Firepool, Taunton
NEW Masterplanning were appointed by St. Modwen to prepare a scheme for a competition entry to be appointed development partner to Taunton Deane Borough Council on the vacant, former cattle market site in Taunton town centre.
Our competition winning masterplan created a vibrant and accessible waterfront, with apartments and town houses to attract families and young people to live in the town centre. This was combined with new offices, shops and leisure facilities. A key feature of the masterplan was a strong new boulevard connecting the town centre to the railway station, and a new slender tower with hotel and restaurant uses, as a 21st century landmark for the town.
We subsequently prepared a more detailed masterplan, and planning permission for phase 1 included a 2,500sqm office building, apartments and significant public realm works, including a new public riverside park. The key objective of the park was to create a high quality physical environment which will stimulate interest from new office and residential occupiers and which will benefit existing residents, businesses and community organisations. We were subsequently appointed to design the park and monitor implementation of the park which has created a variety of green spaces and new planting along the River Tone.
