Staiths South Bank

Character

Staiths South Bank feels modern and spacious, full of trees and vegetation. Housing is in three 'U' shaped blocks around south facing courtyards and two riverside apartment blocks. Creative landscaping and unusually social public and semi-private spaces are designed to encourage interaction between residents. Varied house types line the wide entrance boulevard which leads to the Tyne and the listed Dunston Staiths and the development responds to the scale of its riverside location. Trees remaining from the Garden Festival have been reused.

The short terrace facing the scheme entrance has a dramatic symmetrical roofline and a variety of materials and windows. Gabled house fronts face the street, but courtyards also face culs-de-sac running alongside rear gardens on one or both sides. This has proved unsatisfactory elsewhere, but Staiths South Bank's aspiration to communality, with play spaces on streets, could make it the exception. To pedestrians and cyclists, the street network offers an easy to navigate, grid-like layout, some of which is closed-off to cars. A 10 mph speed limit contributes to residents’ safety and good street lighting makes the public space feel safe after dark.

Roads, parking and pedestrianisation

Pedestrian activity is maximised through a one car per home vision and a discreet handling of parking. The practicality of the limited parking will be put to the test given the limited public transport connections. Parking solutions include on-street parking in front of housing, parking courts and the elimination of on-plot garages. The layout does however often require driving a long way round to park, thus increasing the car presence. Streets narrow progressively through the scheme, with pavements widening to a central square where a shared surface design with the width pinched down to 3.5metres, communicates a changed hierarchy for drivers. Street-width may prove over generous in practice.

Low speed is demanded by materials, strategically placed tables, seats and planting. The single entrance to Staiths connects to a junction on the Gateshead Road. A new riverside cycle route and footpath will provide access to Newcastle and Gateshead centres, both about a mile away.

Design and construction

A range of standard housing types is offered with many internal and external variations. The scheme meets but doesn’t exceed current building standards, and has not made use of advances in construction. It is built in brick and block with render and cedar cladding. Roofs and flashings are in aluminium as well as traditional tiling. Materials, including the different colours of brick, were carefully chosen for efficiency and design.

The construction allows some internal flexibility, such as bedrooms which open to the loft and first floor living. Interiors have varied layouts and are well equipped at low cost. Public amenities are of a high quality and made from natural materials although the timber and woven-willow furniture and some other accessories have a limited life and will need managed maintenance.

Environment and community

Lying between Gateshead Centre and the Metro Centre retail park, the scheme is within 400m of frequent bus services on its southern edge, with Dunston railway station a short walk away. At the south east corner of the site is an express busway although these buses do not yet stop here. Cycling is encouraged by providing cycle parking and storage.

In terms of reducing the environmental impact of the scheme, most materials and fittings were sourced locally. Remediation of contaminated land with high levels of lead and potassium required an 1150mm soil cover, and site conditions unfortunately precluded a sustainable drainage system. Recycling is encouraged in special enclosures provided at strategic collection points, avoiding the need for wheelie bins.

Prices are low in keeping with Wimpey’s wish to cater for average income families. The three terraced 'U' shaped blocks comprise an unusually wide range of house types, shapes and sizes, helping to achieve a mix of household sizes and occupants.

A 30 metre no build zone was created to avoid potential disturbance to the wading birds within the Dunston Staiths basin. The provision of public and semi-private space helps engender community, and great care has been taken with designing the three courtyards to be different. Woven-willow and timber enclosures with seating are provided along with barbeques and eating areas and children's play spaces.