Landscape Ambitions

The Preston landscape - local inspiration

Many residents have said how much they value the local landscape.

Here we outline some local landscape elements which will feature in the new proposals.

Landscape Goals

Drawing on local inspiration - and feedback during previous community engagement events - we have created a series of landscape goals.

These goals will guide our designs across the whole neighbourhood.

Key landscape proposals

Raven’s plans for the landscape are still in the early stages. Some of the plans will require additional funding, and Raven is exploring different options to secure that. If funding can be found, the aim would be to introduce:

Sociable and safe community squares

Two new squares would connect with the church and Merland Green and the shops at Marbles Way. Tackling anti-social behaviour is a key priority within these spaces and across the wider area. We will aim to:

  • Encourage busy, well-used spaces - research shows busy, sociable spaces are safer spaces

  • Improve lighting, avoiding dark corners

  • Ensure new buildings overlook spaces, providing natural surveillance

  • Ensure planting is at a level which allows clear lines of sight into the public space.

New play opportunities

Small play and social spaces would be created alongside the new developments.

Slower, safer streets

We would explore interventions including traffic calming measures, and dropped kerbs and crossings.

Improvements to parking

We would explore interventions including traffic calming measures, and dropped kerbs and crossings.

Better connections

We would explore the creation of well-signposted routes and connections through the neighbourhood, and to the wider landscape beyond.

New habitats

We would plant new street trees and create areas of wildflower meadow along with other new habitats for wildlife.

Your feedback

At the last drop-in session a menu of different landscape interventions was proposed, allowing people to show their preferences using coloured stickers.

We have summarised the results on this board. Your priorities will help guide our landscape designs moving forward.