Skerningham Garden Village SPD,
Darlington
Together with DesigNE, Colour developed ground-breaking ‘Nature-based codes’ that formed an integral part of the Darlington Borough Council’s Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the Skerningham Garden Village – a strategic extension to the northeast of the town for 3,000 new homes.
The SPD was given unanimous support by DBC’s cabinet and will be presented by Alan Wann of DesigNE and Peter Owens at The Gardens Trust’s conference ‘New Towns: Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future’ on September 22 at the Garden Museum in London.
Underpinning Nature based coding was the creation of new neighbourhoods that immerse people in nature - a place to live and spend at least 2 hours a day ‘in nature’ for the benefit of individual lives, a rich landscape character and enhancing biodiversity.
The aim is to harness nature’s superpowers in everyday life with :
Psychological effects to make residents feel healthier, happier and more fulfilled - wellbeing
Behavioural responses that encourage active life choices
Physiological benefits from the air that is breathed – everyday ‘Forest Bathing’
Within this backdrop, local engagement was extensive and feedback used to establish the places and routes that people currently perceive and value as ‘nature’. The countryside, walks, memories and sense of wellbeing from its presence are central to the decision-making that guide Skerningham as a garden village - a relationship with nature that is to evoke an emotional response.
Bringing together nature and people, the intention is to impart ‘what make Skerningham Skerningham’. One of the key moves developed by Colour was the creation of the Skerne Valley Park, new strategic green space at the rural edge for residents and visitors alike to enjoy.
Together with DesigNE and DBC, we are currently guiding developers’ proposals through design development and into the planning process through a programme of Design Review sessions.
To learn more about our approach to living in nature, please click here.
CLIENT Darlington Borough Council
TEAM DesigNE Mawson Kerr Emily Scullion
STATUS Approved Supplementary Planning Document
CLIENT Darlington Borough Council TEAM DesigNE Mawson Kerr Emily Scullion STATUS Approved Supplementary Planning Document