Literature

Please find our papers for download below

Strategic

Herts Guide to Growth

The Guide to Growth, records the Hertfordshire Charrette process which provided a rare chance for a diverse group of residents and professionals to convene to discuss challenges the region will face in future years. The exercise, which was held between the 24th of June and the first of July 2008 was led by urban planner Andres Duany and offered the Hertfordshire residents and professionals the opportunity to work directly with a design team developing sustainable growth strategies.

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Herts Guide to Growth 5 Years On

Five years after the Hertfordshire Charrette, this report undertaken by the Centre for Sustainable Communities Research Fellow, James Hulme and Dr. Susan Parham reviews how certain structural things have changed, where we have come from and directions for the future in relation to the county’s future development in the light of the ideas generated by the Hertfordshire Guide to Growth.

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A Strategic Overview

A Strategic Overview to the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan, provides a concise overview of representations made by Gascoyne Cecil Estates. The summary includes details of each of Gascoyne Cecil Estates sites together with proposals for green infrastructure and a sound long term plan.

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A Vision for Hatfield in Central Hertfordshire

A Vision for Hatfield proposes a bold, exciting vision for the future of the town as part of a Central Hertfordshire economic hub. After tracing Hatfield’s historic association with aerospace and manufacturing expertise, this brochure lays out the economic and social benefits of agglomeration, integrated transport networks, green infrastructure, carefully designed housing, and pedestrian-focused improvements to the public realm as part of a long-term plan to bring more strength and diversity to the local economy.

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A Green Infrastructure Strategy for Central Hertfordshire 2021

The Green Infrastructure brochure puts forward, in detail, our proposals for a Green Corridor stretching from St Albans to Hertford by Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City. Management proposals are discussed as well.

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Transport for Hatfield and Beyond in Central Hertfordshire 2021

This document provides analysis of the challenges ahead arising from ongoing growth in Hertfordshire. It argues that careful consideration of transport infrastructure is an essential component of future growth and development. It suggests that east-west connections are insufficient and the opportunities for their regeneration undervalued. It highlights present challenges as well as opportunities for the future.

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The Case for a New Hertfordshire Village

The Case for a New Hertfordshire Village puts forward the case for new villages as a viable approach to tackling the housing crisis. Given that villages housed a huge majority of the British population for much of the last millenium and that the English rural idyll still pulls people out of cities today, this brochure suggests that – as one of several housing delivery models offering answers to the present housing crisis – it is time for a rebirth of the English village.

A Green Infrastructure Strategy for Central Hertfordshire 2021

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The Pattern Book

The Pattern Book provides greater detail on each of Gascoyne Cecil Estates’ strategic development sites. Clear analysis is provided of design principles including densities, road hierarchies and landscaping.

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The Pattern Book (Part 2)

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Infrastructure Charrette Paper

On 13th July, 2017, Gascoyne Cecil and the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce hosted an Infrastructure Charrette at the Hatfield House Riding School. This event brought together local governments, business leaders, transport experts and academics to stimulate debate around the infrastructure needs of the county as the population grows in the years ahead. This paper brings together the prevailing themes from the workshop, and suggests possible steps to take moving forward.

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A Timetable for 2018 – Hertfordshire Infrastructure Charrette

On 23rd November, 2017, Gascoyne Cecil and the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce hosted a further Infrastructure Charrette at the Hatfield House Riding School.

The event was curated to explore participants’ motivations to work toward enhanced infrastructure, and priorities for the year(s) ahead.

This paper outlines these amongst other output from the event, and proposes a timeline of events for 2018.

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An Integrated Transport Network for Hertfordshire

On 8th March, Gascoyne Cecil Estates and the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce’s charrette series continued with a session focused on transport infrastructure across the County.

Once again hosted at the Hatfield Riding School, this event welcomed the University of Hertfordshire who launched their new Smart Mobility Research Unit, as well as Hertfordshire County Council to discuss the Local Transport Plan and the London Stansted Cambridge Corridor, which outlined the importance of coherent east-west connections to a healthy local economy and prosperous lives.

This paper outlines these presentations alongside the participants output from the event, and calls to action stakeholders from across the County.

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Fulfilling Work and Attractive Workplaces

On 7th June 2018, Royal Veterinary College welcomed Gascoyne Cecil Estates and the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce for the fourth session of the Hertfordshire Infrastucture Charrette.

This event focused on fulfilling work and attractive workspaces, exploring what we must plan to build and the kinds of work future generations might one day expect to undertake.

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The Digital Economy

The Digital Economy

On 22nd October, 2018, Gascoyne Cecil Estates and the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce coordinated a further Infrastructure Charrette session on The Digital Economy. Following the same format as the previous sessions, the afternoon hosted compelling speakers from Ocado, Openreach and Hertfordshire County Council as well as lively workshops – all focused on our digital future in a fast-moving world of technological and demographic change.

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East-West Integrated Transport 2019
 
On 20th February, 2019, Gascoyne Cecil Estates and the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce hosted a further Infrastructure Charrette session on Integrated Transport. The sixth event in the series provided a platform for the County Council to outline the A414 Corridor Strategy and their process moving forward, whilst setting the strategy in its broader context of technological and demographic change.

Charrettes

S&S Post Charrette Paper-1

The Stanboroughbury & Symondshyde Charrette
Post Charrette Paper – May 2016

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Stanboroughbury & Symondshyde Pre-Charrette Paper

Following the success of the Old Hatfield Charrette, Gascoyne Cecil Estates and CEMEX who own a 129 hectare site to the north of Hatfield, plan to hold a similar exercise for the development of a new Hertfordshire village. We are keen to give the public a chance to express its views and to participate in producing a detailed consultation before the Local Authority finalises its plan

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Old Hatfield Post Charrette Paper

Residents and those who work in Old Hatfield played a significant role in the Charrette process, throughout the week and expressing their views on the proposals. The process was supported by professional architects, planners, landowners, business owners and community leaders and led to proposals for both big and small schemes to rejuvenate the Old Town.

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Mill Green Post Charrette Paper

This paper sets out the work the team undertook during the Charrette. It presents some of the requests that resulted from discussions with residents, together with the design team’s site analyses and draft ideas together with the proposals presented on the final day.

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The Cranborne Charrette
Post Charrette Paper – September 2016

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The Salisbury Square Exhibition

Survey results – August 2019

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Salisbury Square survey

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Design Codes

Building Codes – Hatfield

A series of books published to lay out design guidance and codes for building and development across the Estates. This series of books highlights the importance of sound architectural detailing, materials and landscaping, and ensures our partners adhere to similarly high standards of both design and construction.

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Building Code – Cranborne

The Cranborne edition in a series of books published to lay out design guidance and codes for building and development across the Estates. This series of books highlights the importance of sound architectural detailing, materials and landscaping, and ensures our partners adhere to similarly high standards of both design and construction.

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Shopfronts, Blinds & Signs Building Codes

This volume is intended to compliment the ‘Building Code’ that has been produced to assist with the design of future developments and refurbishments. The purpose is to provide guidance for the construction, alteration, replacement and restoration of shop fronts, signage and other details that are invariably associated with retail activity, not only for the preservation of the character of buildings and areas, but also for the attractive overall appearance of shopping streets and the impact on their commercial success.

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Prospectus

The prospectus sets out the ethos behind Gascoyne Cecil Estates approach to management and how in order to maintain the high standards of the past and adapt to today’s demands, it is crucial that the estates remain fully engaged with their respective communities. To preserve the best of what we already hold, improving this with new homes, high-quality public spaces and thriving businesses all of which will provide employment and support to local communities for years to come.

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Further Reading
For those interested, reports of wider interest:

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Hatfield 2030+ New Town Renewal Framework

The Hatfield 2030+ Renewal Project is a partnership of local stakeholders, including local authorities, local enterprise, landowners and educational institutions.

The Renewal Framework documents the output of a consultation process held throughout 2015 to determine what residents and businesses of Hatfield wanted for the future of the town.

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Hatfield 2030+ Transport Strategy

The Hatfield 2030+ Transport Strategy is a cornerstone of the broader 2030+ aspirations for the New Town, outlining a series of key alterations to the public realm throughout the town and the way which people travel across it. More accessible cycle paths, more pleasant walking routes and a clearer connection between Hatfield Station and the town centre, for example, would enable residents and visitors alike to spend more enjoyable time in the town.

Wolfson Prize, 2014

How we would deliver a new Garden City which is visionary, economically viable and popular

The 2014 Wolfson Prize sought competition entries exploring how a new Garden City might be built in the United Kingdom in the twenty-first century. Asking for entries which understood the complex relationship between a compelling vision, economic realities, environmental sustainability and the genuine engagement of local communities, it demanded:

  • An ambitious vision for a Garden City that is modern, environmentally sustainable and which provides homes affordable to those on a range of incomes.
  • A robust and credible private financing model, which would be a serious proposition to real investors.
  • Proof that local popular support can be achieved and an intelligent strategy to realise it.

Gascoyne Cecil worked alongside the University of Hertfordshire’s Centre for Sustainable Communities and Brooks Murray Architects, producing a Highly Commended entry.

Read it here.