Vision: |
Ripley has the potential to become an attractive market town if it is able to rediscover its key landmark buildings and civic space, the Market Place, which combine to give Ripley its structure. The make-up of the town is based on a simple street layout - the Market Place and a limited number of landmarks. Whilst four distinct character areas can be identified within the town core:
• Eastern Approach
• Market Place
• Retail Spine
• The Church
The town’s overall identity is obscured by the quality of the public realm, the amount of streetscape clutter and the lack of co-ordinated street frontages, notably along Oxford Street/Church Street.
Key Drivers:
The aim of the proposed plan is to achieve a framework which promotes a sustainable town centre responsive to the ambition of its people. The Masterplan Framework must seize the opportunity to reconfigure local amenities and advocate new uses on key sites, capable of accommodating growth and sparking fresh interest within the town centre.
The proposals will improve the diversity of the town’s economy enhancing its vitality and viability and will strengthen its new sense of place.
Objectives:
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) has identified seven qualities which must be embedded in the design approach advocated within the town centre.
| • | Character; |
| • | Continuity and enclosure; |
| • | Quality public realm; |
| • | Ease of movement; |
| • | Legibility; |
| • | Adaptability; and |
| • | Diversity |
The Plan Will:
| • | Promote mixed use developments on key development sites including the Market Place, Sainsbury’s backlands, Co-op site and gateways into the town |
| • | Develop a code which defines extensive public realm works throughout the town centre |
| • | Revise traffic movements to achieve meaningful improvements to the quality of the town centre environment and reduce conflict between pedestrians, cars and HGV’s |
| • | Improve parking facilities, signage and access |
| • | Promote and upgrade existing linkages into the town centre and exploit opportunities to introduce new links and entry points from the wider surroundings |