Carterton Town Council have commissioned a new bandstand for their Alvescot Road Park.  We have designed a curvilinear structure, formed of galvanised tubular steel with a ceiling to keep the rain or sun off, with integral lighting.  Due for completion in May.  Polish up the Tuba!

This development would be one of the first buildings to be started as part of a major regeneration of the heart of the trading estate area.

The new National Planning Policy Framework puts the Localism agenda into context, but at what cost?

The new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) seeks to change the emphasis placed on the planning regime to a more pro-active approach toward sustainable development.  This legislation (in some 52 pages) will replace over 2500 pages of guidance set out in the current PPGs, PPSs and other documents.

The NPPF has the immediate effect of putting the localism agenda into a more realistic and comprehensible context.  The continued requirement for new Neighbourhood Plans (required by the Localism Bill) to conform with the Local Plan and therefore by implication the wider, evidence based approach to strategic planning, is good news for developers.  Local authorities are still required to allocate land for housing land (plus an allowance of at least 20% to encourage market choice) and so this helps allay fears that NIMBY decisions taken at a local level would put an unwelcome brake on development proposals.

This is not all necessarily all good news.  The environmental implications are still very much under debate.  Recently Richard Rogers challenged the planning bill’s definition of sustainable  development with the fear that without robust parameters, developers would have ‘carte blanche’ for urban sprawl in our cities. The implication is that it will be easier to make a case for developing outside brown field land.

Here is the link:

http://www.cpfas.org.uk/page.asp?node=34&sec=The_Playing_Field

New woodland for the next generation

A new mixed woodland of some 8 hectares has been planted at Barkham Ride Wokingham (providing a SANGS (Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space)

http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/planningcontrol/planning/planningpolicies/thamesbasinheathsspa/sang/

The overall site (18.5 ha) provides a green lung and is designed reduce visitor impact on the Thames Basin Heaths by providing an attractive alternative for locals to discover for recreation.

Carolyn Place with David Cameron at Alvescott Road Recreation Ground

Mr Cameron had already been introduced to the project about 6 months ago at a previous visit to the town which is within his constituency.

You can view a video of the opening from this link:

http://oxbox.tv/showvideo.php?video=5291558

Anthony Stiff Associates is hoping to be appointed to design another play space within the town.

We’ve done it! We have passed our external audit and can now say that we are ISO 9001 compliant which is great news for us and for our clients.  We see this as a positive step towards better and more efficient business and project management.  Thanks are due to Frank Pavy of Pavy Associates our consultant. http://pavy.co.uk/

http://www.playareadesign.co.uk/

This site features recent projects and expertise gained over the last 2 years mainly derived from projects bidding for, and winning grants within the national Playbuilder Scheme promoting natural play within guidelines developed by Play England.  We have expanded this work into primary school resource areas at a number of sites in Oxfordshire.

We are currently fully staffed.

We do occasionally need additional resources, full time, part time or free lance and so if you do wish to send us your details we will be happy to bear you in mind should the need arise.

Anthony Stiff Associates
68F Milton Park
Abingdon
Oxfordshire
OX14 4RX

Tel: 01235 832800
Fax: 01235 861462
Email: info@anthonystiffassociates.co.uk

We look forward to hearing from you.