CHARD REGENERATION
4/01/2010
Local support for regeneration planning in Chard has led the project to reach a key milestone. The work done so far on the town's new overall masterplan by LDA Design has now met approval from both South Somerset District Council and Chard Town Council.
The sign-off of the broad principles means that the more detailed aspects of the plans can now be considered and meetings are already being held with interested developers to look more closely at delivery requirements.
South Somerset District Council has been working on the plans in conjunction with the South West of England Regional Development Agency, Somerset County Council, Chard Town Council, design consultants LDA Design, a leading UK design and environment business, and hundreds of local people for 11 months.
Among the proposals is the creation of a ‘Green Heart' to make the most of green space around Holyrood School and a distinctive, pedestrianised public town centre space. The improvement of East Street as a gateway to the town centre with widened pavements and attractive landscaping also features as a longer-term aspiration of the work.
LDA Design has provided a more detailed impression of how the ACI Boden Mill site as well as the area behind Chard Guildhall could look with a mixture of public space, shops and employment areas.
"Chard is a genuinely unique place," explained project leader, Frazer Osment of LDA Design. "While it has many of the qualities of a market town, it also has history of innovation and manufacturing and is remarkably self-contained. The plans we have developed with the community build on the history of the town as a working place and also show how it can evolve to meet the challenges of sustainable development and climate change."
Commenting on the high degree of community involvement, Cllr Kim Turner, Area West Chairman for South Somerset District Council explained, "Without the time and input from everyone on the Community Forum, Town Team and the young people from Holyrood School and Chard Youth Club, we would not have been able to reach this point.
"Preparations are also now underway for another public consultation event early in 2010, where the wider community will get another chance to comment on the scheme."
Cllr Peter Seib, Economic Development, Planning and Transport Portfolio Holder for South Somerset District Council added, "During 2009 the people of Chard and surrounding area have been debating what sort of place Chard should be in 20 years time. I knew it was a town with history and I also thought there was great untapped potential. Through the work which has been done together, we now know that there is an ambition for growth, we have a broad framework for roads, employment and much more, and have a good grip on the public funding that will be needed to make it all happen. We now need to finish the detail, arrange the funding and make a start. 2010 looks like it will be a busy year."
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Dawn Barnes T: 020 7467 1470 / 07956 137 277
Carol Walsh T: 01865 887 050
