4. Inclusive Shared Spaces
Hounslow benefits from a wide variety of rich green and blue spaces and infrastructure, including notable gardens & landscapes and an extensive network of waterways. It is a ‘green’ Borough but we want it to be greener still, tackling challenges such as air quality and storm water run-off. Housing and neighbourhoods should feature high quality public and shared spaces that contribute to the improvement of Hounslow’s wider public realm and environment.
Our shared spaces, both internal and external, play a vital role in the quality of our housing, and should offer safe, inclusive, high quality places in which public life can thrive. They must balance a range of vital, and sometimes conflicting, uses and needs, as well as providing space for the diverse communities of Hounslow. Equilibrium needs to be found between space to move and space to pause, space for biodiversity, play and sociability.
4.1. Engaging and robust public realm
4.1.1. Is there accessible outdoor space that all residents can enjoy within close proximity of their home?
4.1.2. Are public and private spaces clearly defined with areas that can benefit the wider community e.g. open green space that isn’t locked?
4.1.3. Does the landscape design include a mixture of hard and soft surfaces that promote biodiversity whilst minimising ongoing maintenance?
4.1.4. Are streets within the development designed to encourage low vehicle speeds, allowing them to better function as social spaces?
4.1.5. Have the public spaces been designed to promote the safety and perceptions of safety of all users, with a particular emphasis on safety for women and girls?
4.1.6. Does the design of public and shared space allow for active and passive leisure activities that promote social interactions between residents, e.g. food growing and gardening?
4.2. Biodiverse landscapes
4.2.1. Have opportunities been taken to incorporate existing habitats and vegetation, including trees?
4.2.2. Does the development improve the biodiversity of the local area in a way that is particular to local need and environmental character?
4.2.3. Have appropriate tree species, types and maturities been selected through consultation with maintenance teams?
4.2.4. Has a robust, realistic maintenance plan been established for plants, trees and soft landscaping?
4.2.5. Does the external lighting strategy minimise light pollution and disruption to habitats and species?
4.3. Play space for all
4.3.1. Is there an appropriate mix of dedicated and well-integrated incidental play space on-site as part of the development for children of different ages?
4.3.2. Does the public realm enable and support sport or exercise at a convenient distance from homes?
4.3.3. Has provision for sport been considered within public and shared spaces?
4.3.4. Does the public realm account for the leisure and social needs of teenagers, older children and older people of varying mobilities, as well as for young children and adults?
4.4. Sustainable movement and active travel
4.4.1. Does the design support access to public transport?
4.4.2. Does the development prioritise and promote active travel - walking, wheeling and cycling - including through well-designed routes, spaces and facilities?
4.4.3. Is car parking designed such that it does not dominate the public realm whilst being conveniently located near homes, particularly accessible (Part M4 3) homes?
4.5. Climate resilient landscapes
4.5.1. Has a site-specific strategy for flood risk and water management been developed to integrate Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems into both landscapes and buildings?
4.5.2. Has the public space been designed to reduce the urban heat island effect and to provide shade for people and buildings?
4.5.3. Does hard and soft landscaping reduce air and noise pollution wherever possible, e.g. green buffers, low vehicle speed roads, air cleaning planting?
