A PHASED MASTERPLAN
The masterplan is split into three clear zones, each with their own challenges and opportunities.
1. The key opportunity for this zone is to improve the link from the town centre to the riverside area through the creation of a new green space at Roushill, Riverside Gardens. This is being delivered as part of the first phase of development and will create a welcoming arrival point for those entering the town from Frankwell.
a. Footbridge connection to Frankwell
b. New public space along Roushill
c. Potential for further place shaping investment
2. A central priority for the masterplan is to ensure that the operational needs of The Darwin Centre and Premier Inn are safeguarded.
3. We envisage that the masterplan will look to deliver staged improvements to Smithfield Road so that we are able to keep in step with wider initiatives from the Big Town Plan. Ensuring the masterplan is aligned to these initiatives is a key role of the project team.
IMPROVED CONNECTIVITY
Connection to Pride Hill
The new landscaped open space at Roushill will provide a green link from the riverside right to the heart of the town. Visitors and residents using Frankwell car park will benefit from a more welcoming arrival point, with a new space to sit and relax, enhancing health and wellbeing provision.
As part of a longer-term strategy it will become a gateway and create a strong sense of place from which all else grows.
Smithfield Road
The emerging masterplan will also look to deliver landscape enhancements outside of Riverside Gardens. For example, improvements could be made to the northern and southern sides of Smithfield Road.
Over time and in step with wider Big Town Plan initiatives, the masterplan will consider how to calm Smithfield Road and make it more accessible and inviting for pedestrians and cyclists.
FUTURE PHASES
The outline application for Smithfield Riverside consists of rules that dictate and control how the development could be brought forward to ensure compliance, especially when a public consultation has taken place. Any future development will be subject to a reserved matters planning application, which would set out the detail of the actual design, in adherence with any outline consent. This would be subject to consultation, like any other detailed planning application.
As part of this future phase planning, we are working closely with the emergency services to ensure safe evacuation arrangements, which are essential to improving the site’s commercial viability.