Area 12 -This area includes the hospital, recreation ground next to railway and part of water meadows. Swan Street west of Charles Street, Borough Hill, Borough Road and Alderfield.

 

 

 

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Character Analysis
1. Location in Town

 

Central location within Petersfield between the Town Square (area 19) and the railway including a mixture of very important open spaces, The Petersfield Hospital, industrial units and mixed housing. The area directly to the north of Borough Road is in part a closed down sand pit. The north boundary runs along Swan Street and the south boundary in the water meadows.
2. Vistas/Views

 

The views from the elevated open space High Meadow are a revelation. There is direct visual contact with St Peter’s Church, St Lawrence Cupola as well as the surrounding hills i.e. Harting Hill, Butser Hill and The Hangers. There is a clear feeling of belonging both to the town and the landscape beyond when standing on High Meadow on a nice day. This is a tranquil open space to treasure.


There is an important visual link between the hospital car park and The Hangers.

Views of Butser Hill and Queen Elizabeth Country Park from the open space between Borough Hill, Borough Road and the railway.

View of The south downs in the distance to the south from pedestrian bridge crossing the Criddle Stream off Alderfield.

 
3. Landscaping

 

There is a wealth of open space in the area. Management is informal with open grassed space for public use. Taller trees line High Meadow to the south and west. Some trees line the Borough Hill playground along the railway.

There is a distinctive gap in front of the housing association offices formed by a car park and small field next to the stream. This breaks the volume of housing and creates a visual link between Borough Road and The Water Meadows.

Fields fore grazing separate the business units to the north and next to the railway bridge and housing to the top of Borough Hill. A centrally positioned pleasant reminder of the agricultural influence of the town over the years.
4. Building Characteristics

 

Area 12 contains a diverse range of buildings. The Drum Housing office block does to a degree replicate the profile of the old hospital that stood on the site and rising high while the housing element along Borough Road is more contrived. The new hospital beyond, where the rectory once stood, has a lower profile and fits into the landscape without exciting.

Housing dominates when entering Borough Road from the east. There is a mixture of individual houses and blocks of flats. Three storey development blends in well just below High Meadow in old sand pit excavations. New housing association flats on the south side of the road area of a varied design with some design interest and energy saving features.

The western end of the sand pit and to the north of Borough Road is dominated by individual houses of which many are bungalows. These overlook fields which are part of the water meadows south of the road. Finishes are generally dull with extensive use of pebble dash render and concrete roof tiles. Some properties have in addition been poorly extended.

Line of dwellings on top of Borough Hill are overall charming with a good variety of front elevations to predominantly small cottages. Most of these enjoy a clear view of Butser Hill across the Borough Hill play grounds. Facing materials are mainly: render, brick, plain clay tiles and slate.

The Amey business estate is functional set in a hollow of the landscape reducing prominence in the townscape. The larger pitched roof unit along the railway line detracts pleasantly from the standard industrial unit design otherwise employed.

The forge at the corner of Charles Street and Swan Street is a ramshackle reminder of how people lived and worked during early industrial times. Hardly pleasing to the eye but carries some historical charm.
5. Building Materials
 Use of building materials is not coherent and do not reflect the use of traditional locally sourced  materials. The exception is possibly the housing along Borough Hill.
6. Roofs

 

Roofs are generally set to steeper pitches between 30 and 45 degrees and finished with slate or tiles. Some use of concrete tiles is less pleasing. Design of roof extensions and dormer windows to bungalows along Borough Road is very poor in places.
7. Special Features & Landmarks

 

High Meadow is the main feature of the area visually and emotionally demonstrating the close proximity between Petersfield and the surrounding countryside.
8. Sustainability
 Experimental use of solar panels and other energy saving devices is evident on blocks of housing association flats on both sides of Borough Road. The new two blocks of flats on the south side of the road are in addition equipped with water butts for rainwater collection and some solar powered external lighting.

The footpath connecting Borough Road and Borough Hill is a very good example of how a protected pedestrian link encourages walking.
9. Short summary description of area

 

It is in area 12 surprising to experience the less rural and almost countryside feel which is a valuable asset to Petersfield. Large pieces of open land break the urban development up into distinct pieces.
10. Main issues and recommendations

 Area 12 leaves little scope for new greenfield development as the open space in the area must be regarded as an asset to Petersfield so close to the town centre.

1. Housing to the west of Alderfield is dull and could with advantage be replaced with new of more appropriate design.


2. The views towards the south and across roofs of flats from High Meadow should not be further obstructed. The view would be enhanced if tiles on three storey block were replaced with plain tiles or slates. Another consideration could be the introduction of roof gardens in places to break the monotony of a long pitched roof without features.


3. Future alterations to bungalows in lower sand pit area to be better managed to ensure that the general visual appearance is improved. Possible to increase general height of properties in this area.


4.  Bridge across the Criddle Stream and the walkway to Cranford Road development can be enhanced to encourage both pedestrian and bicycle movement at the same time.


5. All existing open green space to be protected from development.


6. Housing along Borough Road provides an excellent opportunity for further experimentation with energy saving measures.

 

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