FACILITY DESIGN 15
provision of an adequate slipway to meet this demand could be useful. It may also contribute to supporting any boat repair business at the site.
Hard and soft landscaping A landscape architect should be engaged to design external and landscape work, but should also be used to contribute to the initial site planning process. The hard and soft landscaping of
the site should be a fundamental part of its design and may well contribute to a successful planning application. The character of the waterway corridor and the relationship of the proposed marina with the wider environment must be considered. A developer’s submission should therefore identify how the proposal has responded to, for example, any site designations or prominent or important visual features. Landscape proposals should include boundary/ fencing treatments, car parking arrangements and screening, design and lay-out of footpaths and routes, and the quality and specification of appropriate materials. The following issues should also
be addressed: • Views to and from the waterway. Creation of a new mooring scheme, with a new entrance to the canal network, often involves opening up views to and from the waterway, which may be visually intrusive. This may need to be mitigated through landscape and screening work, which would also provide some privacy and security to boat owners.
• Trees. Trees are valuable visual features and form important canal- side wildlife habitats. Developments should take account of all existing trees on the site or adjacent land. Trees should only be removed where there is no other practical option. Any trees lost in developing the site should be replaced as part of the overall plan for the site.
• Planting schemes. Planting schemes should only include species of native provenance and should match that occurring naturally in the area. The planned locations of planting schemes should also take account of existing valuable habitats, such as grasslands.
• Treatment of invasive plant species. Any invasive plant
The 226-berth Wigrams Turn Marina for narrow boats is located at the junction of the UK’s Grand Union and Oxford canals.
species such as Giant Hogweed, Himalayan Balsam and Japanese Knotweed must be removed prior to development to prevent spread on to and along the waterway corridor. Eradication of these plants requires specialist knowledge and any material generated will be classified as special waste and will require specialist disposal facilities, which should be provided by the local or regional authority.
• Soft waterside edges. Wherever possible, soft vegetated waterside edges should be considered. These help create visual interest and can break up the impact of any hard engineering works. They also help to establish aquatic marginal habitats. • Lighting. Sensitive use of lighting should be applied, particularly in rural or remote areas and light ‘spillage’ from the marina should
be avoided in order to maintain local character, prevent stress on nocturnal wildlife and to allow watchers of the night sky. In other locations, however, improved lighting may be seen as a benefit, by aiding security and access.
• Signs. Signs should not be visually intrusive from the waterway. Developers should be aware of the size, design and siting of any signage prior to its installation.
• Access and parking. Access for boat owners and the public around a marina and its facilities should provide equal services for people with a disability and provide clear signage and orientation.
Creating a welcome The creation of a welcoming site will contribute greatly to the success of the business,
particularly in a competitive mooring and leisure market. By catering for a broad range of visitors – berth-holders, visiting boaters and the general public – the marina should be able to generate greater revenue streams and satisfy the needs of each group with careful design and on- site management. To attract the wider public
to a site, it is important to first consider what type of visit can be offered (e.g. active recreation, simply watching boats on the water, a family meal or a stop-off for walkers) and to which groups (e.g. families, young couples, coach outings, passing boaters and walkers). It will then be necessary to identify what facilities to provide such as a restaurant, café, ice cream/coffee kiosk, boat hire, walking trails, bicycle hire, play equipment, toilets, parking or visitor moorings. Some basic principles to make
visitors feel welcome and want to return include: clear signing to a site from the highway and local routes; obvious entrances (by boat, car and on foot), which are named and welcoming; car parks, which are easy to find and where visitors feel safe to leave their cars; a pleasant, relaxing and safe site ambience; easy orientation around the site with clear signs and accessible paths; and appropriate facilities for visitors with clean toilets and friendly staff.
Information It is also important to provide information on the activities around the site and beyond, including leaflets, maps, menus, etc, so visitors can plan their day and make the most of the marina and its attractions. Visitors to any destination
expect information and signing, but also wish to engage with and have a deeper understanding of the place they are visiting. Canal & River Trust
customer.services@
canalrivertrust.org.uk www.canalrivertrust.org.uk
DECEMBER 2014 • MARINA EURO-REPORT
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