Help improve a major City Centre development
Community groups and residents are being asked to help improve the design of a multi-million pound development in St Albans City Centre.
Planning permission has already been obtained to build new housing and business space on the site of a former police station and NHS clinic.
Now St Albans City and District Council, which is carrying out the transformational project, is looking to enhance the plans.
To do so, they are holding a Community Design Review where options will be put forward, explained and discussed.
Feedback from the public meeting, which interested organisations and individuals are encouraged to attend, will help finalise the designs.
The event is to be chaired by an independent facilitator, Angela Koch of Imagine Places, and is being held at 6.30pm to 9.30pm on Thursday 10 January at the Civic Centre, St Peter’s Street.
Among topics to be discussed will be expanding a building to shield views of the Magistrate’s Court car park entrance and integrating the Quaker Memorial Garden.
Façade detail, for example at the corner of Victoria Street and Bricket Road, will also feature, as will the skyline of the whole scheme.
The street furniture, lighting and landscaping across the entire site will be a further subject for examination.
Participants will be divided into teams so they can discuss the topics in detail in a series of workshops. They will be asked to make observations, suggestions and recommendations.
The development area is known as the City Centre Opportunity Site (CCOS) South and is part of the wider seven-acre site that surrounds the Alban Arena entertainment venue.
Developers Angle Property obtained the planning permissions for CCOS South which were adopted by the Council on its purchase of the land.
Following the design review, it is likely that an amended planning application will be submitted next year.
Councillor Julian Daly, the Portfolio Holder for Commercial and Development, said:
This is the most ambitious development the Council has undertaken and we are determined to get it right.
We took over Angle Property’s plans after making various land acquisitions, but we feel that major improvements can be made to the designs.
The development is in the heart of St Albans, so it is vital that we carry the community with us and continue to have their active support.
This design review gives an opportunity to all those interested in the project to help shape the enhancements to the original plans and make a real difference to St Albans.
The CCOS South area is rather rundown and with the help of the community we want to create something special in its place.
The plans for CCOS South drew on the results of a design charrette, a series of engagement events that was hosted by the independent group, Look! St Albans.
Look! St Albans is a community group that campaigns for excellence in the design of new buildings across the City.
Anyone who wants to attend the Community Design Review should register online at: https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/ccoss.
In addition, an exhibition of the current design along with possible improvements is to be held on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 January 2019. This will take place from 10am to 6pm at the Civic Centre, St Peter’s Street.
Proposals and drawings will be on display and a representative from the architects or project team will be present to answer questions and listen to feedback. This is a drop-in event with no booking required.
Architectural models and drawings will be on display while the architects and project team will be present to answer questions and listen to feedback. This is a drop-in event with no booking required.
To view the current plans for CCOS South, go to: https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/ccoss
The Council is also working on detailed plans for CCOS North which includes the Civic Centre Car Park, Arena and the Council’s offices.
Picture: The former police station in Victoria Street, part of the CCOS South site.
Councillor contact:
Councillor Julian Daly,
Commercial and Development Portfolio Holder at St Albans City and District Council,
Mob: 07775 657200,
Email: cllr.j.daly@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the media:
John McJannet,
Principal Communications Officer,
St Albans City & District Council,
Tel: 01727 296130,
E-mail: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk