Project Taunton: Regenerating Taunton’s Town Centre

Road is key to unlock Taunton’s future

A vital £22 million road scheme in Taunton that will unlock up to £300 million of development opportunities has got the Government’s final go-ahead.

Transport Minister Norman Baker announced this morning that the Northern Inner Distributor Road has got the green light – unlocking access to Taunton’s prime regeneration site at Firepool.

Cllr John Williams, Leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council, said the announcement is the best possible news for Taunton – and the wider Taunton Deane economy.

“This is so much more than a road – it the key to unlock our prime development sites at Firepool. This £22 million investment will unlock £300 million of economic development opportunity.

“The delivery of the NIDR is the last piece of the jigsaw that will complete the picture of our ambitious regeneration plans for Taunton. We have had serious talks with investors but turning interest into action is very much dependent on this road. We can now resume those conversations in the knowledge that we have the road.

“I cannot stress how fantastic this news is – the NIDR is the front door for Firepool and will open up redevelopment opportunities for the whole of the centre of Taunton.

“Together with our partners and MP Jeremy Browne we have lobbied relentlessly for funding for the NIDR and I would like to thank everyone for their efforts over recent months.

“The strength of our case was never in doubt and this reinforces my very strong belief that we must plan and invest for the future.”

The Transport Minister said: “As well as relieving congestion in the town it will also help promote alternative modes of travel to the private car – improving access for pedestrians and vulnerable road users and providing an alternative bus route.

“The £15.2 million we are putting into this scheme shows that the coalition government is serious about investing in the infrastructure the country needs to drive economic growth and cut carbon dioxide emissions.”

The total cost of the road is being met through the Government’s funding, funding from Somerset County Council and developers.

Taunton welcomes Government Minister

Local Government Minister Brandon Lewis MP met business leaders and politicians in Taunton on Monday to hear at first hand how they are tackling the challenges they face.

Mr Lewis spent the afternoon in the county town following a working lunch at Somerset County Cricket Club, hosted by Cllr John Williams, Leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council.

"We enjoyed unprecedented access to the Minister who was able to meet leaders of both the business and civic communities. It gave us the opportunity to show how we are working together in our approach to regenerating Taunton town centre and the wider economy," said Cllr Williams.

"He heard from businesses that have been established in the area as well as those that have recently moved, about the help and support they have received from the Borough Council and their plans for the future.

"It was a very positive meeting and I am delighted he accepted the invitation to visit Taunton. The cricket club made the ideal venue – it is a significant presence in the county town and has some exciting plans for expansion in the near future which we are keen to support. Particularly relevant is the great partnership working and support given the club to ensure we retained this pre-eminent facility in Taunton."

The Minister was given an overview of Taunton's regeneration programme – Project Taunton – and finished his visit with a walking tour of some of the achievements including Castle Green for which the Minister was full of praise that this fantastic space had been created in the historic heart of the town.

He said: "It was great to see the hard work going on in Taunton Deane -S the regeneration programme is a brilliant example of an innovative approach by the local council that has led to urban green spaces where there was once just a car park."

Glass bridge shortlisted for top award

A 21st century bridge linking Taunton's past to its present – and future - has caught the eye of the country's top architects.

The glass-sided bridge, linking Castle Green to Goodland Gardens and the River Tone, is among 18 projects shortlisted by the RIBA - Royal Institute of British Architects - for its 2013 awards. Judges will now be visiting the bridge - commissioned by Project Taunton and Taunton Deane Borough Council - to see the innovative design before the results for the South West and Wessex are announced at a gala evening in Swindon in June.

Designed by London-based firm Moxon Architects in association with structural engineers Flint and Neill, the bridge was completed last year - in time to be admired by the Earl of Wessex when he officially opened Castle Green and the Museum of Somerset in September.

The brief to provide a footway linking Castle Green and Goodland Gardens across the Castle moat was challenging as the area is Taunton's historic heart with a wealth of important listed buildings, not least the Grade I listed Castle, home to the museum.

The glass sides make the bridge appear to float above the grass moat and it is tapered to tie in with the areas it connects - broad at the wide Castle Green end and narrowing slightly to fit in with the paths in Goodland Gardens. The false perspective makes the "uphill" journey to Castle Green seem shorter than the gentle slope down to Goodland Gardens.

The bridge has been carefully designed to incorporate specially formulated slip resistant material.  It does not lose its slip resistant properties when wet, unlike other hard surfaces such as concrete or natural stone. The band of glass without anti-slip material measures just 32mm wide - smaller than two 5p coins laid side by side.

The bridge- lit up at night - is an important feature in the transformation of Castle Green, part of Taunton's urban regeneration delivered by the Project Taunton team.

Deputy Leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council, Councillor Mark Edwards, said: "This is a wonderful accolade for what is a truly unique bridge and just being recognised for its design is excellent news.  This sends a clear message that Taunton is investing in quality design to enhance our environment."

Councillor Catherine Herbert, who holds the sports, parks and leisure portfolio, said: "It is great to see modern architecture in the heart of our town and sitting so comfortably with the historic castle.  For it to also be the link between two of our precious open spaces makes it very special."

Ian Franklin,of Project Taunton, has watched the bridge develop from a concept to reality and said: "Taunton has turned its back on the River Tone for too many years - Project Taunton and the regeneration work we deliver aims to restore the river to its rightful place at the heart of Taunton.

"The bridge between Castle Green and Goodland Gardens is another link in the chain of paths and walks that are putting the focus on the River Tone.  It is a terrific design that richly deserves recognition."

Planters Arrive

Ornamental grasses, herbs and young palms are being added to the new planters in Castle Green – a visual reminder this is a pedestrian area and not for cars.

Pip's Park Unveiled

He inspired one of Taunton's more unusual waterside walks – and now his name is being remembered with the creation of a new open space at the Firepool scheme, set by the River Tone, Taunton complete with a glass sculpture engraved with poetry.

Pip's Park – named in honour of the late Pip Youngman – is a new Riverside Park forming the central communal area of the £270m Firepool scheme, developed by regeneration specialist, St. Modwen in partnership with Taunton Deane County Borough Council. The Park was unveiled on February 28 with his wife Alison and daughter Suzy joining the ceremony.

The park's highlight is a spectacular glass feature, made by Taunton glass-maker Will Shakspeare and it has been engraved with one of Pip Youngman's poems.

Pip was not just a poet but a noted inventor as well as one of Taunton's greatest champions. His career was eclectic to say the least – as a young man he tried his hand at all sorts of jobs including being a shoe-shine boy. In World War Two he served in the 48th Royal Tank Regiment.

After the war ended he was active in a peace movement called The Crusade for World Government. Supporters included Bertrand Russell, Yehudi Menuhin and a very young Shirley Williams.

Alison Youngman said: "He loved Lego.  When he was living in Soho in the 1960s, he rather rashly told someone that you could make anything from Lego.  They challenged him to make a computer.  So he did, and it became the basis for one of the Open University's first home experiment kits.  

"It was - is - a device called BOBCAT which uses ballbearings and flip-flops to demonstrate the binary numerical system used in computers.  He got a job at the Open University on the strength of that design, and went on to design various kits for science and technology courses."

After a spell in Iran working on a free university project he spent time travelling in a Ford Transit van called Humphrey. After meeting Alison the couple also took to the road – this time in Millicent – a converted Bedford TK.

In Taunton Pip Youngman took a huge interest in the town and its development.   He inspired the space walk along the Bridgwater-Taunton Canal which still gives walkers huge enjoyment. And he was a staunch supporter of Project Taunton – originally the Vision for Taunton – and plans to regenerate and revitalise the town centre bringing the river and waterways back into focus.

Ian Franklin, of Project Taunton, said: "We always enjoyed it when Pip dropped into our office for a chat. His enthusiasm was infectious!"

Firepool is bringing the focus back to the water, turning development to face the river rather than turn its back. The park, on the River Tone's south bank, is designed to give people somewhere to enjoy the life of the river, to relax in a haven close to the heart of the town and to bring green space into the urban area.

Firepool, delivered by St. Modwen, is the first major phase of Project Taunton's vision. Pete Davies, Development Manager for St. Modwen in the South West, said:  "The Riverside Park, which is already being used by more than 110 members of staff working at Viridor House, will become a new recreational area, where people can sit, relax and enjoy the waterside area of the scheme is a fitting place to commemorate Pip Youngman.

"The official opening marks another step forward in our delivery of this major regeneration scheme that will help transform the the heart of Taunton town centre."

Firepool is a 17 acre mixed-use scheme, with the master plan including 500,000 sq ft of offices, over 400 homes, including waterfront apartments and town houses and a new waterside plaza to include restaurants, retail stores a hotel and a food store.