Keeping communities distinct
We understand that local people feel strongly about maintaining a clear separation between Didcot and East Hagbourne and retaining the sense of openness that helps define the character of this location.
Guided by expert masterplanners and landscape architects, our proposals are designed to retain substantial areas of open land. These take account of important views and maintain a clear sense of separation between the two communities, while locating new homes within defined development areas.
The local landscape has informed the proposed design, and we have taken time to prepare proposals that retain openness, frame important views and deliver enhanced open space for people to use and enjoy.
Creating new spaces for community use
We will retain over 60% of the site as public open space and green and blue infrastructure to support biodiversity, ecology and recreation, helping to reinforce the landscape setting and the distinction between Didcot and East Hagbourne.
The Meads is the central green space at the heart of the proposals. It helps retain openness, create space for community uses and separate the two areas proposed for new homes.
How the gap has informed our proposals
From the outset, our proposals have been informed by the need to maintain a clear landscape gap between Didcot and East Hagbourne, with The Meads providing a substantial central green space through the heart of the site.
We recognise the opportunity to turn this central landscape space into an accessible area for the community to use and enjoy, with potential features such as walking routes, orchards, allotments, play space and new planting.
While we are proposing new and improved connections for cyclists and pedestrians between East Hagbourne and Fleet Meadow, the landscape framework has been designed to retain open land, manage views and strengthen planting so that the distinction between the two communities remains clear.
As part of our landscape strategy we will retain the existing tree screening between Fleet Meadow and the northern edge of our site. We’re also proposing new ridgeline planting to help create a natural screen between East Hagbourne and the new homes we’re proposing on site.
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