Land and Buildings

Biggin Street

Putting the pedestrian first in an innovative and sensitive streetscape design.

Featuring pedestrian improvements and environmental enhancement, the project includes the part pedestrianisation of Biggin Street, new paving and associated hard and soft landscaping scheme. The project also includes repaving of the pedestrianised Churchgate conservation area using materials selected to enhance this historic shopping street.

Organisation:

Completion Date: 10/05/2004

Location

Loughborough, Borough of Charnwood, Leicestershire

This is an excellent scheme which has really enhanced this area of Loughborough town centre. The improvements provide a real boost for this part of the town, creating a safe and more attractive environment.
Leicestershire County Council Cabinet Member Nicholas Rushton.

Project Description

The project was initatiated following redevelopment of Loughborough’s bus station, which provided a large funding contribution towards the renewal of footways and pedestrian areas in the surrounding streets. Leicestershire County Council, working in partnership with Charnwood Borough Council, developed a package of improvements for the area, consistent with the objectives of the Loughborough Town Centre Masterplan to create a “walkable town centre”. The developer funding was complemented by contributions from both local authorities, as well as an £80K grant from LSEP. Overall, the project has invested around £500K in the area.

Problems affecting pedestrians in the area, which the scheme set out to solve, included the close proximity of the A6, a major road carrying over 15,000 vehicles every day and forming a physical boundary to the south of the project area. Existing paving and street furniture were deteriorating, and the mature trees on Biggin Street, whilst adding colour to the area, were beginning to damage the road and pavements, and were reducing light to shop frontages. There were also road safety concerns, following several accidents involving pedestrians, injured by delivery vehicles moving through the area.

By closing Biggin Street at its junction with the A6, allowing for pedestrianisation as far as Church Gate, the risk of accidents has been substantially reduced. This pedestrianised area has created an open space, with seating and new tree planting, providing a focal point for shoppers to rest or enjoy a snack from the local cafes and street vendors.

On Churchgate, paving materials have been sensitively chosen to complement the historic architecture, which characterises this conservation area. Reclaimed granite drainage channels, the stone for which was originally quarried nearby, have been laid replacing the old pre-cast concrete examples. The entrances to the Churchgate area has been beautifully marked by the introduction of ornamental gateway arches, funded through a separate LSEP grant.

The remainder of Biggin Street, which remains open to traffic, has been traffic calmed including a 20mph speed limit, with taxi ranks, disabled parking and provision for deliveries all available. The footways have been widened, with new seating and further tree and shrub planting.

Construction work, awarded following a competitive tendering process, was awarded to Leicestershire Highways Construction Services. Building work began on the 18th July 2006, and was completed on time and on budget at the beginning of December, allowing the local traders to fully enjoy the benefits of the Christmas shopping period.

Project Contacts

Project manager: Simon Lawrence/Chris Clarke
Tel: 0116 265 7243/7307
Fax: 0116 265 6755
E-mail: CClarke@leics.gov.uk
Website: www.leics.gov.uk/loughborough_town_centre

LSEP contact:
Name Andy Rose
E-mail: andyr@lsep.co.uk
Website: www.lsep.co.uk