Pennyfeathers is a proposed residential and mixed-use development near Ryde, Isle of Wight.
Stephenson Halliday was commissioned for the Pennyfeathers project, starting in 2008, to develop a schematic proposal for a 57-hectare greenfield site on the outskirts of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Our key role involved preparing a green infrastructure plan to integrate 900 residential units, commercial spaces, a primary school and community facilities while considering local landscape character, access, recreation, nature conservation and flood attenuation.
This landscape-led approach with recent work including detailed design packages, collaboratively produced management plans to discharge planning conditions and cost estimates for delivering the significant areas of habitat. The design encompassed various public open spaces, residential plots and a dedicated design for Pennyfeathers Park.
Pennyfeathers Park was designed to enhance residents’ quality of life by providing inclusive, accessible open space, with connectivity throughout the park and to the broader landscape. The park featured a variety of spaces, with mounding used to create flatter areas that worked with the site’s challenging topography, allowing for functional recreational and seating areas. A range of play features were proposed, including formal and wet play equipment, along with an informal play area designed with mounding to accommodate temporary flooding, and naturalistic elements such as rocks and logs that could be used to navigate the space playfully.
Ecological features include proposed wet wildflower areas and rain gardens, which would contribute to sustainable drainage systems by capturing and filtering rainwater runoff, while enhancing biodiversity by providing habitats for pollinators and other wildlife. Furthermore, the wet wildflower and rain garden planting will improve the park’s aesthetics by adding vibrant, natural beauty.
Pennyfeathers Park stood out as a key feature of the landscape proposals, offering a blend of recreational, ecological, and aesthetic elements that would enhance the overall quality of life and sustainability of the community, ensuring that both the community and the environment benefited.
Although the original scheme was not subject to BNG requirements, the reworked proposals now demonstrate BNG’s role in shaping new developments. The open space strategy leverages existing ancient woodland, hedgerows and watercourses to strengthen green infrastructure, enhance ecosystem services and boost biodiversity net gain.
