Concepts, the Design Process and Local Accessibility Plan
There is an opportunity to regenerate this site and provide a boost to Shirley that hasn’t been seen for years.
Before designing possible proposals for the site, we carefully undertook an assessment of the site and the surrounding area.
The plan (left) summarises the key considerations for the site’s redevelopment as they are today. Considerations include the design fronting on to Shirley High Street & Park Street and the relationship to neighbouring properties, for example, the potential for overshadowing of existing properties. This site is an ideal location for redevelopment, as it is so well connected to local amenities and has outstanding links to the rest of the city.
The emerging planning policy framework for the city seeks to maximise the density of development along transport corridors to ensure that new development is located in highly sustainable locations, for example, intensification of development within the District Centre is encouraged by policies HO1 and DE3 of the Emerging Local Plan (Issues & Options 2022).
Retail units will be provided at ground floor in accordance with Policy REI3 of the Amended Local Plan Review 2015, which protects Primary Retail Frontages from uses other than retail.
The diagrams opposite present six concepts which have helped shape our early development plans. It was clear from this work that the scheme needed to include a mixture of residential and commercial space. Key design principles are:
Regeneration, growth & investment: As a District Centre, Shirley needs a catalyst to drive up investment. We need to create a prominent new beacon in the ‘tired’ Shirley High Street with its large number of dilapidated shop fronts and vacant buildings.
A sense of place: A well-designed development will make Shirley a destination.
Environmentally sustainable: The aim will be to minimise energy use and waste including using sustainable materials, water conservation and renewable energy production where appropriate.
Design quality: Proposals will be of high quality in all aspects.
We have considered local building design and characteristics. These buildings set a suitable precedent of delivering commercial space at ground level with residential use above.
1. Gatehouse Apartments – 5 storey block that turns the corner. Commercial space at ground floor with living above.
2. Bow Square – Regeneration within the historic Old Town. 5 storey frontage with commercial at ground floor and living above.
3. Centenary Quay, Woolston – Edge of District Centre location, part of a wider regeneration scheme. 6 storey block with community use on ground floor (library and YMCA).
4. EighteenEast East St/Queensway – 5 storey block with commercial at ground floor (double height).
5. French Qtr – Part 5/6 storey block with commercial (foodstore)on the ground floor and living above. Height increases at corners.
6. 22 Cumberland Place - Commercial ground floor with living above. 11-12 storey building.
7. Royal Crescent Apartments – Part 6-7 storey corner block. Commercial at ground floor (gym) with living above.
