We have been working since 2018 with Colchester Borough Council to develop a design framework for the public realm throughout the city centre, alongside detailed proposals for several key public spaces. We have worked in collaboration with a wide range of local stakeholders to develop an overall strategy and design hierarchy for streets and spaces in the city centre which works with the character and pattern of the medieval streets overlaid on the Roman grid, and which resolves accessibility issues alongside creating spaces that can be used for a wide variety of functions.

We have developed detailed proposals for three spaces: St Nicholas Square, Trinity Square and Balkerne Gardens. Each has a clear purpose and design narrative based on its character and position within the city centre: St Nicholas Square as a space for outdoor eating and drinking, events and markets; Trinity Square as an urban oasis of green and calm within the busy shopping centre; and Balkerne Gardens as an intergenerational space for play, socialising, events and performances. Alongside this we have developed a landscape design approach for the narrow medieval streets to improve their accessibility for all users.

The projects are funded through the Town Deal.