A Gateway into the Forest – Haldon Forest Park

LHC Design has been responsible for the Architectural and Landscape Design at Haldon Forest Park to create a new ‘gateway to the forest’ comprising purpose-built Visitor Centre along with operational support buildings.

LHC have been responsible for helping the client develop and deliver on a Carbon Reduction Plan for the project with the scheme embracing the Net Zero Operational and Embodied Carbon targets provided by the RIBA, LETI, UKGBC Advancing Net Zero Framework to ensure the project is an exemplar in its field.

LHC have recently submitted the scheme for planning and are excited to continue working on the project with a much-anticipated start on site in 2023.

Location

Exeter

Client

Forestry England

Service

Architecture, Graphics, Landscape

Sector

Leisure

Value

Unspecified


“It’s incredibly exciting to be submitting this planning application to create a new gateway to the forest. Our goal is to deliver memorable experiences for people of all ages and abilities, and initial visitor feedback on our proposal has been overwhelmingly positive. Haldon Forest Park is loved by so many people that our old facilities are simply bursting at the seams. With a better car park, more toilets, larger cafe, and improved accessibility, Haldon will be in the best possible shape to connect people with nature and the physical and mental health benefits of time spent outdoors – now and for future generations.”

Katy Harrison, Haldon Forest Park manager


Project Vision

Our vision for Haldon Forest is to create an exemplar highly sustainable and accessible Visitor Centre acting as a focal point and gateway into the forest, connecting people with the forest and nature.

Key Facts and Highlights

  • A Whole Life Carbon Assessment for both embodied and operational carbon and has been carried out in order to reduce the overall carbon impact of the project.
  • Trees from Haldon Forest will be felled, sent to local timber sawmills and manufactured into structural frames before being returned to site to construct the building. All taking place locally here in the South West, helping reduce the overall Scope 1, 2, 3 emissions of the project.
  • The buildings will be designed to have a fabric first approach including improved air tightness, to reduce the required heat demand.
  • Detailed modelling has been carried out to establish the buildings use requirements and use a very low Energy Use Intensity target to drive down the operational energy demand of the buildings.
  • Green renewable technologies are incorporated within the design to reduce the requirement for imported grid energy
  • The buildings are intended to be low carbon in operation, supporting Forestry England’s ambition to be carbon net zero by 2033.
  • As part of the delivery of the project Building Energy Synergy will be incorporated into the building to monitor energy usage and allow improvement in efficiencies through the building’s life cycle, and verifies net zero carbon in use.
  • EV Charging for both the general public and Forestry England Vehicle fleet will be integrated into the scheme

sustainability approach

Energy Performance

  • The buildings will be designed to have a fabric first approach including improved air tightness, to reduce the required heat demand.
  • MHVR with heat recovery efficiency
  • Photovoltaic Panels
  • Air / Ground Source Heat pump installation will be used on the site.
  • It is being proposed to monitor energy use and carbon across the whole of the development.

Whole life carbon/resource efficiency

  • A Whole Life Carbon Assessment for both embodied and operational carbon has been carried out in order to reduce the overall carbon impact of the project.
  • Trees from Haldon Forest will be felled, sent to local timber sawmills and manufactured into structural frames before being returned to site to construct the building. All taking place locally here in the South West. Helping reduce the overall Scope 1, 2, 3 emissions of the project.
  • Low flow fixtures and fittings will be used in order to help reduce Potable Water usage.
  • Use of Sustain Drainage Systems (SuDS).

EV Charging

  • The scheme will provide EV Car and Bike Charging facilities for the general public.

Sustainable Transport

Throughout the design process, LHC has championed the use of sustainable solutions and enhanced facilities to provide alternative options for visitors’ travel to and from the site. The generous provision of EV car charging spaces, which includes accessible spaces and underground cabling for extensive future expansion, and the provision of a new bus stop which is designed to link directly to the new visitor buildings via a vehicle free arrival path, will offer users new travel options. Bicycle parking, which meets BREEAM standards, also will enable visitors and employees to cycle to Haldon Forest Park.

Access to Greenspace and Amenities

Haldon Forest Park has a diverse network of trails and paths for all abilities and user groups. LHC’s masterplanning and landscape design has sought to improve and enhance this access and to include better quality green spaces. Visitors will experience a new exciting public realm between two new iconic buildings which form a gateway into the forest. Design of oak raised planting beds between the buildings ensures a good balance between paved routes and planting, with pollinator plants and trees plus native shrubs, creating a relaxing green environment which also offers wildlife benefits. Outdoor café seating has been designed on the edge of the forest overlooking young children’s play.

Social Value, Health and Wellbeing

The Park has been designed to provide a safe gateway for visitors to experience the forest in a multitude of ways including walking, running, cycling, Segways and Go Ape. We have created outdoor spaces to rest, spaces to meet friends and family and spaces to experience nature. Routes cater for all users whether they are walking, cycling or in a wheelchair, mobility scooter or pushing a buggy. Slopes and gradients have been minimised to permit easy access and vehicle free routes with pedestrian prioritised crossings which will help to enhance safety.