Arlen Hill character area study

Places evolve and adapt over time. The creation of a successful town requires recognition of the history of a place and the assets that exist because of that history, combined with a strong vision of how the town could look in the future and how that might shape its community.

Historic housing and neighbourhood buildings such as shops, civic buildings, schools and places of worship, all help to define an area’s sense of place and meaning.

A basic principle of good urban design is to understand this concept of local distinctiveness.

Houses in Arlen Hill, showing how the character of the town is shaped by the housing development that has occurred here over many years, up to and including the present day.

Continuing development is necessary to provide new homes, businesses and social infrastructure. It is required by national and local policy that all new development should be designed to a high quality and should respond to the distinctive local character of the area in which it is situated.

This character area assessment helps determine what the characteristics are that contribute towards making Arlen Hill distinctive so that we can ensure and promote positive development in the future.