Lying at the heart of the proposals is a desire to open up a green route between parks on to the East and to the West of the site. The public realm runs in linear paths through the site alongside swales, streams and pools, doubling up as green space and a sustainable solution to drainage. A 'meadow' roof above commercial units connects to a green bridge across the busy main road, offering a safe route to the nearby park.
The traditional 'English Garden Square' is a model for the housing on the site, creating a backdrop for row and courtyard housing, while detached and semi-detached houses add to a pattern and density that is in keeping with neighbouring homes. Live/Work units and a substantial proportion of commercial space are an important aspect to the strategic response to the competition brief, while the newly created cultural and civic quarter re-uses historically important buildings on the site in a sensitive and reinvigorating way.
