Christchurch Gasworks, Dorset
Supporting Planning and Promotion Through Verified Visualisation
The Brief
NPA Visuals has worked closely with Churchill Retirement Living for many years, providing accurate visualisations to support planning applications and development proposals across the UK. The Christchurch Gasworks project is an excellent example of how verified visualisations can inform design development while also providing compelling imagery for future marketing and promotion.
Located on the former Christchurch Gasworks site on Bridge Street, Christchurch, the development transforms a previously unused brownfield site into a vibrant new residential community. The scheme includes retirement apartments, affordable housing and open-market homes, helping to deliver much-needed housing within easy walking distance of Christchurch town centre.
The Challenge
The Christchurch Gasworks site occupies a prominent and historically significant location. Originally operating as a gasworks between 1860 and 1914, the site presents a valuable opportunity for regeneration while also requiring careful consideration of its visual impact on the surrounding townscape.
Throughout the planning process, the design evolved considerably, with a number of revisions tested and refined before the final scheme was agreed. Stakeholders needed a reliable and objective method of assessing how these changes would appear within the existing environment.
Our Approach
NPA Visuals was initially commissioned to prepare a series of Visually Verified Montages (VVM) to support the planning application. Five verified viewpoints were produced at the outset, providing an accurate representation of the proposed development within its real-world setting. As the design developed, two further viewpoints were added to assess revisions and ensure informed decision-making throughout the process.
The verified views enabled the project team to test multiple design iterations, understand the implications of proposed changes and communicate these effectively to planning officers, consultees and the wider public.
Following planning approval, our involvement continued with the production of five high-quality CGI visualisations designed to showcase the final development. Particular attention was given to illustrating the attractive landscaped central areas of the scheme, helping communicate the quality of the future living environment to prospective residents and stakeholders.
Collaboration
The project was delivered in collaboration with Planning Issues and Green Landscape Studio, working closely with the wider design team to ensure the visualisations accurately reflected both the architectural proposals and landscape strategy.
Delivering Value Through Visualisation
A key benefit of the visualisation process was the ability to assess design changes throughout the evolution of the scheme. Rather than producing imagery at a single point in time, the verified views became an active design tool, helping the project team evaluate alternatives and build confidence in the final proposals.
Once planning approval had been secured, the CGI imagery provided a seamless transition into the marketing phase, creating visually engaging representations of the completed development while maintaining consistency with the approved design.
Outcome
Planning has been granted and the completed scheme will transform a vacant brownfield site into a new residential neighbourhood, delivering approximately 150 to 190 homes, including specialist retirement accommodation, affordable housing and open-market residences. Its location, approximately 500 metres from Christchurch town centre, will provide future residents with excellent access to local services and amenities.
Why This Project Matters
This project demonstrates the value of combining technically robust planning visualisations with high-quality marketing imagery. The Verified View Montages (VVMs) were used as part of the planning application to inform the planning committee of the appearance and character of the proposed new neighbourhood, helping decision-makers fully understand the scheme and contributing to the successful grant of planning permission.
The verified views played a critical role in assessing multiple design iterations throughout the design and planning process, while the CGI visualisations have continued to provide long-term value by showcasing the completed vision of the development.
The imagery produced for Christchurch illustrates the importance of selecting effective viewpoints and understanding the wider site context. By accurately representing the development throughout its evolution, the project highlights how visualisation can support successful outcomes from planning approval through to project delivery, creating value at every stage of the development lifecycle
