It’ll make friendliness possible – even likely – through careful design of the interface between public and private space, and through roading and paths, natural meeting points, the placement of special features, and the creation of ‘third places’
There will be shared social spaces, as well as open space, walking and riding tracks, lookout points, and easy access to the seashore and protected ecological areas such as wetlands and old-growth native forest.
This ‘open-space network’ will create individual neighbourhoods with local identities, building on the landscape character of each neighbourhood. The open space is designed to reinforce the natural visual settings of neighbourhoods,
The safe pedestrian, bridle and cycleways will ensure strong links within Ngārara and between the coast and adjacent neighbourhoods.
An obvious benefit of this depth of community engagement is the inherent security it produces.
Third places are essential to civil society and creating a sense of place. They are the places where you spend time outside of home and your place of work, they are often within walking distance and they often become a ‘home away from home’.
And more will occur within the Ngārara boundaries. It is crucially why we have planned for not just residential development, but also for small scale commercial and retail opportunities.
It is time for more experiment in the way we plan, build and own our communities. For example, new initiatives are needed to try and find ways to ensure that our surroundings are not entirely sacrificed to the carHRH The Prince of Wales
We believe important social benefits come with this design and the improved choice in moving around the community that it brings will help to create streets that will enliven the neighbourhoods.