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Chard Town Centre Urban Design Strategy

Chard Town Centre Urban Design Strategy Chard, Somerset

Client:
South Somerset Council
Location:
Chard, Somerset
Contact:
Graham Stephens 0117 974 3271 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Stride Treglown was appointed by South Somerset Council to prepare a planning and urban design feasibility study in relation to increasing the retail offer within Chard Town Centre. This study was undertaken in the context of promoting a mixed-use scheme, including residential development within an historic and sensitive environment. Issues addressed in the study included the potential to amalgamate land to improve commercial viability of the scheme and difficult topographical changes. The latter allowed us to consider the "screening" of bulky development forms, such as town centre car parking provision within the site, using the natural boundaries of the site and adjacent Conservation Areas and Listed buildings.

The study, designed to create a framework for developer-led proposals to be considered (in the event of a  Council disposal) ensured that an appropriate land use mix, capacity, density, permeability and outlook could be delivered in a manner consistent with Local Planning objectives. The strategy was informed by a series of workshops with key interests, used to test the contention that the site is suitable to accommodate a mix of uses including major retail operators. Through our character area assessment, promotion of best practice urban design principles and site constraints, we were been able to discount bulky goods retail options and suggested a more appropriate series of complementary uses within a finer urban grain which respected the context of the site, but which can deliver commercially viable solutions.