4.5.5 Silver Lane
Silver Lane is lined with silver birch trees, offering minimal coverage, while the surrounding vegetation remains predominantly low-growing and naturalistic in style. The grass verges are adorned with an array of bulbs and wildflowers, including daffodils, primroses, violets, cowslips, and tulips, creating a vibrant display throughout the seasons. Originally, the trees were positioned on broad grass verges, separated from the gardens by privet hedges. Over time, the privet hedges were removed, leaving the trees now standing behind a low wire fence. Single-storey lodge bungalows are positioned at both ends of the street.
Public realm
The narrow pavements are bound gravel with wide granite curbs.
Boundaries and borders
Silver Lane is a private, gated road enclosed at both ends by low timber gates that contribute to its informal, rural character. Front boundaries are typically defined by lightweight, low-level wire or mesh fencing, allowing visual permeability. A flat grass verge planted with a double row of silver birch trees runs between the pavement and the front gardens on both sides of the street. This verge falls within the property boundaries of individual plots, with each resident responsible for maintaining their section. Some plots feature low hedges, always positioned behind the birch trees. Several driveways have low ‘country style’ timber gates, while others have low iron gates with brick piers.
Layout and form
The street is predominantly characterised by detached houses set back from the road within a spacious layout, occupying relatively large plots. While the houses on the eastern end, near Furze Hill, are more closely spaced, there remain clear gaps between buildings that allow for views. Nos. 9 and 11 form a semi-detached pair, designed to appear as a single large residence. The street displays notable variety in building scale, with grand houses situated alongside more modest, cottage-style dwellings.
33. Edge treatment on Silver Lane