Approximately two-thirds of the land east of Aldermaston Road would be set aside for public open space, including retention of most of the existing planting on-site and additional new planting to boost biodiversity.

 

An indicative plan showing the proposed open space in the southern half of the site

 

The southern half of the site plays an important role as part of the open countryside separating Sherborne St John and Basingstoke.  Under our proposals this part of the site would be turned into green open space, retaining and enhancing the existing vegetation on its boundaries and converting the current agricultural land into open grassland.  Whilst portions of this open area will comprise amenity grassland for residents to enjoy, wilder areas of meadow will be created, with the shallow chalky soils presenting the opportunity to support calcareous grassland, which is a nationally rare / declining habitat that supports a rich diversity of plants and invertebrates.  While the intention would be to keep this part of the site relatively open, in-keeping with the open characteristics of the Strategic Gap, there is also some scope for new tree planting in the southernmost part of the site, as this is the part closest to the northern edge of Basingstoke which is noted for woodland blocks.

 

Another component of the landscape strategy is to set the new homes back from the existing dense vegetation on the western boundary, creating a green corridor that can provide a suitable and attractive foot / cycle route along the length of the site but also protect the wildlife that are or could be using that vegetation, such as commuting / foraging bats, nesting birds, badgers, and small mammals and reptiles. Our surveys have found white helleborine orchids in a number of locations along the western boundary and within the grassland at the very southern tip of the site, which is a species threatened with extinction nationally and would be retained, with the newly created meadows providing additional space for the orchid population to naturally spread.

 

The proposed areas of open space in the northern half of the site will also incorporate sustainable drainage features (SUDS), designed to collect surface water-run off from the development, treat the water for any impurities / pollution, and then discharge it into the ground.  These will include rain gardens and swales alongside two landscaped infiltration basins and will be planted with a diverse mix of native aquatic plants, further supporting invertebrates and the species that may forage upon them such as birds, bats and mammals.