Area 16 - All roads leading off Moggs Mead, Herne Junior School and Love Lane Sports Fields.
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Area contact - Tony Struthers - to email, click CLICK HERE
| 1. Location in Town |
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Adjacent to Town Centre, a large residential area of housing and some flats between Tor Way to the west, Pulens Lane to the east, Churchers' College to the north and almost to the edge of the Heath to the south. It includes Herne Junior School and the Love Lane Playing Fields.
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| 2. Vistas/Views |
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From Love Lane and its Playing Fields there are views of the South Downs. Otherwise most views within thre estate are of housing, roads and roofs. Given the large amount of tree cover within the immediate landscape, the estate is hardly visible from outside the area in the summer. The old (pre-1955) railway embankment still exists behind the Herne Community Centre, lending a feature to the area. The semi-urbanised Herne Farm estate is characterised by a multitude of alleyways and linking paths between roads and cul-de-sacs, thus minimising the effect of the built environment around.
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| 3. Landscaping |
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Mostly suburban gardens, with hedges and driveways and ornamental trees. The riverside walkway along the Tilmore Brook that bisects the area from east to west has been landscaped in an informal, rural pattern with bushes, fencing, trees, and bridges crossing the stream. The Junior School have added a pond, trees, flowers and grassy banks for educational purposes, which enhance the rural quality of the area. The playing field open space adjacent to Moggs Mead has several ancient oaks within its boundary, as has the pathway between Love Lane east and west.
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| 4. Building Characteristics |
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Almost entirely 2 storey, with some 3 storey apartments on the corner of Tor Way and Moggs Mead and some 1 storey bungalows, interspersed through the estate. Much of the housing is in a very conventional suburban style with little to characterise it as part of a Market Town such as Petersfield.
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| 5. Building Materials |
| Brick throughout, with some tile hangings on the new build off Moggs Mead.
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| 6. Roofs |
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Virtually no chimneys or distinguishing features, roof lines straight and uninteresting.
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| 7. Special Features & Landmarks |
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Adjacent to Torr Way the new 3 storey apartments are an important marking feature for the estate from the Town Centre. Their design is different from the rest of the estate but rather heavy and laboured, otherwise the area is set out in cul-de-sacs off Moggs Mead and with one loop road around Lower Mead and Hanger Way. It has a typical suburban feel with terrace, semi-detached and detached houses surrounded by hedges with linked and detached garages. Moggs Mead is a busy road with a bus route, shop, community centre immediately alongside and Herne Junior School having pedestrian access from it. Love Lane Playing Fields include a few prominent oak trees, but these are the only significant trees remaining.
The Community Centre at the heart of the Herne Farm estate is well landscaped within the surrounding houses. A sunken lane links Love Lane east and west, the habitat of much wildlife (birds especially). |
| 8. Sustainability |
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None that can be seen and the estate typifies a 70s and 80s approach to house building, with a low density and layout that encourages car use and discourages energy saving. The cycle/pedestrian route along the River walkway is a redeeming feature.
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| 9. Short summary description of area |
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The Herne Farm estate has been built over a period of 30 years. Its early stages are very typical of the period (1970-80's), with a low density layout, with little to distinguish it in design terms from other similar estates throughout the country. The more recent developments to the south of Moggs Mead, have more features that give it a slightly more special feel, with varying house types and road layouts that have a more spacious aspect.
This area contains the largest expanse of playing fields within walking distance of the town centre. |
| 10. Main issues and recommendations |
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Love Lane Playing Fields are an important feature of the estate, yet are poorly landscaped. There could be some additional tree planting alongside Moggs Mead. The car park and pavilion are in need of renewal and it is understood that a scheme is proposed, otherwise this area is a lost opportunity and needs consideration as to how best to incorporate it and its green features into the estate.
More traffic calming measures are needed along Pulens Lane (bordering this area), to alleviate the rat-run feel of the road. |
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