Associated Strategies - 21st Century Public Realm

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.

The prime aim underpinning the ‘regeneration’ of the public realm within Walsall is to fundamentally shift the perception of the town towards that of a dynamic, legible and safe environment – a place to work, shop, relax and reside; a town for the 21st century.

Common themes include the interlinking of distinct areas, or ‘quarters’, the use of light as a way-marker, the use of water, a bold approach to landscaping and planting, high quality common elements such as street furniture and eye-catching public art.

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

The integration of transportation routes and facilities within public realm strategies is pivotal to their success. Working in partnership with Centro, the Highways Agency and Walsall Council, WRC is facilitating the provision of a Town Centre Model, a responsive traffic modelling tool that should enable new developments to be integrated with existing highway and transport infrastructures across the town.