A CITY’S historic core was last night given a second major boost in a week when it landed an award.
The pocket park which incorporates a new public square in front of St Nicholas Cathedral in Newcastle was named the winner of the Royal Town Planning Institute’s North East 2011 chairman’s award for urban design. Earlier this week the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded £1.4m to the Heart of the City Partnership for its restoration project Old Newcastle: Where the Story Begins.
The grant will finance the revitalisation of the empty Grade I-listed Black Gate, which dates from the 13th Century to act as a visitor, education and interpretation centre for the area where the city began – which includes the cathedral and the Castle Keep, which was built on top of the Roman fort of Pons Aelius.
The pocket park, which was opened in May, was coordinated by business improvement district company NE1 Ltd and co-funded by NE1 Ltd, Newcastle City Council and the cathedral.
Newcastle-based Robinson Landscape Design designed the pocket park to reconnect the cathedral with Mosley Street and with the buildings around St Nicholas Square. For inspiration, the designers turned to geometry and the history of St Nicholas for their design, creating a starburst pattern in the pavement, fashioned from granite.
Adrian Waddell, director of operations at NE1 Ltd said: “This high-quality and attractive new green space has proven hugely popular since the day it opened.”
David Stovell, chairman of RTPI NE said: “It occupies a key location and is well used by the cathedral community, visitors and city centre office workers.
“The design is brilliantly held together by a starburst pattern in the new paving. “The previously tired square is now very attractive and also highly functional.”
At the awards ceremony at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough the regional winner’s prize went to Boho One and Bohouse in Middlesbrough, which includes a digital enterprise centre, and 20 live-work units. There were also commendations for:
The Courtyard and Hay Barn, Preston Farm, Eaglescliffe, conversion of traditional farm buildings to housing.
Durham Road Eco Homes, Gateshead. Built on the site of a former petrol filling station, the Camborne Park development is a terrace of nine homes built to very high standards of sustainability.
Sunderland Seafront Regeneration Project. The revival of Roker and Seaburn is being led and managed by Sunderland City Council with the first stages of works along the promenade including marine- themed features.
The previously tired square is now very attractive and also highly functional
