Taunton Urban Design Framework - Taunton Deane Borough Council

Castle GreenCultural CoreThe focus of this area is already the historic and culturalattractions within the town centre, including CastleMuseum, the Castle Hotel, Hunts Court and the MeccaBingo building.There is strong pressure to enhance the role of the CastleMuseum, to reinstate Hunts Court as an Arts Gallery and torestore the Mecca Bingo building as a music venue, all ofwhich have been identified as lacking in the town centre.Clustering of historic buildings around the Castle Greenprovides the nucleus of a small ‘cultural core’, where theattractions are mutually supportive. A key element in thisshould be opening up the castle to the River Tone and toGoodland Gardens.Cultural Centre of ExcellenceThe retail proposals for the Crescent car park include a newbus station which would replace the current site in Tangier.The bus station site provides an opportunity for the‘Cultural Centre of Excellence’ which has been proposed bythe County Council. The brief for this is undergoing moredetailed refinement, but would include an appropriate mixof training/education/cultural activity to link between the‘cultural quarter’ and the small business needs of Tangier.The Cultural Centre of Excellence could also provide anappropriate location for a new library, and the opportunityto create a purpose built 21st Century facility.Event SpaceCastle Green is a priority space for enhancement. Theapproach to parking provision should be rationalised, keybuilding edges improved and gateways enhanced. Newpedestrian links need to be created to the river and toGoodland Gardens. Castle Green should become a focalpoint for events in the town, complementing the moderncivic spaces elsewhere in the town centre.Castle Green - Event Space66 Areas of Change - Tangier & Cultural CoreSection 4Taunton UDF