The facts
Location: Blackburn
Client: Blackburn with Darwen Borough
Council
Start Date: July 2001
Completion Date: Ongoing
Contract Type: Strategic
Partnership
Procurement method: Through strategic
partnership arrangements
Construction Value: £50m+ (total scheme
implementation costs)
Services provided: General Practice
surveying
The project
Capita Symonds was commissioned to
develop an urban design concept to regenerate the public realm to
the west of the town centre.
The Sudell Cross and Northgate area was
identified as a priority area for improvement as a major transport
route and an important pedestrian gateway linking the town centre
to the wider area.
The project involved the recycling of old city
centre and transport corridor brownfield sites to provide new
residential and commercial development opportunities.
One of the main drivers for the scheme was to
ease the conflicts between vehicle and pedestrian movement, working
in line with the Transport Strategy and the completion of
Blackburn’s Orbital Route. The proposals include improved traffic
management, creation and improvement of civic and public spaces to
reinforce townscape character and sense of place whilst acting as a
catalyst for regeneration and redevelopment.
Our Property Management team has been heavily
involved in providing strategic property advice in relation to the
recent Blackburn Town Centre Regeneration initiative. We provided
advice at all stages from acquisition to interim site management,
marketing and site disposal. Some of the more difficult sites are
still managed and awaiting disposal by the team and subsequent
development by developers and partnership organisations.
Our surveyors were able to provide acquisition
estimates, undertake acquisitions, develop specific disposal policy
in relation to the audit requirements of the Council, and then
undertake development-led disposals to ensure maximum regeneration
output and best use of grant monies.
The project work has seen surveyors take lead
roles where required within multi-agency and multi-disciplinary
teams.