Ripley Masterplan

Ripley Market Town:

As a market town, Ripley has suffered a period of decline in recent years, as its market town character has to a degree, been eroded. The remnants of built heritage nonetheless, (The Church, The Market Place, The Council Offices) offer important clues to enhancing its sense of
place.

Any visioning must strive for excellence in its design approach, whether it be the built form or public realm and attempt to reinforce an understanding of place. Proposals must harness the value of those assets of note and find ways of celebrating them by investing in their setting. New development must avoid making a weak attempt at emulating the past, but rather present a positive view of contemporary urban change within the context of the existing town setting.

Retail:

Opportunities must be harnessed to diversify and strengthen the town’s
retail offer and local services provision and challenge its reputation as a centre which has little comparison retailers and a poor mix of general retailers, dominated by takeaway outlets, charity shops and estate agents. It is crucial that any new retail development contributes to a sense of vitality and vibrancy thereby adding to the dynamics of ‘place’.

Traffic:

The existing highway network channels the majority of vehicular movements through the town centre. This pedestrian / vehicular tension does little to enhance any sense of place within the centre and limits opportunities to promote a pedestrianised street scene.

This issue is most evident on High Street and its interface with the Market Place which though designed to function as a pedestrian space is primarily given over to car parking.

Permeability and the Ease of Pedestrian Movement

Pedestrian comfort is hampered by traffic movement throughout the town centre.

North south pedestrian links are especially difficult. It is fundamentally important therefore that measures to increase pedestrian permeability are incorporated within any proposals to ‘restructure’ blocks within the town centre.

Mix of Uses/Activities

A careful balance of uses and activities are required in order to facilitate Ripley’srole as the sustainable hub for the local community. It is vital that proposals utilise the regeneration of Ripley to enhance people’s quality of life, improving access to essential services, training, jobs and leisure opportunities where possible, reinforcing rural economic diversity and vitality.