14 FACILITY DESIGN Landscaping at inland marinas


T


he landscape quality and setting of a new marina or mooring facility will contribute to its success


and is an important consideration during the planning application. Schemes should be designed to suit their landscape and waterside setting and visual impact should be considered as part of the design and planning process. The UK’s Canal & River Trust places significant importance on this issue and can be called upon to comment on the quality of the design during the planning application. The Trust can advise on the


landscape and related design issues, which should be taken into account in order to help steer the scheme in the right direction. Issues such as topography, existing trees and vegetation, and adjacent land uses and boundaries should all


be considered at an early stage so that they can inform and guide site planning and design, including access and security arrangements. It encourages developers to


create not just a ‘boat park’, but a destination, which will attract a broad range of visitors wishing to use the site’s facilities and explore the local waterway.


Facility lay-out Mooring lay-outs and associated facilities inevitably vary from site to site and there is no standard design that caters for all circumstances. For instance, site topography, exposure and views into and across the site are likely to influence and affect lay-outs, and options usually need to be developed to make best use of the anticipated water space. As a rough rule of thumb, minimum approximate provision is around


MARINA EURO-REPORT • DECEMBER 2014


94 boats per hectare of water, with an approximately similar area for parking, landscaping, access works and, potentially, disposal of on-site excavations. The shape of the basin and the need to control access by non-boaters, as well as any security requirements, will help determine whether individual pontoons or a system of walkways with finger piers will be most appropriate. Where possible, it is beneficial to


separate different mooring types and to locate boaters’ facilities where they can be accessed by both the main mooring customers and by passing boats on the waterway without this group needing to enter the mooring. A degree of flexibility should be allowed for to cater for growth or changing demand and it is advisable to grade mooring lengths with smaller boats at the furthest point from the entrance and larger and visiting


Aerial view of Mercia Marina in the English county of Derbyshire, which is said to be the largest inland marina in Europe.


boats nearer to the entrance. Proposals for moorings and


marinas also need to take account of a range of associated factors, such as spacing between boats, length of pontoons, turning circles, prevailing wind, location of mooring points, pedestrian access, safety and security, berthing and access to facilities. These could include water supply, refuse disposal, electrical points, fuel supplies and car parking/hard standings. All need to be considered as an integral part of the scheme and a high quality and well-designed marina should help develop both custom and income. A growing part of the waterway business is trail boats and thus the


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