The development site is located at the southern tip of Epping Forest within the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The site is bounded by Hawksmouth, a 3m wide track leading to Epping Forest Open Space, to the west, by Blandford Close to the east and by a small care home to the south, and is located adjacent to Pole Hill, a significant local landmark with views over London.
The site is a former industrial use with a large paved surface which has left a poor edge to Epping Forest. This is a key entrance point to Epping Forest from the surrounding suburban housing, which the current site condition has a detrimental impact upon.
A key goal of the landscape is to re-create the forest edge.
This will enrich the sites biodiversity and contribute to the SAC, landscape character and planning goals whilst also helping the new building be of its place and enhancing the Hawksmouth entrance to Epping Forest
The landscape design responds to the setting of the development, both in its wider Epping Forest context and its rising ridge topography to
propose a series of spaces which contribute to the Special Area of Conservation whilst creating a beautiful setting for the new building.
The landscape to the north will re-create the forest edge through a transition of trees, understory planting, grasses and a pebble channel, with access provided from adjacent units.
Client: Atlantida Development Limited.
Architect: KKM & Rosario Russo
Planning Consultant: Savills