Siting a new super-stadium within a Victorian park, including tree survey and arboricultural advice.
Hull City Council asked their Design Team to create a modern football stadium within the historic landscape of West Park. To accommodate such a massive development within the park threatened to change the character. We were challenged to work on the Masterplan and create a soft approach to the new stadium.
Masterplanning of Hull’s West Park involved working with Kingston upon Hull City Council, the new Hull Superstadium Design Team, and in parallel developing a total refurbishment scheme for the historic park with Kingston upon Hull Parks Department. This includes requirements arising from community consultation.
West Park dates from 1850, and many of the old trees are over 100 years old. Weddles approach was to locate the stadium away from the public view, hidden behind the trees, but with a strong diagonal axis giving direct views from an important traffic junction.
Weddles also recommended creating a new tree structure for the park, and relocated the very popular aviaries to a more tranquil location, away from the busy football crowds.
West Park now buzzes with activity 24 hours each day, with a new College located in the stadium, a Leisure Centre and skatepark, new children’s playground and a wildlife and ecology park.
Weddles work included creating a new habitat for a colony of protected lizards, and clearing an invasive growth of Giant Hogweed which threatened local wildlife.
Successfully building new sports facilities within a much loved historic park needed a gentle touch ensuring that the wildlife, heritage landscape and park users’ interests were safeguarded and enhanced by the new landscape design.
Awarded The Civil Trust Special Award.
Location:
Kingston upon Hull, UK
Type:
Commercial
Area:
30ha
Value:
£45M
Client:
Kingston upon Hull City Council