Alphington Design Guide


This design guide has been produced by Alphington Forum.

It is a work in progress

REVISION 03 - 29 November 2012

Document Control

Revision / Date / Description
01 / 2 October 2012 / First general issue
02 / 13 November 2012 / SW area description added, Beacon heath photos added – internal issue only
03 / 29 November 2012 / Chapters added to allow posting on web (max 2mb)

CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1

1. INTRODUCTION.

2. HISTORY

3. TOPOGRAPHY/ DRAINAGE

4. TREES AND HEDGEROWS

5. PHOTOGRAPHS OF ALPHINGTON HOUSES

CHAPTER 2

6. PLANS OF ALPHINGTON AREAS

7. PARKING

8. STREETS

9. MOVEMENT

10. EAST and WEST areas

CHAPTER 3

11. SOUTH WEST AREA

12. BEACON HEATH ECO HOUSES

ALPHINGTON DESIGN GUIDE – CHAPTER 1

1. INTRODUCTION

This document has been produced by Alphington Forum to set out resident's views about the character of any new developments within Alphington.

The focus is initially on the proposed development on the southern boundary of Alphington, in an area of high landscape value.

The Residential Design Guide of Exeter City Council is mainly directed at new developments at high densities. Alphington has a unique character and the Forum considers that the RDG does not adequately address the needs of Alphington.

For instance:

  • culs-de-sac are given short shrift in the RDG, but these are common in Alphington and give secure areas for children to play and for residents. The main reason given for not using culs-de-sac is that the RDG says that a hammerhead or turning circle is required and takes up space. This need not be the case, if the cul-de-sac is of normal estate road width.
  • House styles in the RDG tend to be urban town style houses with uninterrupted front elevations, which although they can have detail, this is repetitive and boring. Alphington on the other hand has a pleasing mix of housing, even in the newer areas. The proposed development is on the edge of Alphington and town house styles are not appropriate. .
  • New houses are invariably standard gabled houses, with few hipped roofs. Hipped roofs allow more light between houses and views of trees. Although they may cost slightly more, they introduce variety.
  • The RDG does not seem to encourage gardens. Front gardens are essential spaces for residents to sit outside (which encourages community interaction) especially if they are in an upper storey, or if their back garden faces north. Back gardens allow space for growing of plants, and pursuit of hobbies, and safe spaces for young children. A minimum space in front of houses similar to those at the start of Steeple Drive or in Chantry Meadow is 2.5 metres.
  • The RDG encourages uniform building lines as seen in areas of Newcourt, and discourages set backs and other variations. It is however these variations that help to keep the random village character of Alphington.

Further suggestions for improvement:

  • Many new developments have some public open spaces. While these could be play areas for children, in many cases children have to cross roads or walk some distance to get to them. Smaller local green spaces overlooked by neighbours are better and safer for children.
  • Green hills policy – A tree belt should be planted along the city boundary so that a green line is seen above roof tops.
  • Brick vs rendered elevations. A mix of facing brick and rendered houses is desirable, and sometimes on the same house. Pale coloured render is much less obtrusive than all facing brick, and gives a feeling of spaciousness. Where new houses reduce light to existing properties, or are higher than existing properties, they should be white or cream rendered, to blend more with the sky.
  • Public open spaces. More smaller public areas are better than fewer large open spaces, so that children can be supervised more easily.

2. HISTORY/ ARCHAEOLOGY

A house now known as the Gables, in Chudleigh Road, was built in 1730. During its early years, it was used as a prison for those sentenced to death, and due to be hanged at the Old Oak Tree on the Shillingford Road. The Gables has a tunnel that was also used as a wine cellar - the prisoners would be led through the tunnel to their execution, and their bodies brought back along Hangman's Lane, to be buried opposite the house, on the other side of the Chudleigh Road. (in plot no ?? in the SW Exeter Master plan)

3. TOPOGRAPHY/ DRAINAGE

The site is divided into esatern and western areas by Chudleigh Road.

The eastern area starts flat at Dawlish road and rises gradually up to Chudleigh Road which is in a cutting where it rises from the Waybrook valley. The eastern area was prone to flooding south of Pulpit walk but was drained some 10 years ago, presumably into the road drainage system.

Water from the field to the west of Pulpit Walk runs off in heavy rain along the small cul-de-sac in Pulpit Walk, and goes into road drains in Pulpit walk. This field also drains to the field south of Pulpit Walk (see previous paragraph).

This field rises up from the huses on Pulpit Walk and some native deciduous trees planted along the field boundary would reduce the loss of amenity. Similarly, the wet area at the end of Pulpit Walk/ Tower Walk would benefit from some wetland planting such as willow trees, and again mitigate the amenity loss.

The western area rises gradually from Chudleigh Road bounded by Markham (Hangman’s) lane until it reaches Shillingford Road at the bridge over the A30.

Markham lane is a significant feature and should be preserved.

4. TREES AND HEDGEROWS

In the eastern area the hedgerows have been trimmed, cutting off many young oak trees trhat grow in the hedgerow. In the western area there are significant trees, and hedgerows along Markham Lane.

5. PHOTOGRAPHS OF ALPHINGTON HOUSES

Examples of preferred and non-preferred practice.

The following pages have photographs taken by residents together with their comments.

Contributions from: Ray Spiller, Malcolm Welch, Peter Phillips


Good well spaced, houses not precisely opposite and wide enough for two vehicles. (RS1204) /
Bad -too close together, neighbour rows re re parking opposite drives. (RS1205)

Too narrow and parking is too restricted in the turning area. /
Good -Close but parking arranged and labelled at end of block and a pleasant outlook.

Good -has variety and changes of aspect. (RS1207) /
Bad -Have to drive over neighbours’ land to park.
(RS1208)

Although houses are close, set back façade and interspered lighter colour helps /
Arch detail on gable window, chamfered roof, colour variation.

Hipped roofs show more sky, light upper storey colour much better than all brick. Good detail. /
Although no colour variation, at least houses are set back with variable roof line.

Plain front grass space, ideal for chatting to neighbours, wide enogh for small tree. Hipped roofs reduce impact. /
Varied facades, well concealed court parking and space for random trees gives village feel

Chamfered roof, roof variation, colour variation, entrance to parking court unobtrusive /
Trees make all the difference! Block in centre would benefit from hipped roof to reduce impact

Hipped roof greatly ruduces building impact as does light finish /
Blocks on left less obtrusive with lower roof line. On right light lower render does not reduce the bulk much, but since close to trading estate is acceptable.

At urban end of Alphington/Cowick – totally inappropriate for village area. /
Bland, little detailing. Porches appear add-on rather than integral.