RIVER TAFF, MERTHYR TYDFIL

Urban Design and Landscape Strategy and Implementation Plan for the enhancement of the River Taff Corridor

River Taff, Merthyr Tydfil

Austin-Smith:Lord was commissioned by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council to produce an Urban Design and Landscape Strategy and Implementation Plan for the enhancement of the River Taff Corridor. Merthyr Tydfil is situated on the River Taff, which separates retail activities in the east from commercial and residential uses to the west. In recent years, the development of Merthyr Tydfil town centre has largely affected its main asset and turned its back on the river, meaning that the River Taff is largely hidden from view.

The aim of the strategy was two-fold:

  • To remove the perception of the River Taff Corridor as a barrier to movement, integrating the east and west of the town;

and

  • To improve the physical environment of River Taff Corridor, and develop the river as an attraction on its own right.

The implemented works have vastly improved the setting of the River Taff Corridor and have proved very popular with local residents. Moreover, this project is now widely regarded by the Town Partnership Committee and Regeneration Department as the most successful scheme within the town centre

Gavin Lewis – Physical Regeneration Manager, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council

LOCATION: GLAMORGAN

CLIENT: MTCBC

VALUE: £1.1m

COMPLETION: 2010
SERVICE: LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: URBAN REGENERATION
CONTRACTOR: ENGLISH LANDSCAPES

LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: LORD
STRUCTURES: CURTINS
SERVICES: LOCAL AUTHORITY LIGHTING
COST CONSULTANT: GLEEDS

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THREE PICCADILLY PLACE

Mixed use development of 97,000m2 comprising offices, hotel, residential apartments, shopping, food and drink over three levels of underground parking

Three Piccadilly Place

Located within the city centre and the Piccadilly Regeneration area, Piccadilly Place is a mixed use development of 97,000 square metres comprising offices, hotel, residential apartments, shopping, food and drink over three levels of underground parking. The gateway site creates a new entrance to Manchester whether arriving by train or by car from the South.

The masterplan augments existing routes around and through the site with the creation of a new pedestrian footbridge connecting to Piccadilly Station. Austin-Smith:Lord’s masterplan is realised through buildings by several architects including our own Three Piccadilly Place, 250,000 sqft of speculative office space clad in a copper zinc alloy.

Austin-Smith:Lord has risen to the challenge of this complex city centre project, coordinating the work of six architects and various artists within their overall scheme. They have responded to the various interests of our joint landowners, Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive; Planning and Building Control and Council Access Officers, amongst others.

We continue to be impressed with the commitment and service that Austin-Smith:Lord has and continues to provide.
Tony Giddings – Construction Director, Argent Estates Ltd

LOCATION: MANCHESTER

CLIENT: ARGENT ESTATES LTD

VALUE: £28m

COMPLETION: 2008
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, INTERIOR DESIGN, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: COMMERCIAL
CONTRACTOR: CARILLION PLC

LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: LORD
STRUCTURES: TIER CONSULTING
SERVICES: SHEPHERD ENGINEERING SERVICES
COST CONSULTANT: FAITHFUL + GOULD

BOULEVARD INDUSTRY PARK

A major element of the Speke Garston regeneration programme. Masterplanning, development of the landscape infrastructure, detailed design and implementation

Boulevard Industry Park

Boulevard Industry Park forms a major element of the Speke Garston regeneration programme. Austin-Smith:Lord undertook the masterplanning role for the site and also developed the landscape infrastructure through detail design to implementation. The main spine road was designed to produce a strong, consistent, unifying image linking the various developments proposed for the site. The spine road also incorporated a section of the Transpennine Trail, with its own unique, yet contextual design approach.

Our challenge was to deliver not just one “machine” for production and delivery, but six on one route. Not only critical logistics, but a standard building design that responds to functional need and is precisely cost predictable. In addition, the external environment reflects and reinforces Jaguar Land Rover’s brand.

We developed a family of high throughput facilities in a road-based logistics system designed for multiple redundancy and failure. The facilities allow for system retro-fit without interruption of operations.

Occupiers include Evans Vaccines, Conix, Lear Corporation, Coughlin Logistics, Medeva (Medimmune), Visteon, Infast, Stadco and Chiron, with buildings and plot development undertaken by Austin-Smith: Lord.

LOCATION: HALEWOOD, MERSEYSIDE

CLIENT: INTERCITY JIS IN ASSOC W/ENGLISH PARTNERSEHIPS + SPEKE GARSTON DEVELOP/JAGUAR LAND ROVER

VALUE: £10.5m

COMPLETION: 2000
SERVICE: ARCHITECTURE, URBAN DESIGN, MASTERPLANNING, LANDSCAPE
SECTOR: INDUSTRY AND INFRASTRUCTURE

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COUNTESS STREET PUBLIC REALM, SALTCOATS

An enhanced environment for the Town Hall, and a new convival urban space

Countess Street Public Realm, Saltcoats

Austin-Smith:Lord was appointed in September 2015 by Irvine Bay Regeneration Company and North Ayrshire Council, after selection through a design competition, to prepare design proposals for Countess Street, Saltcoats in North Ayrshire.

The project is part of the Saltcoats Town Regeneration Plan, which is, in turn, part of the visionary masterplan for the five towns making up the Irvine Bay area. The public realm works also build upon the success of the initial phase of regeneration associated with the Town Hall and the refurbishment of the old station building on Vernon Street.

A new, improved public realm has been created on Countess Street, the strategic artery which links the town’s main railway station and local bus stops on Vernon Street with a key retail area on Dockhead Street plus the seafront beyond.

Improvements to the street create an enhanced environment for the Town Hall, a feature of Countess Street since the 1890’s, which was recently redeveloped into a vibrant new community and civic hub. The ongoing shop front improvement projects also add to the regeneration process.

The design includes a new convivial urban space which features high quality surfacing and lighting improvements, to encourage community and civic activity, support the increased footfall to the newly refurbished Town Hall and create an attractive setting for weddings and other events set within the revitalised building. The one-way vehicular traffic system has been retained and accommodates ceremonial vehicles arriving at the Town Hall, general service and refuse access. Pedestrian space, however, has been increased and the space is organised to avoid parking interfering with pedestrian movement.

This kind of public realm work brings genuine improvements and significant opportunities, as evidenced by the positive impact of work in both Kilwinning and Irvine.  Irvine Bay continues to work with its partners to deliver a strong and lasting legacy of improved physical infrastructure for the five towns, along with job creation and increased business opportunities.

Patrick Wiggins – Chief Executive of Irvine Bay Regeneration Company

LOCATION: SALTCOATS

CLIENT: IRVINE BAY REGENERATION COMPANY

VALUE: £1m

COMPLETION: 2018
SERVICE: LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
SECTOR: URBAN REGENERATION
CONTRACTORS: LAND ENGINEERING / RAINTON

LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH: lORD
STRUCTURES: HARLEY HADDOW
TRANSPORT CONSULTANT: TRANSPORT PLANNING LTD
COST CONSULTANT: NEILSON PARTNERSHIP

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BRIDGEGATE PUBLIC REALM

The project features the 9m high Trinity Mirror sculpture that reflects the stunning neo-Gothic Trinity Church and reveals inscriptions on an anamorphic projection around its base.

BRIDGEGATE PUBLIC REALM

Austin-Smith:Lord’s competition-winning design has completely rejuvenated the historic heart of this former New Town, with natural stone public realm, artworks and streetscape improvements being part of a wider £10m regeneration programme by Irvine Bay Regeneration Company and North Ayrshire Council.

The project features the 9m high Trinity Mirror sculpture that reflects the stunning neo-Gothic Trinity Church and reveals inscriptions on an anamorphic projection around its base. This artwork, coupled with a timeline, reveal aspects of the town’s long, interesting history and its identity developed in discussion with the townsfolk.

Austin-Smith:Lord worked closely with artists WAVE and lighting specialists dpa to incorporate public art and feature lighting into the redesign of Bridgegate.

Former Trinity Church bells, landform artworks and programmed feature lighting further enrich the experience and setting of the Bridgegate. The space is highly flexible and has immediately hosted farmers and Christmas markets, drawing people to the town centre.

I am delighted to see the successful completion of this outstanding project. Local people have been directly involved in the transformation, commenting on ideas and helping to shape the public art which is a central element of the refurbishment. Their involvement is core to the success of this regeneration project, which is about providing new opportunities for local people.
Margaret Burgess – MSP, on officially opening the project

LOCATION: IRVINE

CLIENT: IRVINE BAY REGENERATION COMPANY

VALUE: £2.2m

SIZE: 3000M2
COMPLETION: 2013
SERVICE: LANDSCAPE, URBAN DESIGN, MASTERPLANNING
SECTOR: URBAN REGENERATION
CONTRACTOR: LAND ENGINEERING

LANDSCAPE: AUSTIN-SMITH:LORD
ENGINEERS: O’CONNOR SUTTON CRONIN
LIGHTING CONSULTANT: DPA LIGHTING
COST CONSULTANT: NEILSON PARTNERSHIP

AWARDS:
2014 BALI NATIONAL LANDSCAPE AWARD
2015 SCOTTISH PROPERTY AWARD; TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR

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