and including a range of features to manage surface water run-off, act as focal points for community activity, create opportunities for new wildlife habitats and minimise the risk of flooding within the development, existing communities and in the wider borough. |
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