CONTENTS DIARY OF EVENTS - The Urban Design Group

CASE STUDY
Castleford Regeneration ‘Streets’ Ahead
Ian Tod describes two community-driven design schemes for Channel 4
The former pit town of Castleford in West Yorkshire is regaining its
confidence with a high profile regeneration project involving Channel 4
and some of the UK’s top architects.
Community regeneration specialist Allen Tod Architecture is among
those whose designs have been taken on by the community. Fronted by
Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud, the production team is looking
at the effect of regeneration on the town of Castleford following the loss
of coal - its main industry.
Of the 11 community improvement projects, Allen Tod won two
projects and both involve community groups as the client. The design
brief was to create an ‘object of enchantment’ as a symbol of change and
regeneration for their neighbourhoods.
This high-profile project being filmed by Talkback TV for Channel
4 has a limited budget, but could take any form. With ideas closely
scrutinised by community groups who then decided who they wanted to
work with.
CHILD’S PLAY
The Cutsyke Community Group selected designs for a play forest, which
will feature a forest of steel poles. Nets, ropes, ladders and slides will be
attached to the structure, leading to a viewing platform at the highest
point. Allen Tod has developed the designs with Estell Warren Landscape
Architecture of Leeds, whose dramatic computer generated images and
models won the support of the children, who voted for the designs.
Further community engagement has involved the youngsters in visits
to the best playgrounds in the area, as well as workshops with the local
manufacturer, Sutcliffe Play and building a half-size mock up. Planning
permission has been granted for the scheme, which is due for completion
in April 2005.
Simon Gedye of Allen Tod describes the scheme as “too many
play areas consist of an apparently random layout of manufacturers’
equipment. This design has a strong formal quality and the grid creates
a series of spaces and experiences within its structure, analogous to a
city.”
Steve Warren of Estell Warren Landscape Architecture said, “The
Play Forest is not so much a playground as a 3-D puzzle, there is no
way in, and no way out - you make your own choices and pick your
38 | Urban Design | Spring 2005 | Issue 94
Left Taking Castleford to new heights: the cargo net
challenge. Image: Warren Landscape Architecture
Above New gateway to Wilson Street, Allen Tod image
of model
own challenges. It is also a ‘one off’. The kids chose it, and the Cutsyke
Community Group and Wakefield Council has backed them all the way.”
IN STEP WITH PEDESTRIAN ZONES
In the scheme for the Wilson Street Triangle, the challenge has been to
reconcile the local community group’s desires and the wider aspiration
for an enchanting object that would signal a ‘step-change’ in the quality
of an area. The triangle is a popular and densely-populated urban area,
close to the town centre, with a mix of owner-occupied and rented
Edwardian terraced houses.
None of the initial design ideas gained the wholehearted support
of the group, which had recently formed and needed time to formulate
its ideas. Allen Tod suggested an interactive community process study
to analyse problems and issues raised by group members. The outcome
suggested an overall strategy for the area with a specific priority scheme
to improve the streets, and to start a scheme for safe pedestrian zones
around the residents’ homes.
However, agreeing the detail of this initial traffic-calming scheme
has proven more challenging. Allen Tod developed a set of modern street
furniture, which would narrow the street, bring interest and identify,
and form places for people to meet and dwell. These elements have been
designed to be prefabricated, and installed on top of existing paving to
bring swift changes to the street scene and minimise the costs of below
ground works.
Fearing that these objects would attract vandalism, and because they
were modern in design, the residents group comprehensively rejected
the scheme and was in favour of more modest proposals similar to other
areas of the town. It will now remain to be seen if using reclaimed street
furniture from the town centre rather than promote a special product
unique to Wilson Street will live up to the promise of the earlier scheme.
The Cutsyke play forest is due for completion by the end of March
2005 and the Wilson Street improvements are due to start on site. All
the projects are expected to be completed by Spring 2006, ready for
broadcast in a five part series.
Ian Tod, director of Allen Tod, is also founder of the annual 4x4 Making Places Urban
Regeneration Forum.