Riverside
This waterfront residential housing development in Shrewsbury called for the defining, designing and refining of landscape plans for the site built on the old Shrewsbury Town Football Ground.
Nestled on the banks of the River Severn, the development blends into the outlying natural environment with considered and thoughtful plant selection, landscape form and flow. Visual impacts from across the river, alongside the river and from the residents’ perspective were given equal preference.
Keary Design Associates provided the masterplan and detailed soft landscape plan to meet client and council briefs to create the highest quality courtyard and communal space whilst preserving the natural aspect of the riverside walk and alleviating the flood impact in the adopted public open space.
Meadow mixes, tree species and ornamental plant selection was critical, finding plants that would not be compromised by regular flooding but would also thrive in well-drained soils on raised terraces. Plants within the courtyard where chosen at a scale and form appropriate to their confined location.
The design itself is asymmetrical to maximise the south-facing aspect for sunlight and ensure courtyard planting avoids the shadows cast by the surrounding buildings.
The scheme integrates pathways and planting on steep and undulating banks. The design comes to a crescendo in a central focal point and community area for the residents and seating.
Its outlying areas are given height and form from statement trees along the riverbank. Tree species selection provides continuity of existing exotic varieties used in the neighbouring botanical gardens – including Taxodium distichum and Liquidambar styraciflua Lane Roberts.
