Fresh review on improving Grantham town centre thanks to Shaping Streets pilot initiative
Grantham has been selected as a pilot for a new initiative that could enable improvements to the town centre.
Town planners will get a new angle on the potential for further improvements to Grantham town centre after South Kesteven District Council was selected as a pilot for the Shaping Streets initiative.
They will collaborate with the council’s economic development team on new ways to invigorate Grantham, which include moving the emphasis from traffic to pedestrians.
Cabinet member for housing and planning, Councillor Phil Dilks, said: “The review will provide us with recommendations that highlight the potential of Grantham to put people first, prioritise active travel, slow or reduce traffic and improve health and wellbeing.
“It will build on our externally funded programmes of the High Street Heritage Action Zone and Future High Streets Fund, which are both taking strides to change the look and feel of Grantham town centre.”
Under these initiatives SKDC’s economic development team is already working to:
- Develop the Market Place as an important multi-use space
- Improve the pedestrian route between the railway station and town centre
- Improve the quality of the town’s heritage
Coun Dilks, added: “This free design review consultancy package, provided by Design:Midlands was SKDC’s reward for tabling a winning bid in the Reshaping the High Streets category of its Shaping Streets Review.”
The consultancy will investigate and refine further improvements.
Design:Midlands will now look at the next steps in Grantham’s development, centred on Westgate and the Market Place.
A panel will be appointed to include expertise on highways matters, active travel, urban design and landscape/public realm.
Then, following a site visit, a workshop will take place to help produce a series of recommendations.
The town already stands to benefit from the Southern Relief Road, Lincolnshire County Council’s Grantham Transport Strategy and work from the Woodland Trust to develop "urban greening".
Design:Midlands is an independent, impartial charitable organisation which works on a consultancy basis to provide design reviews of major projects. It targets exacting standards of design and architecture and can deliver education and training to all involved in these creative activities.
Options for future collaboration include a shaping streets design review on Spitalgate Heath Garden Village.
