Raising the Standard for Green Infrastructure in the UK
Oaklands Park
LANDSCAPE
Client
IPE Developments
Project Type
Mixed-use development/ Eduaction
Location
Buckhurst Hill, Essex
Oaklands Park delivers a landscape-led regeneration of a sensitive Green Belt site in Buckhurst Hill, within the setting of Epping Forest and close to the River Roding corridor. The project combines high-quality residential development with a new SEND school and community sports facilities, responding to urgent local needs while carefully protecting and enhancing its ecological context.
Project Overview
The proposals were designed to create liveable, sustainable spaces embedded within a strong green and blue infrastructure framework. Developed in collaboration with the Local Authorities and informed by the Epping Forest Quality Review Panel, the scheme places environmental protection, social inclusion and long-term viability at its core.
Alongside new homes, the project delivers a purpose-built SEND school and an FA regulation football pitch to replace facilities that regularly flooded, securing a
permanent community sports asset for both the school and the wider community.
Our Approach
The design process was landscape-led and constraint-driven. Existing hedgerows, mature trees, woodland habitats and the riparian corridor were carefully mapped and layered to inform land use and spatial coordination. The site’s topography shaped the development form, allowing for the integration of Sustainable Drainage Systems and the creation of an attenuation and wildlife pond at the lowest point.
The retained 1930s Neo-Georgian building, formerly a SEND school, was converted into apartments and became a key organising feature for the public realm. Its strong geometry informed the layout of new commercial blocks and a central plaza, creating architectural continuity and a strong sense of place. Public Rights of Way were reinstated and enhanced to strengthen connectivity through the site and into the surrounding landscape.
The external spaces for the new SEND school were designed around students’ learning and wellbeing, incorporating sensory planting, inclusive play areas and opportunities for horticultural activity to support outdoor education.
Challenges
The Green Belt designation, proximity to a Local Nature Reserve and SSSI, flood risk and ecological sensitivities presented significant constraints. These factors shaped a responsive design approach that protects habitats, enhances biodiversity and strengthens ecological connectivity across the site.
Outcome
Oaklands Park delivers a well-integrated residential neighbourhood and a purpose-built SEND school within a robust landscape framework. Biodiversity has been enhanced through habitat retention and new planting, while Sustainable Drainage Systems mitigate flood risk and contribute to ecological value. Improved pedestrian connections and high-quality public spaces support community wellbeing, creating a resilient and inclusive place rooted in its landscape setting.
Services Provided
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Landscape Strategy and Masterplanning
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Green and Blue Infrastructure Design
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Building with Nature coordination
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Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) integration
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Play and Recreation Strategy
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SEND School External Environment Design
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Public Realm and Plaza Design
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Community Sports Facility Integration
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Ecological Enhancement Strategy
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Stakeholder and Local Authority Liaison
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Design Review Panel Coordination
