The facts
Client: Cumbria County
Council
Location: Keswick, Cumbria
Services: Multidisciplinary
Sector: Public Realm
Contract Type: ICE
Project Value: £2m
Start/Completion: 2000 - 2003
The project
This BALI award-winning scheme
encompassed environmental enhancement of the historic core of
Keswick, including Market Square, Market Place and Lake
Road.
The scheme was initiated and funded
via Cumbria County Council’s Local Transport Plan (LTP) following
the policy objectives, in addition to safety and flow of traffic
enhancement, of urban realm improvements and economic. The overall
objective of removing the conflict between pedestrians and vehicles
in the congested narrow streets and market area and resulted
in restriction of all non-essential through traffic from the
central area, creating total pedestrian priority, with vehicle
penetration being kept to a minimum.
Release of funding was staggered to a
value of £500,000 and the scheme was programmed accordingly in
three phases with the additional intent of minimising
disruption. Public response was gauged using exhibitions,
leaflets and questionnaires and the preferred option developed to
detail design incorporating the community’s aspirations
accordingly. Care was taken to retain the traditional visual
hierarchy of footways and road surfaces characteristic of the
street and market place layout, but these have been made more
pedestrian-friendly, especially for disabled users.
Capita Symonds was instrumental
in moving the project scope and objectives forward from initial
feasibility assessments to detail design.
The feasibility stage, which commenced in June 2006, highlighted
the project context within the regional and local development
frameworks, and what broad options were available. These were
presented graphically with explanatory information. The client
selected elements of the options and recommendations put forward by
the final feasibility report for the detail design stage, which was
commissioned and commenced in September 2007.
Capita Symonds was responsible for all aspects of the
project consultancy - initiating and maintaining the project
momentum and enthusiasm with which it was met by both the client
and public, and indeed for alerting the client to the need to
temporarily halt the scheme while suitable tenants were secured for
occupancy of proposed offices on the site. This responsible
approach resulted in a reconsideration of the project objectives in
a timely manner that averted the implementation of a ‘white
elephant’, thus avoiding waste of public funds.
The project was awarded high average Key Performance Indicator
scores by the client in recognition of the professional manner in
which the work was carried out.