Major consultation into city centre revamp gets under way
Have your say on city centre designs.
A major new consultation into proposals to revitalise Lancaster City Centre has been launched.
Lancaster City Council, with funding from the Northwest Development Agency and Lancashire County Council, has commissioned a set of detailed design proposals for a number of public streets in the city centre.
The project, known as Lancaster Square Routes, aims to create a centre which both builds on the city’s history and heritage while still maintaining a modern outlook.
Areas covered by the designs include:
Market Square
Signage improvements to the Castle Precinct
Market Street Illumination / Lighting
Sun Street Square / Sun Street
Horseshoe Corner
Castle and Quay green space
Castle and Priory Precinct
Key linking routes (Upper and Lower Church Street, Ffrances Passage and Gage Street)
The design team from Gillespies LLP are working with artists Amenity Space who earlier this year developed design ideas for Market Square with a group of local students. Amenity Space’s designs have been incorporated into the overall scheme.
Members of the public are now being asked for their comments on the draft proposals before a final set of designs is produced.
The designs will go on display in Market Square on May 20, 21, 27, 28 and 30 from 10am to 5pm (10am to 7pm on May 28th) for members of the public to view and make comment upon. A special public participation event exploring the square route will take place on the final day of consultation.
A special webpage, www.lancaster.gov.uk/squareroutes, has also been set up for those who can’t make it to the consultation events.
Andrew Dobson, Head of Planning Services, said: “Lancaster City Centre has a long enviable history and is a major source of employment and tourism.
“Unfortunately, over the years, the centre has deteriorated and we are now faced with a situation where the condition of the streets is poor and cluttered, which does not do enough to showcase its assets.
“Lancaster Square Routes aims to rejuvenate one of the north west’s most important historical city centres and strengthen its position as a major destination both for visitors and residents of the district.”
Following the consultation a final set of designs will be drawn up and submitted to the council’s Cabinet.
Subject to approval, funding applications will then be submitted to a range of funding bodies to turn the designs from a vision into a reality.
Date Updated: 15/05/09