Associated Strategies - Strategic Public Realm

Walsall Regeneration Company, together with its partners, is investigating innovative approaches to 21st century public realm, seeing economic drivers as being the lynchpin to its success and sustainability.

Our approach to public realm is already starting to act as a conduit for commercial interests in the town centre who are coming together to share common goals and work in partnership towards securing investment.

The creation of a vibrant high quality public realm within the urban context is widely acknowledged as playing an increasingly important role in the economic regeneration of towns and cities.

Work is well underway, for example, on creating well defined pedestrian routes, reinforcing links between the new Manor Hospital, through the Waterfront canalside developments, to the New Art Gallery and the town centre.

Pivotal to their success is the integration of transportation routes and facilities within public realm strategies. WRC is working closely with Centro and Walsall Council to develop an integrated vision which provides high quality transport and access to a ‘best in class’ sustainable town centre over the next 20 years, attractive and ambient for all communities.

As part of its ‘best practice’ approach to public realm, WRC is exploring the opportunities that could be generated from a ‘covered high streets’ initiative.

International exemplars show that such a scheme has potential for creating a stronger sense of place, improving the attractiveness of the street as a shopping destination and the overall ability of the area to compete with other locations.

Key retailers and landowners in Walsall have expressed a high level of interest and ‘in principle’ support for the initiative.