Jane Davies

Since 2016 I have been involved in the landscape at North Whiteley. Outline planning was granted in July 2018 for a major new community to the north of Whiteley in Hampshire, comprising up to 3,500 dwellings, three schools, two local centres, a range of public open space and a link road. The site is ecologically sensitive, as it contains several SINC’s and a number of protected species populations, is bordered by a SSSI and is close to the River Hamble, which is designated as a SPA, SAC and Ramsar site. Working with a consortium of house builders we have produced reserve matters and construction drawing for the public open space and highway landscape infrastructure, liaising with the ecologist to ensure that European Species Licences for protected species are followed, whilst creating a beautiful place to live.

This was such an interesting project to work on being located in the South Devon AONB and close to a scheduled monument. Working closely with the client and the community we were able to minimise the landscape and visual impacts by reinstating a Devon hedgebank along a historic hedgerow alignment. Through community consultation there was a high level of public support at 92% and a local Community Benefit Society was set up to directly reduce local energy costs. The landscape included wildflower meadow and grassland beneath the panels grazed by sheep and creating habitat for bees enhancing the South Devon “B-Lines”. Beehives were provided, as well as hibernacula to provide refuges for amphibians and reptiles. Photomontages showing the growth of the hedgerows over time helped to show the community how the solar farm could be successfully screened within the landscape.

I have had the privilege of working on the Warner Bros. Studios for over 12 years. The site is set within the metropolitan green belt. The first element was the Studio Tour London – ‘The Making of Harry Potter’ TM, followed by a Studio Tour extension. At every stage WB has worked with the landscape team to ensure a high-quality environment. A new arrival plaza at the heart of the Studios required creative landscape retaining existing Lime trees with planters around them providing café seating areas. In January 2023 a masterplan was approved comprising 11 new sound stages, office buildings, workshops, a café, replacement backlot, the creation of a 12 acre publicly accessible park and associated site wide landscape and infrastructure works. This will double the size of the studios and paves the way towards WBSL becoming the second largest film studio in the world.