The masterplan incorporates a comprehensive set of spatial strategies and frameworks, including land use and development density, traffic circulation and slow movement, open space and landscape, building heights, and public facilities provision. These are all underpinned by an over-arching low carbon development and water sensitive urban design strategy that will substantially reduce energy and water consumption. An understanding of the existing landscape also informed the development of a characterful, multi-functional new town.

JTP were subsequently commissioned to prepare a detailed urban design masterplan and set of architectural design codes for the pilot phase of the new town HQ district (Phase 1A).

Phase 1A seeks to imitate the incremental development of historic environments which typically display a social and economic diversity as well as a formal and spatial richness. The proposed urban structure comprises a number of different ‘layers’; each contributing to a rich matrix of public spaces and city neighbourhoods of distinct character. These respond to both the natural qualities of the landscape and the needs of a thriving modern city.