Masterplanning

IntroductionAtkins’ multidisciplinary capability equips us to address the economic, social, physical and environmental aspects of development in a fully integrated manner.

We have an established reputation for providing imaginative, practical and independent advice, taking projects of all kinds and sizes, for both public and private sector clients, from initial study to completion.

Our holistic approach to understanding the complexities of a brief, solving problems and responding to opportunities, is at once pragmatic and innovative, ensuring our solutions are balanced, people-friendly and sustainable.

We see stakeholder and community engagement as central to any project, to gain consensus or preferably active support for proposals. We are experienced in helping the various stakeholders involved in the development process to reach consensus on contentious proposals and in delivering practical solutions which can be implemented.

MasterplanningMasterplans address the complex issues that affect our towns, cities and neighbourhoods, by responding to the issues that face any particular environment to visualise and communicate how it can change for the better. They provide a vision as well as a strategic decision-making tool, with economic and market elements, explaining how a site, series of sites or an area will be developed. At Atkins we have been successfully responding to this challenge across the world, for more than 25 years.

Our first step is a vision and concept, followed by a strategic framework, setting out the baseline physical, economic, social and political context. We then move on to a detailed masterplan and implementation plan. The masterplan must make the most of existing assets, for instance historic buildings and townscape, as well as introducing new dynamics. It must capture the imagination of stakeholders and the wider public and realise their aspirations for a thriving, attractive, accessible and people-friendly environment. It must also be the catalyst for attracting funding and inward investment. High quality and sustainable development, long term economic viability and the protection of the environment are central.

The challenge is to develop an imaginative masterplan that will create a sense of identity and inspire change, but is also practical and deliverable. A successful masterplan therefore requires an innovative and forward thinking approach, underpinned by comprehensive understanding of the underlying technical issues.

At Atkins we respond to this challenge by assembling specialist multi-discipline masterplanning teams from the UK, Middle East and China. Our projects range from major metropolitan masterplans in large cities, through plans for brownfield and greenfield sites of all sizes, to urban design frameworks for market towns and declining district centres. We work for private sector developers, investors and landowners; local, regional and national government; and other public sector clients of all kinds. In developing masterplans we use specialists with a wide range of expertise including:

• urban and landscape design

• site development and masterplanning

• planning policy and land use

• economic and social development

• strategic urban regeneration

• transport

• communication, consultation and consensus

• market analysis

• environmental impact assessment

• sustainability

• heritage and archaeology

• tourism and leisure

• architecture

• civil engineering

Panama Pacifico, PanamaAtkins prepared an outline masterplan for a 2,000ha site located half a mile from Panama City on the western side of the Panama Canal. The site is a designated Special Economic Area and is partially occupied by the former US Howard Air Force Base.

The masterplan covers a period of 40 years and relies on sustainable planning and urban design principles to create a self-sufficient mixed use community providing industrial, residential, retail, commercial, leisure and tourism uses. It responds to a wide range of local social, economic and environmental issues and has involved specialist technical inputs from a multidisciplinary team comprised of landscape and urban designers, architects, urban and transport planners, economists, utilities specialists and environmental engineers.

Part of Atkins’ work included the formulation of design guidelines for the various character areas to be developed on the site. These guidelines have been adopted by the Panamanian Government, alongside the masterplan, and will form the basis for a new urban zoning system for the area.

Almada Docks, PortugalAll baseline studies have been carried out by discipline specialists, both local and international. Each can stand alone as relevant and up to date pieces of research in their fields. International benchmarking has also been important.

Community involvement throughout the project has been central, with a whole range of initiatives to ensure everyone who wishes to can take an active part in the development of the masterplan. The process has, in effect, been a collective education for consultants, client and community. It has resulted in a genuine depth of understanding, by all involved, of philosophical and social constraints and opportunities, matched with environmental, geological and geotechnical knowledge.

Combine this comprehensive local understanding and sense of place with the international expertise of the consortium and the result is what Almada Municipality describe as a reality; an ambitious, commercially viable and sustainable vision for Almada.

The work on the Almada Docks in Lisbon, Portugal is one of the most extensive dockland regeneration projects within Europe, covering a site of 150 hectares. Almada’s rebirth will create a city of two margins, centralising and creating a feature of the River Tagus.

Atkins is developing an overall urban design masterplan and urban planning framework based on sustainable urban design principles and the detailed investigation, identification, and remediation of the contamination issues for the site prior to development.

The mixed-use masterplan will reinvent the Lisbon ‘praca’ to create streets and public space which are human, lively, intimate and secure. As the site is exposed, buildings will be used to create a well-tempered environment, giving the pedestrian priority over the car and creating a place that works for people and fosters an inclusive community.

The project methodology is a model of best practice. Initial technical studies have been carried out in parallel with the design process, ensuring articulation and integration between all disciplines and all areas of understanding.

Images provided by Richard Rogers Partnership

Asian Beach Games, OmanWe were commissioned to develop a masterplan for the 2010 Asian Beach Games, held in Muscat, Oman. The Asian Beach Games are organised by the Asian Olympic Committee and are the biannual event for beach sports such as volleyball, handball and kabbadi as well as a range of watersports. Our commision is to prepare a conceptual masterplan for the site for the games to the north of the city of Muscat. The masterplan illustrates the layout of the sports facilities, competitors village, hotels, games support facilities and associated infrastructure. The centrepiece of the masterplan is a new harbour created to accommodate the water sports crafts around which are located the new hotels, cafes, restaurants and a public boulevard which will host the opening and closing ceremonies and medal presentations. The masterplan accommodates environmental protection measures to safeguard the sensitive dune system and a seasonal ‘khwar’ feature which is prone to occasional flooding during periods of heavy rainfall. The scheme also includes an area of date palms which will be transplanted from adjacent areas subject to rising salt water levels. The masterplan has been prepared with the legacy after use of the site in mind so that the infrastructure installed as part of the games can be reused after the beach games are complete.

Ras Al Hamra, OmanAtkins’ masterplanning for Ras Al Hamra retreat & resort has created a flagship of sustainable development recognised internationally as a new benchmark for life, work and play in an exceptional coastal landscape. This development is expressed architecturally and in urban form as an elegant and modern interpretation of traditional Omani Heritage and Culture in Muscat.

The site covers an area of land located to the west of the Qurm residential area and accommodates a housing community, social and recreational facilities for Petroleum Development Oman staff and their families. The aim of the project was to examine the feasibility of redeveloping the site as a high quality residential area, with resort attractions and to provide a product positioned to attract a different market segment from other planned developments in Muscat by virtue of innovative planning, design concepts and ideas, as well as providing a top quality lifestyle, range of services and amenities for the community.

The design for the Ras Al Hamra Retreat and Resort built on the site’s many natural benefits including a variety of native flora, a rich and productive marine environment and archaeological features, as well as a varied topography including hills, beaches, complex coastline, wadi areas and dramatic views.

Building Heights Limitation Study, Abu Dhabi, UAEAbu Dhabi Municipality commissioned Atkins to develop a strategy for defining appropriate heights and locations for development. Abu Dhabi has come under increasing development pressure in recent years, and in particular within the CBD. Guidelines were produced sometime ago on theheight and design of buildings, these rigid development guidelines have to some extent created a monotonous urban form and have stifled development. As part of the study we have developed a strategy for how the city can accommodate new tall buildings in a way that enhances theCity’s skyline and creates an improved public realm. This has involved creating a 3D model of the City to test a variety of future development scenarios in terms of impact on how the city will look, international benchmarking to assess the merits of different approaches to tall buildings around the city, and assessing the impacts on the transport network ofdifferent scenarios. The output from the study is a new set of development guidelines identifying building heights for different parts of the City.

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Abu Dhabi Building Heights Limitation StudyAbu Dhabi Municipality commissioned Atkins to develop a strategy for defining appropriate heights and locations for development. Abu Dhabi has come under increasing development pressure in recent years, and in particular within the CBD. Guidelines were produced sometime ago on the height and design of buildings, these rigid development guidelines have to some extent created a monotonous urban form and have stifled development. As part of the study we have developed a strategy for how the city can accommodate new tall buildings in a way that enhances the City’s skyline and creates an improved public realm. This has involved creating a 3D model of the City to test a variety of future development scenarios in terms of impact on how the city will look, international benchmarking to assess the merits of different approaches to tall buildings around the city, and assessing the impacts on the transport network of different scenarios. The output from the study is a new set of development guidelines identifying building heights for different parts of the City.

S t r u c t u r e P l a n f o r W i l a y a t M a s e r a h a n d L o c a l P l a n f o r M a s e r a h T o w n

Jakarta, IndonesiaThe Pantai Mutiara development scheme in Jakarta is a privately funded project comprising ten 30-storey residential towers, a 40-storey landmark hotel, two 5-storey serviced apartment blocks and an 11ha central water park. The development area is located on a reclaimed island off the Jakarta coastline.

Our role was to create a landscape masterplan for the entire development area. The concept for the development is simple but dynamic with the proposed towers creating a cluster of sails. This nautical theme is continued in the landscape with the towers being orientated around a compass feature, designed to be visible from land, sea and air. The compass points alternately comprised hard and soft landscape, with the rich colours of the granite paving contrasting with the lush green of the planting. Each point provides residential space including swimming pools, paved forums and colourful gardens. The central water park is a Paradise Island with wave machine, water slides and lazy river winding its way through temple ruins, grottoes, giant lizards and a fisherman’s cove, in a rich planted setting.

Tanjung Priok, the main port in Jakarta, is expanding rapidly. Land on the western side of the port closest to the city centre was identified as having the potential for the development of a new passenger ferry terminal and transport interchange with associated commercial development. We were commissioned to carry out a feasibility study and then to prepare conceptual design proposals. We then went on to produce the detailed designs. The new centre will include a hotel, office and retail complex facing the waterfront, a new bus/rail terminal and an exhibition/convention centre. The entire development will be linked by pedestrian routes on elevated decking to improve the environmental quality of the area. A light rapid transit facility linking the development to the city centre is proposed.

Bao’an, ChinaSituated to the west of Shenzhen in close proximity to Shenzhen International Airport, the project is to plan a new central business district for the Bao’an district. The CBD development area occupies an area of about 110 hectares (excluding the central parks) and provides a total accommodation space of 3 million square metres for office, commercial, hotel and residential uses.

Given the scarcity of land that remains in this well established district the plan looks to create a comprehensive and compact development both vertically and horizontally while maximising connectivity with future metro stations and landmark cultural buildings. The plan also provides sufficient development flexibility to better respond to future changing market conditions, while at the same time maintain different degrees of control to ensure design consistency and overall development framework.

Xia Sha, ChinaThe first phase of this project covers an area of about 1 sq km and is located along the eastern coastline of Shenzhen City in the Pearl River Delta of southern China.

The plan intends to create a new cultural and tourism destination utilising the intrinsic values of the place including the local Ke Jia ethnic culture and Nin Nan architectural style. It also includes an all-weather water centre using energy from the nearby power station to provide heating in the winter.

Business centres, corporate accommodation and a 7-star hotel are planned to provide a new conference and event venue for businesses operating in the Pearl River Delta. The second phase of the project includes a hilltop golf course that overlooks the South China Sea.

Xunliao, ChinaLocated to the east of Shenzhen City in the Pearl River Delta of southern China, this new tourism and resort destination maximises the 16km coastline, pristine sandy beaches and natural resources including mangroves, paddy fields and fishing villages.

The project includes plans for some ten international hotels and resorts (Sheraton Hotel & Resort is scheduled to open in 2008), an international standard 18-hole golf course in the first phase, yacht clubs and luxury villas with private marinas. The core township

provides a range of resident and visitor facilities including direct road and sea transportation to major cities such as Shenzhen, Macau, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

The planned 60,000 resident community lifestyle will be in the form of family homes, holiday retreats, healthy ageing communities and tourist accommodation, all based on the concept of family values and healthy lifestyle.

Zhujiang, ChinaAn international design competition for the design of the underground space and central square in the new Zhujiang CBD in the heart of Guangzhou City. The site occupies an area of 140 hectares with a gross floor area of 43 hectares of underground space.

A multidisciplinary team of designers and engineers provided an integrated solution including 1) the planning of the underground commercial and supporting space and requirements, 2) design of the 5 “exposed” mass transit stations along the continuous underground space, 3) comprehensive underground road and intelligent transport systems design, 4) computer-modelled pedestrian planning for the interchange stations between the internal mass transit and the city-based metro systems, 5) seamless vertical and sub-tropical landscape designed to bring natural lighting and environment into the underground space, 6) construction planning for the complex design, 7) design-driven structural design as well as other engineering feasibility and costing works.

This project was jointly managed by and involved staff from various teams and offices in mainland China and Hong Kong.

Durrat Island, BahrainThe Durrat Al Bahrain development in the Kingdom of Bahrain will be a world-famous resort and residential destination. The Islands will become a model resort city for Bahrain and set a benchmark for projects in this unspoiled coastal region.

Atkins was awarded the comprehensive masterplanning, design and project management contract for this development because of our significant global presence and our respected reputation for producing innovative and iconic designs. We are responsible for the design and management of the whole project. This includes a re-design of the masterplan to create this signature world-class development.

The project comprises an overall area of 20 square kilometres and includes a series of paradise islands and all related infrastructure at the southern tip of the island.

Technopolis and E-village, SyriaThe Syrian Government wished to establish two ‘Special Economic Zones’, one a high tech city, Technopolis, for heavy and light industry, and the other an ‘E-village’ to cater for educational and service sector organisations. We prepared masterplans for these zones to demonstrate their phased development. These plans identified infrastructure requirements for which preliminary capital cost estimates were prepared.

Socotra Archipelago, Yemen The Socotra archipelago is one of the least developed parts of the Yemen Republic, famous world-wide for its flora and fauna. Atkins was commissioned to prepare a masterplan for the islands’ development over a ten year period. We looked at the existing situation in a variety of sectors - environment, population, health, education, fisheries, agriculture, livestock, tourism, economy, infrastructure, utilities, local government administration, water and land use - and devised projects for implementation in each sector, which would not threaten the wildlife. In response to the enormous tourism potential, a phased eco-tourism development plan was recommended, based on the building of eco-lodges and involving training programmes for local people.

Londonderry, Northern IrelandAtkins has been working on an integrated urban design strategic framework for the ‘Heart of the City’ in Londonderry.

Commissioned by the Department of Social Development’s Londonderry office, we took a comprehensive long-term view of the ‘Heart of the City’ in order to identify what would be achievable in the next 15 years. Our urban design strategic framework has begun a wide dialogue about what character is desirable for Londonderry City Centre.

We have developed proposals under eight headings - river, movement, major developments, opportunity sites, walled city, commercial core, parks and the public realm and neighbourhoods. A very successful public consultation programme won wide support for the proposals.

Our Strategic Framework also shows, in some detail, how design guidance can help deliver the strategy. It is designed to be flexible and to avoid dependence on any single element which may not be realised. Its aim is to achieve an environment that is vibrant and animated, reflecting the new ideas on urbanisation and the cultural importance of City Centres being seen throughout Europe.

Ashford Growth Area, Kent, UKAshford in Kent is earmarked by the Government as one of the Sustainable Communities Growth Areas and is also being promoted as a key location for attracting inward investment to the region.

We have been working for The Church Commissioners on a masterplan for a new community on their land at Cheeseman’s Green, on the south east outskirts of the town. Ashford Borough Council has adopted our development brief which pursues village principles, offering a mix of uses, density and building type as Supplementary Planning Guidance. An outline planning application for the new mixed use sustainable village, providing 1,100 new homes and up to 70,000 square metres of business space, has also been approved.

The principles of sustainability have been central to the development of the proposals for Cheeseman’s Green, as has an emphasis on environmental considerations, the need to achieve transport sustainability and a commitment to the highest standards of urban design, including the public realm.

Bay Pointe, Cardiff Bay, WalesBay Pointe is a contemporary waterfront residential development on the peninsula site at Cardiff’s International Sports Village (CISV). We were appointed to develop a masterplan for the scheme, which comprises 2400 apartments in 10 buildings, along with associated public realm and waterside spaces. The 3 Conran-designed landmark towers are the focal point of the scheme, standing 41 storeys high.

While the buildings may be breathtaking, more than 65% of the site is dedicated to open and public spaces, with the creation of a 1.7 hectare park as part of the project. Bay Pointe will also provide a 500m wide waterside footpath and cycleway that allows public access to the waterfront, and links to the boulevard that runs through the heart of the development. Bay Pointe is designed to be a place where people will be proud to live, and be a part of.

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Grays, London, UKAtkins has been working on a number of commissions designed to improve and revitalise Grays on the River Thames in Essex, reconnecting the town across the railway line which divides it and linking the centre back to the river. We were first commissioned by Thurrock Thames Gateway Urban Development Corporation to produce a masterplan for the town centre, which then provided the basis for more detailed studies looking at improvements to the railway station and surrounding area and a study to design an achievable marina scheme for the riverfront. The projects have involved a team drawn from a wide range of planning, design, environment and engineering disciplines. In addition to the masterplan and detailed design, our work has included sustainability appraisal, environmental impact assessment and extensive consultation. We have also developed a VISSIM highways model which is being used to test the proposals for the town.

Lea Square, London, UKThe £180m Lea Square development will provide a new vibrant vicinity at the western extremity of the Thames Gateway in the Lea Valley, Newham, between the City and Stratford.

Lea Square, which includes offices, retail, leisure, residential, community spaces and exhibition facilities, is on a 1.4 hectare brownfield regeneration site at the confluence of the Rivers Lea and Bow Back.

The three ‘floating cloud’ towers provide a strong landmark statement at the ‘Gateway to Newham’. The building designs include integrated renewable and low energy initiatives, setting exemplar targets for sustainability.

New public piazzas will be defined, and a new wharf is also included in the plans. Residential town houses and garden apartments along the riverside are integral to the character of the street context.

The scheme is currently at planning stage and Atkins has been commissioned for full inter-discipline architecturally led services.

North Riverside, Derby, UKAtkins was commissioned in association with Savills to undertake a masterplanning, viability appraisal and forward planning strategy exercise for an area of land known as North Riverside, Derby.

The re-development of the North Riverside area is a key component of Derby Cityscape Limited’s revised masterplan for Derby City. The area is a currently under-used part of the city centre, which fails to contribute fully to its vibrancy. Derby Cityscape Limited therefore commissioned Atkins to develop masterplan options for the site, including a 4*/5* hotel, commercial offices, residential apartments, a multi-storey car park, retail, leisure and public realm improvements.

The proposed masterplan schemes were appraised for their financial viability and recommendations for a preferred scheme provided. Market research was also undertaken for the proposed site outputs along with a degree of soft market testing. The results of this were used to inform both the layout and viability of the masterplan schemes proposed. Once a final masterplan scheme had been determined for the site, a Forward Planning and Delivery Strategy for the site was produced.

Area Action Plan, Burslem, UKAs the ‘Mother Town’ of Potteries, Burslem is rich in heritage and still retains much of the town’s original features. The town has suffered from the gradual decline in its manufacturing base and its retail core, but is now beginning to witness developer interest and the challenge is to ensure that new development is in keeping with the historic character.

Working with the Local Authority and other stakeholders our task was to deliver a masterplan and urban design action plan for the town centre, to guide regeneration. Consultation formed a significant element of the commission, involving extensive interaction with community groups (partly through a special community conference) and with stakeholders and businesses.

Kettering Masterplan, Northamptonshire, UKAtkins was commissioned by Northamptonshire Partnership to develop a masterplan for Kettering in Northamptonshire. The design process included the creation of a Strategic Framework for each town that determined the location of new developments and their use, public realm schemes and transport proposals. More detailed proposals were developed from these frameworks and formatted into development briefs that gave guidance on the mix of uses, urban form and design of individual sites. Stakeholder and community consultation formed an integral part of the masterplan process.

Town Centre Masterplan, Hinckley, UKWe led a consortium of consultants in the preparation of a masterplan to promote the renaissance of Hinckley, a market town in the East Midlands. Our study placed Hinckley in context and examined the physical, social and economic aspects which govern the town. Wide ranging consultation was central to our work. We identified the factors responsible for the town’s underperformance, the existing assets which could be developed and exploited, as well as identifying new sources of demand. Particular focus was given to the redevelopment of key development sites within the town centre as well as an in-depth study into a new leisure/cultural facility. Our aim was to develop a strategy for Hinckley town centre that would provide a welcoming image, promote design excellence, attract new investment and create a high quality environment where people would want to live, work and visit. A wide choice of housing was proposed, varying in price and tenure in new buildings as well as in converted hosiery factories and above shops. There were proposals for business premises ranging from small workshops to office accommodation. Under the proposals people would find a varied range of shops, restaurants and pubs and Hinckley will be a lively and safe place with overlooked public spaces. Pedestrians and cyclists would enjoy improved accessibility to the town centre and new leisure and cultural facilities would be an integral part of the town centre.

Area Action Plan, Matlock, UKMatlock with 11,000 residents is the largest town in the Derbyshire Dales. The town was formerly a spa resort and is a popular destination for visitors to the Peak District.

Atkins was commissioned to provide an imaginative and deliverable masterplan and Area Action Plan that will breathe new life into Matlock.

The key services provided by Atkins’ integrated team, comprising planners, urban designers, regeneration specialists, landscape architects, heritage consultants and transport engineers included:

• masterplanning• commercial appraisal of development sites• urban design• planning• architecture• transport planning• economic development and regeneration

Whitechapel Masterplan, London, UKWe have completed the production of a masterplan for Whitechapel, in the heart of London’s East End. It focuses on revitalising the area around the popular street market, and includes two major development schemes - the new PFI Royal London Hospital and the proposed Crossrail station. These projects will increase development pressures in the area, and our brief was to produce a visionary document that would identify the unique character of the area, and outline how this can be enhanced and incorporated in future developments. The study involved working closely with a range of stakeholders, including Transport for London, who have their own improvement scheme for the A11 Whitechapel Road, which runs through the heart of the scheme. Suggestions covered improvements to transport, open spaces and the public realm throughout the study area. The document is currently undergoing a final round of public consultation before being adopted as SPD within the Tower Hamlets Local Development Framework.

Kidbrooke SPD, Greenwich, UKAtkins was commissioned by LB Greenwich to prepare an SPD for the Kidbrooke area. It was to elaborate on the Area Based policies in the Greenwich UDP and develop the Kidbrooke Vision Masterplan to provide design guidance to prospective development partners. Our work included the review and design development of the masterplan and the development of character area guidelines relating to urban form for the four main character areas within the development area, covering issues of built form, public realm and open space, access and parking. The preparation of the SPD also included a sustainability appraisal and community involvement was of central importance throughout.

Lytham Quays, Lancashire, UKAtkins won a major international competition to design a £600m tourism and business development on the Lancashire coast. The brief was to prepare a concept scheme for a 29 hectare brownfield site adjacent to the Ribble Estuary, with a mixed use development focusing on Tourism, Culture, Environment, Business and Commercial. The proposals include a marina for 300 yachts, hotel, shops, cinema, leisure, retail and 3000 apartments, all with underground parking.

Barking Station Interchange,London Thames Gateway, UKWe are in the process of being appointed by London Thames Gateway Development Corporation to produce a major public transport gateway masterplan for the Station Quarter in Barking, including an overhaul of the station itself and analysis of opportunities afforded by the surrounding urban block.

Our multi-discipline team is joined by Grimshaw for transport architecture and Savills for property advice.

RICHARD ALVEYWoodcote Grove

Ashley RoadEpsomSurrey

KT18 5BWEngland

Tel: 01372 726140 Fax: 01372 740055

Email: richard.alvey@atkinsglobal.com

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