DESIGN PROPOSALS

Design Principles:

The proposals form an appropriate and sustainable development for the site being a progression from the previous proposals and providing a better response to the local context.

Rather than a single unit as previously proposed, the scale of the development has been reduced to provide some neighborhood units as well as a larger unit.

A comparison of the current proposals to the previous proposals are summarised on the next board.

  • The size of the retail unit has been reduced, as well as a reduction in overall height by reducing the eaves height and the width.
  • The overall reduced footprint of the development facilitates more landscaping and areas for public realm.
  • Sustainable forms of transport are encouraged by a reduction in the number of overall parking spaces, but providing EV charging spaces and cycle spaces.
  • Fully accessible pedestrian routes are provided from the north, west and south to provide good connectivity with the surrounding area and to the local public transport network.
  • The buildings are set into the slope at the eastern part of the site, reducing the visual impact of the buildings.
  • The landscaping strategy provides good landscaping perimeters including visual screening to the car park.
  • The orientation of the buildings allows for active frontages.
  • The choice of materials and elevational treatment provide a quality aesthetic as well as break down the massing of the buildings into smaller elements

Community Involvement:

Home Bargains (trading name of TJ Morris Ltd) is a family run business and have reinforced their commitment as ‘owner occupier’ of the site by bringing forward this significant investment.

This is a further illustration of their long term commitment to this part of Dunfermline and the wider area having local employments policies for both the construction stage and when open and trading.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

The new Home Bargains development at Dunlin Drive, Dunfermline, alongside smaller retail neighbourhood units, presents several economic advantages.

Firstly, it diversifies the local retail landscape, providing consumers with a wider range of locally available retail options.

This increased choice can attract more shoppers to the area, benefiting both the new businesses and existing ones.

Additionally, the development creates job opportunities, both during the 1-year construction period and afterwards, contributing to local employment levels. Overall, the new development promises to inject vitality into the local economy and enhance the overall prosperity of Dunfermline.

SUSTAINABILITY

By definition the project is an excellent example of sustainable development by bringing a vacant and underutilised site back into beneficial use for the local community.

TJ Morris Ltd are committed to sustainable development. Their strategy focuses on environmental issues both in terms of sustainability and reducing energy consumption in accordance with NPF4.

The client team are well aware of the construction and property industry’s contribution to the UK’s total carbon emissions.

Acknowledging their responsibility to do what they can to reduce these levels, both in their day-to-day business activities and property developments.

A summary of sustainability features are:

  • Use of highly efficient systems and equipment to minimise carbon dioxide emissions, such as but not limited to, the inclusion of roof PV.
  • Provision of electric vehicle charging facilities.
  • Retained sustainable drainage pond on-site to minimise the risk of flooding from surface water run off.
  • Delivery of retail floor space in a highly sustainable and accessible location, providing services and facilities for the local residents.
  • Inclusion of footpaths and cycle paths within the site, providing connections to the wider area to the west and south.