Manor fields park, Sheffield

Sheffield City Council led a masterplan for Manor Fields Park that was heavily influenced by sustainable water management objectives.

Sustainable urban drainage channel, integrated into Manor Field District Park. Copyright Ian Stanyon, Sheffield City Council.

The 25 hectare site had significant constraints to development, not least in being designated as a district park but also being of poor environmental quality with an associated stigma. The delivery programme was incremental, with slow manageable improvement at low cost.

Early on it was clear that a conventional water management system was proving too expensive because of the site’s topography. Drainage then became an abnormal of the development and was therefore financed through a reduction in payment for land. This decision freed up the partnership to consider a full SUDS scheme for the site which used the existing landscape and character as a basis for design.

The local authority adopted the scheme using a commuted sum. Delivery was eased through the design of a simple robust system that formed part of the overall landscape management requirements and this has proved to be of minimal liability.

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Tags: green infrastructure, public space, water, neighbourhoods