Vision for town's public realm

AN imaginative strategy for Warrington town centre’s “public realm” has been drawn up by environmental consultants.
It has been produced for the borough council by award-winning, locally-based consultants TEP as an essential part of the “Town Centre Renaissance” objective.
The aim is to create a safe, contemporary, high quality environment which will attract users, investors and visitors to Warrington and play a significant role in ensuring the vitality and viability of the town centre.
TEP were also asked to develop conceptual designs for two areas of the town centre – middle and lower Bridge Street and the links between Bridge Street and Bank Quay Station via Museum Street, Suez Street, Rylands Street, Palmyra Square South, Hanover Street and Thynne Street.
The strategy looks at the current situation, the historical development of the central area, the vision for the public realm and the design, materials, implementation and maintenance of the public realm.
It suggests the creation of tree-lined avenues and boulevards, lighting to create safe and attractive streets and highlight architectural features and more public art to enhance a sense of pride in the town.
The report concedes the proposals will mean initial costs will be higher and that this will mean either additional external funding or reducing the geographic scale of the area to be improved.
But each scheme within the overall strategy will need to be supported by a revenue plan showing how future costs can be contained within existing levels.
Aim of the strategy is to improve the quality of the town centre and without a consistent approach there will be significant risk of ad hoc and disjointed changes to the appearance of town centre streets.