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Renaissance plans on show
for all to see The draft Carlisle City Council planning guide outlines a blueprint for how key parts of the city, including the banks of the River Caldew, could be developed. The Urban Design Guide and Public Realm Framework, which is intended to be a handbook for developers, architects and designers, is now out for public consultation. The exhibition is on view in Carlisle’s Tourist Information Centre’s Assembly Rooms tomorrow between 1.30pm and 3.30pm, next Monday between 10am and 6.30pm and on Tuesday between 10am and 5.30pm. It explains why the Urban Design Guide and Public Framework document has been compiled and what suggestions have been forward by consultants to improve city centre public spaces and buildings. The technical planning document includes guidance and principles on how buildings should be designed throughout the city centre as well as setting out how the city’s public spaces can be improved through the use of paving materials, seating and lighting. Four “city squares” – Court Square, Market Square, Rickergate Square and a new square at Caldew Riverside (Viaduct Estate) – are all suggested. Plans are also proposed for the Caldewgate and Shaddongate area, in addition to the Botchergate South area. City council leader Mike Mitchelson said: “Carlisle has a unique and important array of buildings and open spaces in its city centre. “This new draft planning guideline document will help us have stronger planning regulations so we can make sure that we have well designed, high quality buildings and public spaces. “This will help define how the city will look and develop in the future. “This is another important step forward for Carlisle Renaissance and we urge local residents to give us their views on the design principles, including making the city centre more accessible and pedestrian friendly.” Copies of the document will be available, throughout the six-week consultation period at the Civic Centre’s customer contact centre, the city centre Library (based in The Lanes) and an online version is also available on the city council’s website www.carlisle.gov.uk. People must make their views known by Thursday July 31. Written responses can be sent to: Local Plans and Conservation
Manager, Carlisle City Council, Civic Centre, Carlisle, CA3 8QG,
handed in at the public exhibition or emailed to lpc@carlisle.gov.uk Renaissance changes to start this autumn Renaissance was launched as a response to the floods of January 2005. MP Eric Martlew and others have criticised the apparently slow rate of progress. But Mr Mitchelson, speaking at the launch of the latest Renaissance consultation yesterday, promised that the public would not have long to wait before the first proposals become reality. He said: “The first site where things will happen is the historic core. We want to build on the heritage and make it more attractive for residents and visitors. “That scheme is due to begin this autumn and will be worked around the busy Christmas period to minimise disruption to shoppers.” The plans involve relaying part of Castle Street with sandstone flags and closing West Walls to traffic. Mr Mitchelson added: “Viaduct Estate will probably be the first area where new build takes place, within the next couple of years. “We are particularly pleased that the University of Cumbria has identified it as the site for their headquarters. “There could also be restaurants and bars there along the river frontage, which is the only river frontage that is suitable for development.” Mr Mitchelson was speaking at the launch of an exhibition at the Old Town Hall in Greenmarket, on the Renaissance Urban Design Guide and Public Realm Framework. The document is a handbook for developers and architects, outlining schemes and specifying materials right down to paving stones, street lamps and litter bins. Residents are invited to comment over the next six weeks before the document is redrafted and approved by the city council. Mr Mitchelson said: “We want to get people involved and expressing their views. “We are outlining what our aim is and the planning guidelines that set the standard for design work, whether it is improving existing buildings or new buildings. “High-quality public realm improvements do make a big difference.” The framework was drawn up by the urban design consultancy Gillespies. It outlines Renaissance schemes based on four “city squares” – Court Square, Market Square, Rickergate Plaza and one in Viaduct Estate. It also touches on transport issues and plans for Botchergate and Shaddongate. Copies are available to inspect at the Civic Centre, Carlisle Library and at www.carlisle.gov.uk. Comments can be emailed to lpc@carlisle.gov.uk or posted to: Local Plans and Conservation Manager, Carlisle City Council, Civic Centre, Carlisle, CA3 8QG. The consultation ends on July 31. The exhibition is open 10am-5.30pm today and tomorrow;1.30-3.30pm
on Saturday; 9.30am-6.30pm the following Monday and 9.30am-5.30pm
next Tuesday. Consultation to start on Renaissance plans A six-week consultation on the Urban Design Guide and Public Realm Framework starts on Monday. The document is a handbook for developers and architects, outlining schemes and specifying materials right down to paving stones, street lamps and litter bins. As part of the consultation, an exhibition is being staged at the Assembly Rooms in the Old Town Hall, Greenmarket. City council leader Mike Mitchelson said: “This document will help us have stronger planning regulations so we can make sure we have well-designed, high-quality buildings and public spaces. “It will help define how the city will look and develop in the future. “It is another important step forward for Carlisle Renaissance and we urge residents to give us their views.” The framework, drawn up by consultant Gillespies, says: “Carlisle city centre is a patchwork of distinct character areas built up over time. However, the city fabric has started to show signs of strain. Many buildings have fallen into disrepair. “The vision seeks to repair the city fabric through quality urban design and inspirational public realm.” The document cautions against erecting buildings of more than six storeys “unless the need can be justified and the impact understood”. It calls for the removal of street clutter such as unnecessary signs and bollards. And its authors want to see more pavement cafés, public art and water features. Central to their design concept are four ‘city squares’ – Court Square, Market Square, Rickergate Plaza and a new square in Viaduct Estate. Transport issues are touched on too, alluding to proposals to discourage traffic from the city centre while making bus travel and cycling more attractive. There are also plans for Caldewgate, Shaddongate and Botchergate. The city council is pushing ahead with the consultation against the advice of Carlisle’s county councillors who say it is “premature”. The county councillors say that schemes to relieve congestion, in particular a relief road from Botchergate to Wigton Road, must be in place before many of the schemes can go ahead. Copies of the framework are available at the Civic Centre in Rickergate, Carlisle Library in the Lanes, and online at www.carlisle.gov.uk. Comments can be handed in at the exhibition, emailed to lpc@carlisle.gov.uk or posted to: Local Plans and Conservation Manager, Carlisle City Council, Civic Centre, Carlisle, CA3 8QG. The consultation ends on July 31. The exhibition is open 10am-5.30pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; 1.30-3.30pm next Saturday; 9.30am-6.30pm the following Monday and 9.30am-5.30pm on the Tuesday. Taken from The News & Star / [Link] / [Back to top] |
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