Retirement Village becoming the final piece of the jigsaw for North Stoneham Park

Set within the wider North Stoneham Park development with a historic landscape that dates back to the Saxon era and was later used by the landowning Fleming families’ workers. Deacon Design were appointed to support the planning application for a retirement village with a unique character as the final piece of the legacy of North Stoneham Park. 

We have been working closely with the design team to create a simple framework for the landscape that responds to the wider parkland and shows the fabric of the heritage assets identified through design involvement for all previous phases and balanced with the belief to create a safe, welcoming, and comfortable space that instils a sense of wellbeing for residents, visitors, and staff. The scheme will include a prominent landmark building / 40 bed care home, 42 luxurious care suites and 91 close care apartments along with a rich range of facilities including a restaurant, spa, salon, and swimming pool. The newly created Care Retirement Community will be set within generous landscape gardens with a woodland backdrop and expansive views across the adjacent parkland. 

Landmark Building Frontage

Creating a focal point to the end of the park vista and representing the former location of the original North Stoneham Mansion House the landscape design seeks to reinforce the formal setting and grandeur of the newly created building. 

Some key elements:

• A generous formal lawn and raised terrace to compliment the scale of the building and support potential seasonal events overlooking the wider parkland to the north
• Specimen tree planting will help to frame important views of heritage assets
• The old carriage drive / public footpath that wraps around the north and eastern elevations will be resurfaced to create a new gravel path in keeping with the wider park improvements and help create a uniform treatment through the park.
• Wildflower grassland links the fabric of the landscape proposals to seamlessly connect with the wider parkland approach

Communal Gardens and Walkways

A series of connected sensory gardens will scatter through the site. A mix of connected gravel paths and mown areas which together will create a blend of intimate seating areas and communal lawns for more formal activities. Key features include: 

• Connected routes around the site linking private patios to the site community facilities and wider footpath network, allowing residents and care staff to have accessible access to green spaces to further improve metal wellbeing.
• Planting will consist of a mixture of plating types, including specimen trees, shrubs, and herbaceous varieties to provide seasonal interest and sensory opportunities all year round.
• Conservation of the former walled garden to create a historic backdrop to a sensory garden walk linking the northern and southern boundaries.

Sensory Courtyard

A sensitively designed courtyard space overlooked by the communal day lounges and private terraces and suites has been established inspired by the organic forms associated with the ‘English Parkland Style’ to form a stunning and picturesque view from above. The space will form an attractive arrival to residents arriving via the main car park to the south. Key Features: 

• A series of meandering paths with retaining elements to lift the planting up to enclose seating areas allowing residents to embrace the sensory planting experience.
• A central communal lawn creating a flexible space that has opportunities to be used for seasonal events or informal activities.
• A water feature to encourage wildlife and create a tranquil setting to the space.

Woodland Walk / Arboretum

The southern woodland is to be enhanced and managed to provide a woodland walk for the CCRC residents and wider community on a permissive basis. This walk will provide a heritage trail exploring the fabric of the historic carriage drive and allow users to experience remnant heritage features including the former site of the temple lodge, icehouse, ha-ha structure and the walled garden. 

Working closely with the project Arboriculturist replacement tree planting will include a blend of native woodland trees whilst celebrating the English parkland style with the inclusion of ornamental specimens introduced in the 18th- 19th century the ‘New World’. This will further enhance the backdrop to the development and provide an essential green space for the community. 

The plans for the exciting new retirement village were supported by both Eastleigh Borough Council and Test Valley Borough Council in June 2020 and set to be officially completed by 2025. Currently we are progressing with further design development and collaboration with Opus Villages through technical design stage for this project to become a reality to complete the North Stoneham Park Legacy for Present and Future Generations.