East Norwich
Location: Deal Ground, Norwich
Client: Private
Team: Baca Architects, Lanpro,
Atelier Pro, Contemporary Transport,
Aspect Ecology, Total Flood Solutions,
JBA Consulting, PlanDescil
Scale: 19 Ha, 670 New Homes
Status: Outline Planning 2013
Norwich City Council have granted planning consent for a major redevelopment of 670 homes, local centre and restaurants in East Norwich.
An international team, combining Dutch and UK architects have developed plans for the redevelopment of a 19 hectare brownfield site - The Deal Ground - on the outskirts of Norwich City Centre.
The site has lay undeveloped for over 20 years due to the complexity of the constraints. Flood risk, ecology and highways/access were the key constraints but equally, contamination, power infrastructure, noise and listed buildings influenced the design.
A concept plan was established in which development embraces the riverine environment, working with the natural river flows and extending the space for flood water. Modelling was used to assess how the flood flows would interact with the proposed landscape.
The proposed development will form a transitional edge between the city and the Norfolk Broads, locating flood resilient homes around ecological swales that drain into a ‘County Wildlife Site’ marsh.
The development, which comprises 670 dwellings and 1265 sqm commercial/retail space and 1210 sqm restaurant space, is divided into three distinct but complimentary character areas. The May Gurney, Marsh Reach and Wensum Riverside character areas will provide architectural variety across the site, set within a comprehensive masterplan.
Various constraints, including highways, ecology and flood-risk are being considered simultaneously to develop an integrated and sustainable solution.
Three character areas were created across the 19 hectare site to create variety.
An urban river edge is formed to the north site. In the centre fingers of development are intertwined with the marsh and to the south, countryside terraces refer back to the old Coleman's terraces in nearby Trowse.
Buildings along the waters edge will be stepped in profile and with generous balconies to allow glimpses and views along the river as well as providing an attractive gateway into Norwich.
The Marsh Reach is a compliment between nature and man, with fingers of terraced houses extending towards the marsh and fingers of marsh extending between the houses.
The Wensum Riverside is more urban in character, with a mix of townhouses and apartments set around a generous public rain square (which will be a feature an integral rainwater store), an inlet for moorings along the River Wensum and an extension of the marsh which transforms into a public park and play area.
The scheme adopts many of the principles of the award-winning Long-term Initiatives for Flood-risk Environments (LifE) project, such as: non-defensive flood-risk management; providing space for the river and space for rain; providing space for renewable energy; creating space for amenity; reducing car dependency and sustainable transport; and it is designed to be adaptable.