Ellesmere Green - Initial Designs
REPORT FROM CITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, PLANNING SERVICES
BURNGREAVE AREA PANEL
ELLESMERE GREEN – INITIAL PLAN
Purpose of report
To provide members of the Area Panel with an initial presentation of the design of the proposed ‘public realm’ works to improve and create a high quality focus around Ellesmere Green. The works at the Green are the first phase of Spital Hill Regeneration, which will see an improved streetscape from the Green to Caborn’s Corner and Spital Street.
The purpose of the plan is
- to test the best arrangement of design, circulation, parking etc
- to demonstrate the potential of the site for the new open market/ event space use
- to provide the basis of layout of the amenities on the Green (paths, seating, planting etc)
- and to overcome issues relating to competing needs for space (parking for shoppers and traders) and circulation (buses)
- A significant aspect is to link the refurbished Vestry Hall into the wider area, through safe, convenient, attractive pedestrian routes.
The scheme, we feel, makes the best fit of all these aspects and relies heavily on the public consultations we carried out in December, where we took the views and concerns of people using the green (56 individuals, 6 venues).
The basic layout
An open market for 26 stalls. The proposition, which we have discussed with Markets, is that the Markets will run, initially, weekly, on a weekday (and preferably Friday when there is maximum activity) with potential for occasional Saturday/Sundays.
The stalls will be a mix of traders identified by Markets from across the city (and beyond) and those, identified locally, with the help of BNDfC and other organisations, which will provide the unique element that distinguishes it from other markets. This will allow opportunities for people locally to develop and try new ventures and encourage entrepreneurial activity in the area.
The occasional weekend markets could be focused more on the specialists (art/ crafts, farmers, etc).
The space will be able to be used, at other times, for community events.
Ellesmere Road, opposite the Green, will be closed to traffic, except for servicing the markets and servicing the shops outside the market operating hours or working day. Other traffic will be excluded by rising bollards.
The Green itself will be sensitively restructured retaining the majority of the trees, converting the space into a town garden with stunning planting, public art, areas to sit, play and relax. The amount of seating will be greatly increased with a combination of seats with backs, sitting walls and raised beds.
The Green will be bounded by an attractive railing, to give a sense of enclosure and reflect the view of people that parents should be able to feel their children were not at risk from traffic. A pedestrian link will connect the green to the Vestry Hall.
Planting will contain plenty of colour with flowering perennials, but will be designed to allow open views across the green, to maintain a safe and open feel.
The existing toilets will be demolished. Alternative facilities will be available in Sorby House during the working day.
All buses using this piece of Ellesmere Road will be re-routed. New laybys will be provided on Gower Street.
Materials have not been finalised and further details will be submitted at the next stage of the design.
Some trees will be removed in the proposals, but these are largely the poorer specimens and have been kept to the minimum, bearing in mind the need to create an attractive space for a number of activities.
Lighting in the Green and on the market square will be significantly improved and will include the electrical points for the tree lights, which people value a great deal.
Please see the further plans attached to this report.
Next Steps
These plans will be used for informing the public as to what is proposed and consulting people directly affected. This will take place during the next 4 weeks. Further design work will be carried out with a view to applying for planning permission for this phase of the scheme (Ellesmere Green) by May 2007.
Discussions are ongoing regarding funding, but it is anticipated that works could commence on site in early 2008.
Recommendations
That the Burngreave Area Panel welcome this report and the accompanying plans.
Chris Birks & Richard Watts
City Development Division
Downloads
This document contains an image relating to the Ellesmere Green scheme (769 KB)
This document contains an image relating to the Ellesmere Green scheme (960 KB)