Buckley town centre puBlic realm enhancement

report 1 a guide for enhancement

Final Report - February 2012

c Crown Copyright. All rights reserved 2012

Introduction 1

• Study Context• Objectives• Report Structure

Section1:EnhancementContext 3-13• ExistingSituation• AspirationalBuckleyTownCentreMasterplan• KeyPublicRealmRecommendationsfromtheMasterplan• StakeholderConsultation• KeyDesignAreas&EnhancementObjectives• Concept • APublicRealmEnhancementPlanForBuckley

Section2:DesignAreaOptions&DesignGuidelines 15-31

• ANewTownSquare• EnhancementstoBrunswickRoad• EnhancingPrecinctWay• ALocationfortheWarMemorial

Buckley town centre puBlic realm enhancement

report 1

contentS

introductionFlintshire County Council commissionedEnvironmental Associates in October2011 to prepare initial designs anddesign guidance for a new town squarefor Buckley and for associated areas ofthetowncentrepublicrealm,specificallyPrecinctWayandthesemi-pedestrianisedsectionofBrunswickRoad.

Study Context

In May 2011 the Buckley Town CentreMasterplan was completed andsubsequently adopted. The Masterplanreportwascommissionedwithaparticularfocus upon the development optionspresentedbyseveralareasoflandtotheeastandwestofthePrecinctWay.

Specifically the masterplan explored theoptions for strengthening the town’sconvenience (food) retail offer, throughthe provision of a new medium sizedstore in this central location. However,the masterplan went further than justaddressing the food retail need andprovidedastrategyforimprovementandinvestment right across the town centreincluding public realm enhancementopportunitiesandlinkages.

Objectives

The development options identified inthe Buckley Town Centre Masterplanprovide a significant opportunity andpotential stimulus for wider change andpublicrealmenhancement.

Thepurposeofthisdocumentistoprovideabenchmarkforthequalityexpectedforanyfutureenvironmentalandpublicrealmenhancements.

Proposals should be considered as aguidelineforthebenefitofthecommunity,businessesand theamenityof the town,providing outline detail and specifyingdesignprinciplesforarangeofaspirationalpublic realm projects in and around thetowncentre.

This document should be considered asa first step towards guiding change, and can be used to inform negotiation withprivatesectordevelopers.Itisanticipatedthat potential developers will have animportantparttoplayintheenhancementof thetowncentreandthedevelopmentof the town square, through partnershiporfundingarrangements,suchassection106agreements.

Thepotentialdevelopmentofthecouncilowned car park to the south of ThePrecinct ShoppingMallmay result in thedemolition of the Royal British Legionbuilding and a need to relocate theassociatedWarMemorial,asidentifiedintheadoptedmasterplan.

Report Structure

This document is structured in twosectionsasfollows:

1.EnhancementContext

2.DesignAreaOptions&DesignGuidelines

A separate report (Report 2 ) looks ingreaterdetailatthepotentialtocreateanewTownSquareandfocusforthetowncentreinthevicinityofthecurrentshortstaycarpark,adjacenttoBrunswickRoad.

While developing enhancements to thepublic realm within the town centre,the design team, council officers andstakeholdersweretaskedwithreviewingthe proposal to relocate the Memorialto the proposed new Town Square, assuggested in the Masterplan, while alsoinvestigatingotherpossiblelocations.

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2

Section 1

enhancement context

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4

Themain study area is indicated on theO.S.Planasdefinedwithintheredline.

The main areas of design developmentare the semi pedestrianised section ofBrunswick Road to include MillenniumGardens, The northern end of PrecinctWay and the location of the proposedtown square in the vicinity of the towncentreshortstaycarpark.

Study area Fig 1 - Town centre public realm study area

Buckley Town Structure and Study Area

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exiSting SituationThestartingpointfordevelopingarangeofpublic realmenhancementopportunitiesis an understanding of how the towncentre isused,whatfeaturesoftheareapresent anegative imageor a constrainttoimprovementandwhattheattractionsand opportunities are, identifying thebestwaytoenhanceassetsandstimulatefurtherimprovements.

Several studies have been carried outfocusinguponBuckley TownCentre. The2008HealthCheckStudyincludedareviewofthephysicalcharacter,economicvitalityand environmental quality of the town.In a similar vein, the 2011 MasterplanStudyundertooka townscapeandurbananalysis.Oursurveyconcurredwiththeirfindings, while focusing a little moreon three specific areas; Brunswick Rd.(partiallypedestrianisedsection),PrecinctWay, and the Precinct/Town Centre CarPark.

Our team undertook an appraisal of theexisting area, with several site visits,reference to aerial photographs, desksurvey techniques and stakeholderconsultation.

The illustration here identifies some ofthe key elements which have influenceover how the town centre is perceived,its imageand identity. Further attributesspecific to the area are indicated underthe strength and weakness headings onnextpage.

Town Centre Public Realm

Semi-Pedestrianised Brunswick Road

Key Vehicular Movements

Heavy Traffic & Town By-pass

Poor Quality Pedestrian Linkages

‘Active’ Shops & Building Frontages

‘Dead’ & Poor Quality Frontages

Poor Spatial Delineation - Large Areas of Hard Standing or Car Parking

Service Yards with High Visibility

Poor quality views

War Memorial Located in the Car Park has Poor Sense of Presence.

Poor Sense of Arrival to Town Centre

Unwelcoming Town Centre Bus Stops

Fig 2 - Town centre public realm analysis summary plan

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Strengths Weaknesses

•Existing investment in a qualitylandscapealongthesemi-pedestrianisedBrunswick Road including theMillenniumPark

•Partially pedestrianised high streetprovidesbetterenvironmentforretailersand shoppers and potential use of thestreet for recreational and commercialactivities

•Good access viamajor road networkand pedestrian linkages from adjacentneighbourhood

•Free parking provision within towncentre

•Has a concentration of CommunityFacilities; Post Office, Library, Banks,Church,SchoolandTownCouncilOffices

•Partlycoveredshopping-ThePrecinctshoppingcentre

•Unattractiveblandfacadestobuildingsalong Precinct Way and around theBrunswickRoadretailcore

•Lackofhighquality,shelteredshopping

•NoshelterfromtheelementsalongtheBrunswickRoadshoppingstreet

•Car parking for the retail core isdistributed to the rear of properties,creatinganunattractiveapproachforthetowncentrevisitor

•‘Hard’appearanceof largecarparkingandserviceyardareas,visiblefrommainroutestoHighStreetandTownCentre

•War memorial and The British LegionbuildinglocatedinthecentreofPrecinctcarpark,lackambienceandpresence

•Poor environmental quality alongpedestrianlinkages&routesintotown

•Precinct Way is a very wide, ‘over-engineered’road.Pedestrianmovementandsafetyrequiresimprovement

•The town is now by-passed by theArgoedRoadandWindmillRoad.(A549)

•Visual ‘street clutter’, over use ofbollards,bins,etc.

Streetscape investment

Covered retail walkway

Quality landscaped public space - Millennium Park

Convenient community facility - Post office

Street furniture clutter

Non-active facade at the gateway - Precinct Way

Poor quality pedestrian linkage/route

Over-engineered, nondescript bus stop interchange7

aSpirational Buckley town centre maSterplan An aspirational vision for Buckley hasbeenestablishedintheadopted‘BuckleyTownCentreMasterplan’,May2011.Thisplanprovidesastrategy&frameworkforenhancement&developmentoftheTownCentre.

Themasterplan report identifies a rangeof enhancement opportunities for thetowncentre,whichareboundtogetherbyadesiretocarryoutacoordinatedrangeof environmental improvements to thepublicrealmwithinandaroundthetowncentre.

In relation to public realm the key areasandproposalsidentifiedinthe2011planincluded:1)Anewtownsquareintheheartofthetown,designedasamultifunctionalspacewithyearroundinterest.

2) Public realm improvements alongthe length of Brunswick Road includingplanting of street trees, removal ofbollards and reconfiguration of somesurfacetreatments.

3) Pedestrian focussed improvementand highways changes to Precinct Way,including amuch enhanced streetscapeandapublictransport‘dropoff’/’pickup’hub.

4) The relocation of the Royal BritishLegion’sWarMemorial to thenew townsquarespaceinBrunswickRoad.

1 2

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3

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GraphicfromMasterplanReport2011

Fig 3 - Adopted ‘Buckley Town Centre Masterplan’ 2011

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Improve the pedestrianlinkages and experience

Accentuate and enhance entrances to precinct & any new development

Incorporate dedicated short stay parking for the high street

Find an alternative home for the war memorial

Create a more ‘active’ frontage to existing & proposed buildings

Enhancement of the public realm along ‘Brunswick road’

Creation of a town square, used as a multi functional space for a variety of activities at different times of the day and year

Improve the pedestrianlinkages and experience

Improve the pedestrianlinkages and experience

Traffic calm and narrow down the ‘over-engineered’ Precinct Way, allowing for safer pedestrian movement. Redesigned road landscaped to create a more attractive ‘edge’ to the town centre

Create a much enhanced transportation ‘hub’ and minimise the physical and perceived separation of the Co-op site & future development

Accentuate and enhance entrances to the new development and precinct

GraphicfromMasterplanReport2011

Fig 4 - Key public realm recommendations from the Masterplan

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Inordertoarriveatanadoptedmasterplanan extensive programme of consultationand engagement took place, developinga consensus with local stakeholders, thepublicandcouncilofficers.Thisprojectinlookingatseveralareasofthetowncentrein more detail, also needed to gatherspecificfeedbackandcommentfromthelocal community, businesses and councilofficers.

As well as ‘face to face’ meetingswith stakeholders and local membersof the Royal British Legion, the studyteam presented material and initialdevelopment options at two eveningmeetings for detailed discussion andcomment.

The first meeting was held on the 26thOctober2011withtheTownPartnership.

Thesecondmeetingonthe28thNovember2011waswiththeTownPartnershipandthe Town Council were also invitedwithrepresentativesoftheRoyalBritishLegion.

Those present were encouraged toprovide written comment on the draftproposalswhichwereissuedasA3printedsheets which incorporated a simplequestionnaire,designedtoelicitresponse.

The findings of the questionnaire weretabulated,responsesandcommentswerereportedback to the steering group andthe evolving development and designoptions amended in response to thegeneralconsensusofopinionexpressed.

StakeholderConsultation

Fig 5 - Presentation boards & sheets during consultation

ConsultationResponsesA questionnaire was used at a smallconsultation eventwithmembers of BuckleyTownPartnership, Buckley TownCouncil andBuckley Royal British Legion. Wider publicconsultationwillbeheldatsomefuturepoint,when appropriate, when any improvementsmightbepossibletoimplement.

The first part of the questionnaire looked atseveraldifferentoptionsforeachofthepublicrealmenhancementareas• TheProposedNewTownSquare• PrecinctWay• OptionsforrelocationoftheWarMemorial

Respondents were asked to indicate howsupportive theywere of each of the optionsillustrated,rankingthemfromverysupportiveof the proposals to not very supportive, buttheywerenotaskedtocompareoneoptiontoanotherortoidentifyapreference.

TheTownSquareThe most supported town square proposalswere Option 2 & 4. Option 2, the adoptedmasterplan proposals, has some newcommercialdevelopmentandasquarecreatedoncouncilownedlandandOption4,hasthegreatestamountofnewdevelopmentaroundthesquareandwouldinvolvebothpublicandprivatesectorland.

PrecinctWay(Illustrated on page 25)Clear support was shown for Option A, achicane arrangement designed to assistwithtraffic calming while providing space for amoresignificantpublictransport‘hub’

ThesecondpartofthequestionnairelookedatBrunswickRoad.InrelationtoBrunswickRoadthequestionswereputinadifferentmanner,ratherthanlookingatdifferentdesignoptionsfor enhancement, proposals were listedand rankings made by consultees reflectedthe degree of support for the statement orproposal.

Headingsused:

Street Furniture Remove bollards-GenerallysupportedMore seating-GoodsupportImprove signage-GoodsupportMore waste bins-Goodsupport

TreePlanters Replace existing trees - Ambivalent, neithersupportordisagreeparticularlyRemove existing trees-GenerallysupportivePlantnewtrees-GenerallysupportiveIntroduce more planters-GenerallysupportiveMorehangingbaskets-Generallysupportive

OtherItems“Spill Out Areas”-VerysupportiveAwnings to Shop Fronts-VerysupportiveLike existing paving materials - Ambivalent,neithersupportordisagreeparticularly

TheWarMemorial(Illustrated on page 30)The War Memorial was discussed in somedetail and of the three alternative potentiallocations illustrated there was very clearsupportshownforOptionA,re-locationoftheMemorialclosetotheexistinglocation,tothewesternedgeofthecarpark,directlyoppositethePrecinctWaycarparkentrance.

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• To create a high quality ‘Civic Space’• To introduce multi-functional usage• To create space for celebrations and festivals • To create a new social focus• To introduce active facades with ‘Spillout Spaces’• To introduce artwork and sculptures (See detail in ‘Report 2’)

deSign area 1 - town SQuare

• Minimise the current severance of visual amenity & impact• To encourage active shop frontages and ‘sense of arrival’• Slow Traffic and improve pedestrian movement• Improve linkages & strengthen pedestrian crossing from high street & to adjacent residential areas • Enhance boundary treatments & create Opportunities for tree planting & landscaping

deSign area 3 - precinct way

• To remove excess street furniture • To enhance pedestrian/shopper experience• Improve linkages from adjacent areas• Introduce greenery with low maintenance• To introduce shelter, awnings/canopies• Introduce artwork and sculptures

deSign area 2 - BrunSwick road

• To find an alternative home with ‘Sense of Focus’ • To protect from vandalism & to be ‘self policing’• To create area for ceremonial gatherings & easy public access• To create a low maintenance area

deSign area 4 - war memorial

key deSign areaS and enhancement oBjectiveS

This document focusses upon four areas ofpublic realm, each interlinked. These areashave thepotential tomakea very importantcontribution to the amenity of the towncentre, its attractiveness, ambience and itscommercialandsocialvitality.

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trees and Shelter - Additional treeplantingtostreetsforamenityandmicroclimateimprovementsisoneelementofthe streetscape enhancement, anotheris the incorporationof shade structures/shelters.

The concept plan shows that shadeand shelter is provided within the newspaces and between them, a little likesteppingstonescreatingamorepleasantenvironmentforusersofthetowncentrewhile protection from theweather, bothsunandrain.

InvestinginthepublicrealmofBuckleywillachieveseveralobjectives,fromeconomicbenefits and amenity improvements togreater social cohesion and an improvedsenseofcivicpride.

StreetscapeImprovements Investment in landscape and streetscapecanbearelativelycheapandcosteffectivewayofcreatinglongtermenhancement.

Treeplanting,theprovisionofshadeandshelter, improved lighting and providingfacilitieswhichallowavarietyofactivitiesinanattractive,invitingenvironment,canstimulate vitality and enliven the spacesbetweenthebuildings.Attheheartofthetownanewcivicspacewillprovideafocusfor new development, social interaction,civiceventsandseasonalcelebrations.

ImprovingtheTown’sImageThe recommendations in this report willprovide a much improved image for thetown, creating a more distinct ‘sense ofplace’notonlywithintheretailcore,butalsoaroundtheedgesofthetowncentre.

Creating Attractive Edges and GatewaystotheTownCentreThe centre is approached from virtuallyall directions past rear building facadespresentingunattractiveviewsofbuildings.There are opportunities to enhance theouter, more visible edges of the towncentre, creating improved ‘gateways’ andfocalpointsatkeyentrypointstothehighstreet,thePrecinctandtheshops.

New Linked Spaces - attractive safe andeasypedestrianaccessisapriorityandtheproposed improvementsprovide reasonsfor people to take particular routes, byproviding destinations,new spaceswithcharacter visual impact, life and vitality.Thenewtownsquareisanobviousfocusfor people, but it is important to createa pleasant, useable environment inbetween.

Public Transport - a Bus Interchangeproviding a new and improved arrival/departurepointontheedgeofthetowncentre.

The town has the potential to be betterserviced by public transport with thecreation of an enhanced transport ‘hub’onPrecinctWayandtheexistingwellusedbusstoponMoldRoad.

Pedestrian permeability and easy, safeaccess -There is a significant amountofcar parking close to the main shoppingroutes and public realm enhancementaimsto improve linksfromparkingareasto Brunswick Road and the Precinctshoppingmallwithroutewayscirculating&penetratingthetowncentre.

These links would permeate throughthe town and along the main shoppingthoroughfare, and they will be easilyaccessible,clearlydefinedandattractive.

a concept for improvement

key

GatewayorVisualNode

Space/Destination

Attractive/Active‘Outer’Facades

PedestrianAccessandCirculation

Street‘Greening’

Shade/Shelter

Fig 6 - Concept plan

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Fig 7 - A public realm enhancement plan for Buckley town centre

Retaining short stay parking layout

New development with active frontage

Improved pedestrian access with screening to service yard

Re-located War Memorial

Retain short stay car park/special event space

New shelters/canopies

Accentuate Nodes/entrance

Traffic calm junction

Retain existing Millennium Garden

Gateway node/facade

Encourage active frontage

Landscaped & improve pedestrian experience

Redesigned & landscaped pedestrian route

Minimise the physical separation of the future development

Enhanced transportation ‘HUB’

Landscape as main route to Town Centre

Accentuate Nodes/entrance

Landscape route to screen car parking & dead facades of buildings

Encourage active frontage

New shelters/canopies

Enhance pedestrian linkage

Landscaped avenue for War Memorial

c Crown Copyright. All rights reserved 2012

ThePrecinctSho

ppingCe

ntre

BrunswickRoad

PrecinctW

ay

A549

Pade

swoo

dRo

adNorth

Jubilee Road

BrunswickRoad

ServiceYard

ServiceYard

Proposednewretaildevelopment(aspermasterplan,May2011)

Prop

osed

ne

wre

tail

developm

ent

(aspe

rmasterplan,

May201

1)

Co-op

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deSign area 1 a new town SQuare

Section 2 deSign area optionS & deSign guidelineS

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deSign area 1 Designing the Town

Centraltothepublicrealmenhancementconceptistheaspirationforanewsocial,aesthetic and commercial focus for thetowncentre.AnewTownSquare.

The location for this proposed new civicspace is identified in the Buckley TownCentreMasterplanasbeingonandaroundthe area of the current Brunswick Roadshortstaycarpark.

A new town square has the potential tostimulate commercial activity and socialvitality, but there are a wide range ofpossible development scenarios anddesign options. As part of this projectthe consultant team and client steeringgroupassessedanumberofdevelopmentscenarios,assessingtheprosandcons,interms of; land assembly, retail footprint,spatial enclosure, movement and thearrangement of activities, parking andlandscape elements within the space,relativecostsandphasingimplications.

Asthesquareisasignificant‘standalone’project,wehaveincludedcomprehensivedetails in, ‘Report 2’, which focussessolely upon the opportunities for thedevelopmentofthisnewcivicspace.

Aspiration: To create a multipurpose public space (Town Square) in the heart of Buckley town centre, providing an attractive and ‘active’ community focus suitable for daily and yearly activities, with ‘spill out’ space for cafes, bars, restaurants and accommodating festivals, market days and celebratory events.

a new town SQuare

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deSign area 2

enhancementS to BrunSwick road

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enhancementS to BrunSwick road

Improve the shopping environment,provideastreetscapewhichisattractive,active,welllitandprovidesshelter.

StakeholderComment

Brunswick Road was comprehensivelyredesigned in 1996 when it was turnedintoasemi-pedestrianisedhighstreet.Atthistimetherewassignificantinvestmentin newpaving, drainage, street furnitureandlighting,resulting inanewattractivecharacter for the road. An olive greencolour scheme has been used, providingconsistencyalongthelengthofthestreet.The paving utilises locally manufacturedbrick pavers, in three colours with afurtherbrindlemix.

Thematerials used are robust and havestoodupwell towear and tear.Hangingbaskets are a popular addition to thestreetandthetrees(alder)contributetotheamenityofthearea,butarevariableinqualityandmayneedreplacementwithsomething of a more manageable andhigherqualityinthefuture.

Thefacadesofthebuildingstoeithersideofthestreetarerather‘flat’.Therearenocanopiestoprovidevisualrelief,shadeorshelter and very few extended signs topunctuate the street facade. There is anopportunity to create a more ‘shopperfriendly’environment,withgreatervisualinterest by incorporating canopies alongthe building facades and free standingshelterswithinthestreet.

Opportunitiesforenhancement

Thefollowingpagesprovide:

• A review of street furniture andrecommendations for anynewadditionsor removals, by rationalising existingstreet furniture, thus reducing excessivevisualclutter.

• RecommendationsforanynewpavingandintegrationoftheproposedtownsquarewiththeBrunswickRoadpaving.

• Proposals to improve the shoppingand pedestrian experience, looking inparticularattheopportunitiespresentedbyencouragingcanopiesandawnings toshop facades and also by incorporatingshade structures/shelters and additionaltrees along the length of the street,makingsure thesewouldnotaddto theexistingvisualstreetclutter.

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Shelters&TreesThere is anopportunity to incorporate anumberofpublicsheltersalongthestreetlike‘steppingstones’,whichwouldprovideafocusformeetingandshelterfromtheweather, both rain and sunshine. Ideallythese would also be linked with somenewtreeplanting,whichwillhelpprovidevertical markers, visually punctuatingthestreetandaddingadditionalamenityvalueandinterest.

Trees have been indicated on the planbelow to avoid services, but furtherchecks would be required before anystreettreeplantingisfinalisedtoconfirmexact services locations. Constructiondetails should incorporate root barrierswhereappropriate.

The design of the canopies should besimilar to the canopy proposed for theTown Square for continuity. They shouldbesimpleandalso‘sculptural’indesign.

ThePrecinctShoppingCentre

MillenniumGardens

BrunswickRoad

Pave small areas of unfinished footpath between buildings

Examples of modern and traditional shelters suitable along Brunswick road.

New shelter/canopy locations

Fig 8 - An aspirational Brunswick Road plan

Shop front awnings

New shelter/canopy & tree locations

Shop front awnings

Gateway feature

Traffic calm junction

Landscape & improve pedestrian experience

Short stay car park/special event space

A549

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Shop front canopieS and awningS Awnings and canopies could be fitted toshop fronts providing both shade and adegree of shelter in inclement weather,whilealsoenliveningthestreetscape.

For Brunswick Road several types ofawningsandcanopiescouldbeused,theymayvarydependingontheeaseoffixing,butitwouldbeappropriatetoselectfroma limited number of styles and coloursto encourage consistency of style and tocontrolquality.

For illustrative purposes, we have onlyshownfolding-armvariationsonthephotomontageshere.

A shop front improvement grant orinitiative would be a useful vehicle forencouraging theuseand implementationof awnings and canopies, it wouldencourage property owners and shopkeepers to invest in their properties andbusinesses, while also benefitting thetowncentrebyimprovingtheaestheticsofthestreetandamenityforthepedestrian.

The view below from the opposite sideof the street shows awnings with freestanding parasols in front, which is apossibility within the High Street if theycanbemonitoredandmanaged,however,parasols are probably most appropriatewithin the town square and within thesemi–private‘spillout’spaceassociatedwithacaféorrestaurant.

The are a number of colour and stylecombinationsthatcouldbecontemplatedforBrunswickRoad.Itmaybepossibletoencourageastandardstyleandpaletteofcolourtofurtherreinforcecharacter.TheexamplesbelowrelatetotheunitstotheleftofthePrecinctentrance(whenfacingit).

Fig 9 - Ideas and options for shop front awnings

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StreetFurniture:

The palette of materials and furnitureis generally weathering well and werecommend that the same or similarbe used in any enhancement or newdevelopments implemented along orlinkingintothestreetsinordertoprovidecontinuityandvisualunitythroughoutthetowncentre.

When enhancement opportunitiesor funds are secured a programme ofrepainting could also be instigated tobrightenupthewholestreet.

Bollards are a dominant element and ageneralcommentwhichcanbeinstigatedeasily, is that if not essential for safety,thebollardsshouldbereducedinnumberandpossiblyre-usedelsewheretoreduce‘visualclutter’

PavingMaterial:

Ruabon claypavers in a rangeof colourshavebeenused in theexisting landscapescheme. To promote continuity andreinforce the identity and characteralready established it is recommendedthat these or similar should be used.Wheretheproposedtownsquareextendsinto Brunswick Road, these pavers maybebrokenupwithareasofconcreteslabpaving, indicatingentrance intooracrossthis area and reinforcing the importanceofthetownsquare.

Red brindle

Blue clay pavers

Buff yellow pavers

Speed humps are constructed with red brindle clay pavers within Town Centre

Wheredifferentstylesormakesofstreetfurnitureareevidentreplacementshouldutiliseaconsistentstyle.

Standardising these litter bins is oneexample of where consistency could beimprovedtobenefit thecharacterof thestreet and also reducemaintenance andmanagementcostsofstreetfurniture.

If a new design or style of furniture isintroduceditshouldbepaintedinsimilargreencolour.

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Fig 10 - Potential streetscape improvements with reduction of excessive bollards, introducing new trees, canopies and awnings.

Reduce bollards in numbers where possible

New shelters

Shop front awnings New trees

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deSign area 3

enhancing precinct way

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EnhancingPrecinctWayPrecinct Way needs to be safer andmore pleasant for pedestrians. It formsan important ‘edge’ to the town centre,particularly visible when approachingalongBrunswickRoadfromtheeast.Ithasthepotentialtobesignificantlyenhancedas a road corridor and a ‘gateway to thetown’. A longer term aspiration could bea quality building to be located on theprominent corner site, at the junctionofBrunswickRoadandPrecinctWay,creatinga strong gateway focus to that key viewintothemainshoppingstreet.

Precinct Way is likely to be a busierplace forpublic transportandpedestrianmovement in the future if the widerdevelopments take place. Enhancementsto the road should include a 2nd publictransporthubforthetowncentre,thefirstone currently located outside the TownCouncilOfficesonMoldRoad.

Thereisscopetonarrowtheroad,improvethe locationas abus ‘dropoff’ and ‘pickup’ destination and significantly enhancetheroadcorridor.New,highquality‘hard’and ‘soft’ landscape treatment along thelengthoftheroadfromthejunctionwiththeA549andtheentrancetothePotter’sWheel pub car park would improveamenityandvisualattractiveness.

The current width of the highway and speedof traffic is a constraint to safe pedestrianaccess. The town centre to the west of theroadis ‘severed’fromtheCoopfoodstore,theresidentialareaandpotentialdevelopmentlandtotheeast.

StakeholderComment

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Attributes OptionAAs per The Buckley Town CentreMasterplan (May 2011) with trafficcalming

OptionBTraditionalbusstoplaybays

OptionCLandscaped interchange, on road busstops

Attributes:• Potential quality feature building,

creatingastronggatewayfocus.• Traffic calming through signalisation

androadsurfacetreatmentoncornerofBrunswickRoadandPrecinctWay.

• Chicanerealignmentofroadandbus‘pullin’offmaincarriageway

• Busstopsrelocatedandlocationgivenmoreprominence‘newhub’

• Newpedestriancrossings

Attributes:• TrafficcalmingoncornerofBrunswick

RoadandPrecinctWay.• Nomajorrealignment.Bus‘pullin’off

maincarriageway• Busstopsrelocatedandlocationgiven

moreprominence‘newhub’• Newpedestriancrossing• Road significantly narrower at bus

stoplocation

Attributes:• TrafficcalmingoncornerofBrunswick

RoadandPrecinctWay.• Wide carriage way created between

bus stops to allow for central islandandvehiclestopassparkedbuses

• Busstopsrelocatedandlocationgivenmoreprominence‘newhub’

• Newpedestriancrossing• Roadnarroweratpedestriancrossing

location

• PrecinctWay is awide road,difficultto cross, it creates severancebetween the coop supermarket, thedevelopmentsitestotheeastandthetowncentretothewest

• Thebussheltersarefunctional,butalittle exposedandnot invitingplacestowait

• Thefootpathsarelocatedadjacenttothe busy highway, however there isplentyofspaceforpedestrianroutesawayfromtheroad.

• Pedestriandesire lines donot followtherouteof thefootpathorcrossingpoints

• Unattractivebuilding facadestobothsidesoftheroadpresentapoorfirstimpressionofthetowncentre

• The Precinct and coop Service yardsand a ‘sea’ of car parking, dominatethestreetscape

• Pedestriansafetyisanissue,vehiclesapproach Precinct Way from A549to the north east, often travellingat speeds whichmake it difficult forpedestrianstocrosssafely

• There are a few irregularly spacedtrees and they have only modestvisualimpact.Landscapelacksregularmaintenance

Theoptions illustratedhere indicate justthree potential reconfiguration for theroad,eachgosomewaytowardsresolvingthe issues listed above, while creating amuch improved ‘gateway’/ ‘edge’tothetown.

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The aspirations for Precinct

Wayinalittlemoredetail

The detailed design of a reconfiguredhighwayandenvironmentalenhancementproposals for Precinct Way can only bedevelopedfullywhenanticipatedproposalsareputforwardforthedevelopmentlandsto the south and east of the Precinct.At this point the council will enter intonegotiation with any developer/partnertoensurehighwayaccess,parking,publictransport and planning requirements areincorporatedwithinaplanningapplication.

Section 106 agreements are likely to bepartofanylargerdevelopmentproposals,in the vicinity of the road, potentiallyprovidingfundsfortheseenhancements.

As part of this process it is anticipatedthat the plans, guidance and aspirationsillustrated herewill provide the basis fordetailedimprovementproposals.

This page providesmore detail as to thedesignprinciples,spatialarrangementandmaterials, which EA is recommending,basedonthemasterplan.

Traffic calm junction

Retain existing Millennium Garden

Gateway node/ facade

Encourage active frontage

Landscape & improve pedestrian access

Redesigned & landscape pedestrian route

Road corridor enhancement

Fig 11 - Illustrated plan based on Option A

Fig 12 - Illustrated plan at A549 & Precinct Way junction

Long term aspiration to have new active frontage commercial building

Potential signalisation of junction to improve traffic and pedestrian flow

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LightingTheroadcorridorisvisuallyprominentandaspartofanyenhancementschemethereisanopportunitytoselectattractivenewlamp standards. We would recommendthese adopt the green colour currentlyusedthroughoutBuckley.

PavingIngeneral,pavingshouldbetrimmedwithclaypaverstomatchBrunswickRoad,themain body of the paving utilising smallunit, ‘buff’ coloured concrete slabs, asproposedforthenewtownsquare.Eithersideof theroadthebusstopsshouldbeslabpaved.

BusShelters Though the current bus shelters arerobustandrelativelyattractive,thedesignof a new public transport ‘hub’ shouldenhancethestreetscapewhilegivingthesheltersgreaterprominence,withamorebespokedesign to indicate the increasedimportanceoftheterminus.

Street FurnitureShould be kept to aminimum, howeverseating, litterbinsandbollardsare likelytoberequiredandthesuiteof furnitureused along Brunswick Road should beusedtoensureconsistency.

PedestrianBarriersThese can be visually dominant andshould be kept to a minimum to avoidvisualclutterandobstruction.

Where possible, footpaths should bepositioned away from the highway withgrass verges planted with clear stemtrees, positioned between the footpathandroad.Alsowherepossible,reducetheneedforbarriersorremovebarriersaspercurrentgovernmentguidance.

Various designs and colours of barriers are installed and should be either replaced with similar designs or painted with the same green colour

GreeningLandscape enhancement using plantingand grass represents good value formoney. A semi formal arrangement oflargertreesisrecommendedtopunctuatethetransport‘hub’andPrecinctWayroad

Redesigned & landscape pedestrian route

Minimise the physical separation of the future development and potential pedestrian crossing

Enhanced transportation ‘HUB’

Landscape proposal as main route to Town Centre

Accentuate Nodes/entrance

Traffic calming measures

Landscape avenue for War Memorial & Precinct car park

Encourage active frontage

Fig 13 - Illustrated plan of Bus Interchange

Existing pedestrian crossing

New bus shelters

New bus shelters

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deSign area 4

a location for the war memorial

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a location for the war memorial

Any new location for the memorialmusthavepresence,providesufficientspace and gravitas for RemembranceDay parades and be designed sothat it is respected and economic tomaintain.

StakeholderComment

If anew food store is to incorporate theland currently occupied by the BritishLegion building and memorial garden,a new and appropriate location for thememorial is essential. The locationmusthave presence, provide sufficient spacefor Remembrance Day parades and bedesigned so that it is respected andeconomictomaintain.

Theplanhereillustratesthreealternativelocationswhichwerediscussedat lengthwith various stakeholders, includingrepresentativesoftheRoyalBritishLegion.Other locations may come forward as aresultofanydevelopmentopportunities. Fromthelocationsreviewed,thegeneralconsensuswasoverwhelminglyinfavourof locating the memorial close to itscurrent location, (Location A) within anewformalgardenarea,ontheaxisoftheentranceintoareconfiguredsupermarketcarpark.

It was felt that this provided a highlyvisible location with good surveillanceand located on the entrance axis, thelocationwouldhavepresence.Thereisanabundanceofspacearoundthememorialfor the congregation of people andparadesonRemembranceSunday.

location B location c

location a

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optionS

LocationAHere prominently located, theMemorialwould be regularly seen. It would havea formal setting. The location (with noseating provided) is unlikely to attractabuse.Itisclosetothecurrentlocation.Ithasabundantspacearounditforgatheringandmarchingandwouldbedesignedwithminimummaintenancerequirements.

LocationB Though prominently located with spacearound it, people felt the new townsquarewasnottotallyappropriateforthememorialrelocation.Itwouldtoadegreeobstructthesquareforotherusesand itwas felt it would bemore vulnerable tovandalismandlesseasytoprotect.

LocationCThough very prominently located onthe main approach road to the town,the useable space around it would beconfined. The assembly of peoplewouldrequireaformal,mainroadclosure,whichwouldbeproblematic. ItwouldbemoresusceptibletovandalismandlesseasytoprotectthanlocationsA&B.

Asimplerobustmaintenancefreedesignisproposed.

Fig 14 - Detailed illustrated plan based on Location A

Fig 15 - Illustrated plan based on Location APotential demarcated road

finish, coloured ashpalt.

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