Officer responses to Hay Hill consultation key themes

Theme 1 

All trees should be retained and more planted wherever possible. If the design does not require trees to be removed to facilitate it, they should not be removed.

Officer response:

Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council have a responsibility and duty of care with regard to their tree stock. Trees are inspected routinely to monitor their condition and overall health. This is particularly important in urban areas where footfall is high and large numbers of people sit and stand underneath them.

Trees in urban areas are subject to different stress factors when compared with those in parks or woodlands and so some trees are better suited to these circumstances than others. Similarly, there are more considerations when planting in an urban environment, with above and below ground constraints, and more significant disruption should a tree need to be removed and replaced or newly planted. 

Officers therefore seek to manage tree cover in the urban environment in the most effective way to maintain tree cover for the long term. Any trees removed will have reasoned justification and decisions made in the public interest.

Actions:

• In addition to the Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council tree officers, an independent arboriculture consultant has been appointed. They will inspect the trees and advise throughout the scheme development and delivery. They will produce method statements on how site work should be undertaken and monitor works around trees on site.
• Decisions on works to the trees on Hay Hill will be made collaboratively, although the council is explicit in that the regeneration scheme itself does not require removal of any trees.

Theme 2

Additional planting and a large area of grass should be included where possible. Planting should be at different levels and should have biodiversity and sensory interest, not just shrubs.

Officer response:

Public feedback on structure of planting, biodiversity and sensory interest are noted. Ornamental grasses could be used in the planting scheme however an area of lawn as implied would not be practical under the heavy shade cover of the existing trees or in such a high footfall urban location. Additional seating adjacent and near planting will be provided to bring people closer to nature however a grassy plain for sitting would be unlikely to succeed in this circumstance.

Actions: 

• Consider structure, biodiversity, sensory performance in development of planting design.

Theme 3

The identity and use of Hay Hill is confusing. A lot of different things happen or have happened there. There are a lot of objects and design features in the space that have accumulated over time and do not appear to bare any relation to one another or the space in a themed sense or their placement. It is all a bit awkward.

Officer response: 

The design team will look to unify the space and create a sense of identity through prioritisation of desired uses of the space which have been established from the consultation.

Respondents have requested somewhere to sit, relax, eat and drink, and meet friends. A calming place in the city centre. To create a pleasant place to dwell and to pass through.

Actions:

• Consider consultation responses regarding events, water feature, planting and the existing sculptures to ensure desired use of the space is achieved in a coherent way.

Theme 4

Where will the Homage to Thomas Browne sculptures go if they are not kept on site? Can they be rearranged on site?

Officer response:

The council have received a number of suggestions for alternative locations and arrangements on-site which we have been appraising.

These options have been appraised on the basis of whether the artwork can be maintained in its original formation, the relevance of the location to Thomas Browne, and overall viability. A key stakeholder group and the artists will then be engaged to discuss the viable options.

Actions: 

• Progress an options appraisal.
• Present appraisal to key stakeholder group and artists.
• Develop preferred option for submission of planning application.

Theme 5

How will interpretation be provided for Thomas Browne and his work?

Officer response:

A number of consultee responses included suggestions for how interpretation and a celebration of Thomas Browne’s work may be achieved.

Examples included, murals, artwork, interpretation panels, paving design and types of plants, which will be considered by the design team in the detailed design phase.

Actions: 

• Review and incorporate suggestions as detailed design stage progresses.
• Engage with key stakeholders and relevant council departments as these proposals develop. 

Theme 6

Whilst a water feature is greatly desired and welcomed there are concerns over, sustainability, vandalism and maintenance and how this will be funded and managed.

Officer response: 

The design team are working positively with relevant council departments on the on-going financial viability of the water feature.

The design team are engaging with industry professionals to design an appropriate feature which will mitigate the risk of vandalism and reduce maintenance liability. The detailed design will consider the range of electrical components available on the market to reduce the overall energy and water requirements and recycle water where possible.

Actions: 

• Continue to engage with relevant council departments.
• Continue to engage with industry professionals.

Theme 7

The proposal of water jets for the water feature feels dated and there is uncertainty how this might work on a slope. Could the changes in levels across the site be used to an advantage?

Officer response:

The design team have engaged a professional consultant to advise on the design of the water feature and the different types of feature that can be accommodated in the space and which meet all the design requirements.

Actions:

• The type of feature has been amended to better utilise level changes across the site, respond to public comments, and more detailed discussions with key stakeholder groups.

Theme 8

Ongoing maintenance of the space is a concern as other soft landscape and water features around the city are not maintained properly or have been removed. The existing space is in poor condition.

Officer response: 

The design team are working positively with relevant council departments on the on-going financial viability of the public space.

Many recent schemes in the city centre are in areas of Highway. Norwich City Council owns this area of Hay Hill which gives the council greater control over what happens here, and the on-going management.

Towns Deal Funding was sought by Norwich City Council acknowledging the existing condition and underperformance of the space.

Actions: 

• Continue to engage with relevant council departments.

Theme 9

Concessions should be for local traders and charities or not in place at all. The space should be for the public and not for commercial gain.

Officer response: 

The council are acutely aware of the need for high quality public realm in the city centre and the need to support local businesses and charities.

Consultation feedback has provided invaluable insight into the type of concession provision the public wish to see on Hay Hill.

The existing hireable pitches and concession on Hay Hill will be reviewed in light of this, and how the associated income from these can be used to maintain the space going forward.

Actions:  

• Continue to engage with relevant council departments.
• Engage with key stakeholders as design develops.

Theme 10

This project is a waste of money.  Funds would be better spent elsewhere given the cost of living crisis, state of the NHS and adult social care etc.

Officer responses: 

Norwich City Council was awarded £25m at the end of 2020 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to deliver eight key projects. This funding is known as the Town Deal Fund. The portion of this funding to be used for the Hay Hill project is specifically allocated to public realm and cannot be used for other purposes.

Actions: 

• No action required within the remit of this project.

Theme 11

The soup kitchen and other homeless provisions previously used Hay Hill. These organisations and people should be accommodated as part of the public realm scheme.

Officer response: 

Indoor food provision for anyone facing homelessness or sleeping rough is now available seven days week through local social enterprise, The Feed’s ‘Nourish’ service, commissioned by the city council.

Running from the city centre, this service also offers support that can help anyone using it to take steps into accommodation. Nourish has already served 1,500 meals to more 150 people since it began in April (this will now be much higher). This has been made possible with the help of generous volunteers, some of whom have previous experience of homelessness. 

Actions: 

• No action required within the remit of this project..