Greening the Grey: Planting the Edge of the Tricorn Site Market Way Portsmouth

Proposal  June 2011

The Site – current state  Carl Leroy-Smith, Deer Park Alpha Design

The Site – greened Carl Leroy-Smith Deer Park Alpha Design

The Site

Northern edge of the Tricorn site bordering Market Way and Cascades Approach, within low wooden fencing, not used for carparking, middle top of this photo and plan.



Why green the site?
Experience in other places
How much of the site?
Purpose eg improving the entrance to the city, temporary greening....

Design
Who will do it?
How will it be done?
Who will maintain it?
How will it be paid for?
Negotiations and contribution from lessee

Sponsors
Publicity

Looking toward St Agathas

Looking towards Commercial Road

Why green the site?

Members of the Portsmouth Society and a City Council officer met on the site in April 2011 and agreed why we want to green this site.  As a main road entry point to the city centre, the bare expanse of carpark does not give the impression of a vibrant, innovative, well designed approach for visitors to the Historic Dockyard, shoppers, university students' parents... not to mention how it feels to Portsmouth residents.   



There is currently a gap on the south side of Market Way in the 'green corridor' which otherwise extends on the north side from the new landscaping in Mile End by the Highways Agency to St. Agatha's park.  Facing the Tricorn site are eight plane trees and bushes bordering the Pitt Street carpark, maintained by the city council.  Ivies are growing well in the central barrier of the road. 



Portsmouth as a city is seriously lacking in greenspace.  This proposal which would bring visual benefit - a green link -  to a grey, desertlike area.  Designed by Architect Carl Leroy-Smith, this would also be the first temporary greening of a recession-hit site in the south of England.



How will it be done, and who will be involved?

The proposal is to green the elongated triangular site bordering Market Way and the Cascades approach which is not used for carparking - shown on the attached maps kindly supplied by David Moorman.  To launch the greening, special arts events related to the site’s history will be screened.



As the Northern Quarter development which has planning permission is not going ahead, the proposal is for a timescale of five years, rather than one-off events such as Greening the Grey in Islington, although these and activities with local artists and gardeners would not be ruled out for later phases.  



David Moorman would negotiate with NCP which has the lease of the site from the City Council, on the basis of this proposal which has input from those who support the bid. Images are needed as examples of temporary greening in other areas. 



How will the site be used?

Although there are 875 people on the waiting list for allotments it was regretfully agreed that the site was not suitable for growing food, because of lead pollution from traffic and there are no 'eyes on the street'.  We propose trees, shrubs and plants in low cost planters - maybe sewer pipes or builders' bulk bags, initially positioned on the tarmac surface at the curve of the Cascades Approach road at the back of St. Agatha’s, which is prominent in the view from vehicles entering the city. 



Drought resistant plants adapted to growing in containers would be selected, and provision in the bid would be costed for maintenance and watering from bowsers (DM).  An approach to the Naval Base Property Trust was being made for a boat/boats as planters (PP).



Who will be asked to Sponsor the greening?

Colas (PP, DM) - which pays £3000 towards Portsmouth in Bloom

The Tree Council and Woodland Trust to sponsor trees.  

B & Q - which has a community arm,

Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust - "Welcome to Maritime Portsmouth"’

Argos, Cascades Centre Management, Marks & Spencer, Body Shop and other retailers in the Cascades



Supporters - help with design, planting and maintenance and special events:

Ward councillors, Councillors Lee Hunt and Michael Andrews

Kathy Wadsworth, Strategic Director, Steve Baily Head of Culture Portsmouth City Council

Contributions from community funds to the bid. 

Stephen Rees, Community Horticultural Officer and Stuart Campbell PCC Arboriculturalist for advice - on species and implementation (DM).

Portsmouth and Southsea Tree Wardens



PCAN, Sue Stokes of Shack on the Southsea Seafront,



Architects: Carl Leroy-Smith (Phase 1), Architectural Diploma students (Phase 2)



Artists: Mark Lewis, Caravan Gallery, Julia Barclay



Sustainability Centre, Friends of the Earth, Malcolm Reeves,



Phase 1 Autumn 2011

Tree, shrub and drought hardy plants in containers: sewer pipes, sand containers, BacSacs on the northern edge of the Tricorn site contained in low wooden fencing



Species: Bay and Hazel Trees



Tree in concrete pipe Berlin            Silver birch trees, High Line New York



Hazel nut tree                            Tree in plastic dustbin Art Space garden Southsea

Shrubs: Sea Buckthorn, Tamarisk, Phormiums, Bamboo

Phormiums  in Southsea

Shrubs and plants in low cost containers Berlin

Plants in bulk bags inside containers made of pallets and creative use of bike slots

Art Space Garden Brougham Road Southsea 

*Launch: Portsmouth Film Festival Tricorn film outdoor cinema event 24 September 2011 *to be confirmed


Timescale

June – September 2011 Fund-raising, grant applications, applications to sponsors for funding and help in kind, donations

Launch September 2011 Planting September- November 2011



Costs

Phase 2 2011-12

Architecture Diploma students Design Project (Catherine Teeling) Greening the southern edge of the site, adjacent to the Cascades, possibly for growing food.



BacSac used for growing food


Phase 3 2013

Greening the wider Northern Quarter eg Pitt Street Baths site, ABC cinema should be considered since nothing is likely to be built on these either for a long time. 

Hedges might help to keep the traffic pollution out.  Advice is being sought from The  Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens 
Ian Egginton-Metters This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it <mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it > ,  the Allotment Regeneration Initiative
SE  http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari/mentors <http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari/mentors> , Anne Jaluzot formerly from CABE Space, http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/anne-jaluzot/12/245/71b=20 <http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/anne-jaluzot/12/245/71b=20> .

Queen Elizabeth Hall South Bank London - Greening Brutalism