ASH provided landscape and visual assessment and landscape design services for the ASDA Supermarket development at Tain
ASH had a multi-faceted role in this commercial development. Initially commissioned to provide an outline landscape design to support the planning application, our role was enlarged to include a landscape and visual impact assessment accompanied by visualisations. Then, when a competing retail site was submitted at the opposite side of the town, a public inquiry was called for, and ASHs remit further expanded to include expert witness services.
However, shortly before the public inquiry was due to be convened, after all the precognitions had been lodged, the competing edge-of-town site was withdrawn at the same time as Tesco applied for permission for a town centre site; ASDA then withdrew its application and the promised inquiry never transpired.
In due course ASDA resubmitted its application which was, this time, successful and permission was finally granted in 2011. ASH were then re-appointed to work up the landscape design and landscape management proposals to a more detailed level.
Key Tasks
Landscape design
Masterplanning
Landscape and visual impact assessment
Visualisations
Precognition
What we did
The landscape proposals aim to strike a balance between the recognition of the local rural character, by incorporating native species and providing a significant structural buffer around the store creating year round interest and colour on the approach to the store with appropriate tree and shrub species.
The selected plant species include a high proportion of natives. The boundary planting varies in width from 10m on the west boundary to 75m on the southern boundary, which provides a significant buffer around the store in combination with native species and informal tree groups this ensures a connection with the existing rural character. The 'Organic Wave' beech hedge further reinforces the boundary and provides interest on arrival as do the low walls constructed of local stone.
The trees were selected to provide colour and seasonal interest and are mostly fastigiate in nature, and small to medium sized as this is appropriate for the scale of the roads and areas for which they were to be accommodated.
The trees in the car park area have been grouped or arranged to provide a strong peripheral edge rather than dispersed through the car park, in hardstanding areas, which are not conducive to good growing conditions. Shrub planting has been kept to a minimum to avoid longer-term maintenance issues, avoidance of sight line issues and to ensure that the simple, elegant nature arrangement of the beech and pine is retained.
Find out more
We’re always happy to answer your questions. If you’d like to find out more about the services we can offer for your project, you can email us on info@ashglasgow.com or call 0141 227 3388.
