Two Urban Regeneration Masterplans and Design Codes adopted as Supplementary Planning Documents

Both Council’s have formally agreed to accept new planning policy for critical town centre sites and make significant steps in their redevelopment plans.

Urban regeneration offers huge potential to re-imagine an often tired poorly utilised landscape into new community-focused space that is suitable for the next century. Deliverable masterplans and design codes are important tools to overcome the day-to-day challenges experienced by existing communities while also delivering new homes and integrating the areas into the wider town centre.

Both Council’s have formally agreed to accept new planning policy for critical town centre sites and make significant steps in their redevelopment plans.

Urban regeneration offers huge potential to re-imagine an often tired poorly utilised landscape into new community-focused space that is suitable for the next century. Deliverable masterplans and design codes are important tools to overcome the day-to-day challenges experienced by existing communities while also delivering new homes and integrating the areas into the wider town centre.

Greyfriars, Bedford

The development brief and code were developed, working in conjunction with the Greyfriars Development Partnership, comprising Bedford Borough Council, bpha and Homes England.

Located between the existing town centre core, Bedford station and the western side of the town, the Greyfriars site has potential to provide around 500 new homes with a mix of tenures across a range of unit types, initiating a step change in urban living in Bedford. The SPD now acts as the masterplan and design code for these plans, set to transform the area into a high-quality, urban neighbourhood with new open spaces and play facilities as well as a mix of retail and community uses. We recognise the complexities, challenges, and incredible opportunity that the redevelopment of Greyfriars site provides, creating a positive gateway between the station and the town centre and supporting local housing delivery.

Councillor Andrea Spice, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Planning and Prosperity, stated: "The Greyfriars redevelopment is a key project for Bedford, promising to enhance our housing provision and create a vibrant, sustainable community. We are grateful for the input from all stakeholders, which has been crucial in shaping a development that reflects the needs and aspirations of our residents."

The plans were developed in collaboration with a wider team, including TibbaldsCampbellReithJV, Aspinall Verdi, LUC, Urban Flow and Urban Movement. HomesEngland, Bedford District Council, bpha

https://www.bedford.gov.uk/pla...

Bracknell Town Centre

The masterplan contains land use and design guidance for 3 strategically important development sites in Bracknell town centre. Two of them are allocated in the Bracknell Forest Local Plan for mixed-use development. The document establishes high level approaches to future development including housing, retail and workspace.

• Southern Gateway – Policy LP10 (including the bus station)

• Eastern Gateway – Policy LP9 (including Easthampstead House and Bracknell Library)

• High Street multi-storey car park

Bracknell town was one of the first New Towns built in post-war Britain. The initial designation intended for a population of 25,000 which was revised to 55,000-60,000 in 1962. Today Bracknell Forest has an estimated population of 125,000. The predominant built environment is postwar, with few buildings and features which predate the new town designation.

New town heritage remains in the form of the library building and Easthampstead House. They are considered unique in their architectural character and positive heritage features from Bracknell’s new town heritage. Both modernist buildings have been integrated into the masterplan.

With the modernist heritage comes highway infrastructure that is currently prioritising vehicle movement over the movement of people. This has resulted in the dominance of vehicles, in particular on the arrival into Bracknell town centre. The inner town centre road structure will be remodelled to establish a better-connected network of sites, encouraging walking and cycling routes and creating a more legible centre, as well as releasing highway verges for development.

The plans were developed in collaboration with a wider team, including CampbellReithJV Aspinall Verdi and Urban Movement. Bracknell Forest Council.

https://www.bracknell-forest.g...