Research Finding

Designing a transit-oriented Frenchs Forest - How to design a transit-oriented precinct?

The following table presents the evaluation of the development potential in the transit-oriented precinct, which quantified the results of each indicator to calculate the final score for each plot. This result is a critical reference for the structure plan and the decision of potential metro location. Then, based on the summarised urban design principles, the final design scenario could be deducted, presented as six steps concisely.

Compared with the current structure plan, the new scenario shows a higher yield of floor space and a more significant development boundary and can provide better urban form and infrastructure improvement through overall design, such as green network and urban grain. This also indicates that the entire TOD corridor in Northern Beaches will have more development potential to be activated and the nonmotor vehicle environment improved.

Evaluation Criteria and Principles of Development Potential.

Development Potential Evaluation. Sources: by Ruiqi SHEN

The Design Deduction of Urban Design Scenario.

Urban Design Scenario of Frenchs Forest.

Discussion

The above findings not only prove the importance of metro extension and metrooriented development and design to Northern Beaches, but more importantly, provide a multi-dimensional urban design method and framework to think about urban transit, development potential, and urban morphology. In addition to this, it also expects to generate substantial contributions to the current development of Greater Sydney in the field of transit-oriented development and design, including those sites that have been planned or have planning potential.

However, there are still some limitations that need to be improved in future research, which has been listed as follows:

• The weight distribution of indicator scores needs further arguments in development evaluation.

• The number of statistics objects should also be included more, such as comparing of all strategic centres in Greater Sydney, which will provide more accurate standard values.

• The opinions of the government and the community should also be added as the necessary analysis factors for the site.

• In the testing urban design scenarios, the performance of walkability should be considered.

• Some methods of indicators mapping need to be tested for their suitability and accuracy.