Following the Co-design processes, we have improved the Council's brief for Sites B and C. Below are the summaries of these improvements. The left column shows the Council's Brief, and the right-hand column shows how the draft Design Brief has been informed by the Co-Design process.
More affordable homes for local people:
| Council’s Brief: |
Design brief informed by Co-Design: |
|
Significant contribution to the number of new homes needed |
Site B and C will continue to deliver around 700 high-quality homes, including a balanced mix of 1–4 bedrooms, addressing varied household needs. |
| 50% of the homes are affordable tenure, with focus on social rent | 50% of the homes will be affordable with a split of 70% of social rent and 30% of intermediate homes. |
|
Sustainable and low-energy homes that meet future climate challenges |
Homes are designed to be low energy, with natural daylight, ventilation, and noise reduction built in to support climate resilience. |
| Reduce overcrowding and unsuitable housing in the neighbourhood | Will provide adaptable layouts, wheelchair-accessible homes, and larger family homes with easy access to play areas. Includes inclusive accessibility features (buggy/mobility scooter spaces, parcel drop-off, communal areas). |
Healthier Lives:
| Council’s Brief: |
Design brief informed by co-design: |
| Safe and attractive outdoor play areas, access to nature, and active travel as a priority |
Delivering an increase in high-quality green spaces to enhance wellbeing and |
| Secure cycle storage, inclusive streets and space design, and bookable community facilities, supporting a vibrant community life |
Encourages active travel and includes up to 460 sqm of dedicated community space, designed to support a wide range of indoor activities for diverse user groups. The layout will feature inclusive, adaptable spaces with facilities that are sensitive to different cultural practices and genders. Appropriate community, health, and social amenities will also be explored at ground floor in the non-residential space. |
|
Designs that address concerns on overshadowing, density, and living in high- rise buildings |
The majority of homes could be dual-aspect, helping to reduce overshadowing and improve natural light and ventilation. Buildings will use sustainable design techniques to mitigate overheating and noise alongside mechanical systems. Rooftop and podium-level green spaces will reduce pressure on ground-level areas and enhance quality of life in a dense urban setting. Building heights will be sensitively planned—stepping down towards Salisbury Street and Boscobel Street and rising up to around 15 storeys elsewhere—to maximise daylight and natural ventilation. |
A Stronger Local Economy:
| Council’s Brief: |
Design brief informed by co-design: |
| A good range of retail, cafés, restaurants, and fit-for-purpose market infrastructure |
Ensures shops and services front on to Church Street on Site B, including a suitable space for a supermarket that meets local needs. Site C will provide shop and services around new public spaces. Market infrastructure will include dedicated storage units, designed to accommodate different goods and storage needs (e.g., perishable vs. non-perishable items), along with Market Trader parking and welfare facilities for traders. Convenient storage solutions will help reduce traders’ reliance on transporting goods during trading hours, thereby minimising traffic congestion and easing parking pressures. |
|
Spaces supporting local businesses and offering local job opportunities |
Provides flexible commercial units in varying sizes with active frontages to accommodate diverse local businesses. |
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Improved footfall and ambiance through better walking, visitor and cycling provision |
Design promotes active street frontages, weather shelter, and legible entrances to create a lively street character. Enhances pedestrian comfort and marketplace appeal. New public realm through Site C incorporates a new destination for commercial / retail and visitors. |
A Cleaner, Greener, Safer Church Street:
| Council’s Brief: |
Design brief informed by co-design: |
| Tackling and designing-out anti-social behaviour, crime, and improving street cleanliness |
Reduces basement and podium car parking, freeing ground-level space for gardens, trees, and natural surveillance, which discourages anti-social behaviour. Explore gated access to new public realm through Site C. The public realm and shared communal spaces will be regularly maintained to uphold high standards of cleanliness, safety, and overall user experience. |
| Designing for natural surveillance, ‘many eyes on the street’ and protective/barrier planting | Creates well-overlooked courtyards and green public spaces, integrates active frontages, and explore positioning small-scale commercial/community uses around public realm to enhance liveliness and visibility. Defensible planting and greening strategies incorporated into facades and podium gardens. |
|
Facilities and street furniture that encourage positive, neighbourly behaviour |
The public realm strategy aims to bring people together, and will explore community growing spaces, water features, and seating areas. Design details in landscaping, street furniture, and shared spaces will reflect Church Street’s history, culture, and identity, fostering a sense of pride and belonging. Inclusive cycling facilities and mobility hubs, along with bookable community spaces near green areas, will support everyday interaction, encourage neighbourly engagement, and promote local stewardship. |
Have your say now:
You can have your say and let us know if the Co-Design process is moving us in the right direction by clicking here.
