On the bank of the River Ouse, this new neighbourhood masterplan for Lewes looked to provide over 400 new homes, a new health hub, cafés and galleries, flexible working space, public squares and a new riverside promenade in the town, which is set within the South Downs National Park.
Another important part of the masterplan was the revitalisation of two of the town’s existing parks, Malling Fields and Pells Recreation Ground, as part of Section 106 agreements. Macgregor Smith and the team successfully gained planning approvals, including all reserved matters, for the wider development and the public realm and park proposals.
16 stakeholder groups were involved in the consultation process, each with different priorities. Macgregor Smith led a 3-stage consultation with all groups (including weekend slots to ensure children could attend), who submitted views via on-site questionnaire or Survey Monkey. Based on the volume of answers recorded, we could prioritise what most people most wanted to see in the designs, maximising the beneficiaries.
Macgregor Smith produced a variety of colourful plans and hand sketches for the stakeholder engagement sessions, which prompted debate and ultimately led the evolution of a design which had strong community backing. At Pells Recreation Ground, the public engagement ensured that a sensitive approach was taken to the beloved park. Listening to local communities, we addressed concerns about maintaining the character of the park whilst ensuring flood defences were integrated into the existing walls, proposing a ‘dutch dam’ system which meant flood defences could be hidden in characterful brick and flint walls.
For Malling Fields, a new lighting scheme and landscape design provided clear sight lines and good passive surveillance, helping to tackle some anti-social behaviour issues in the Park. A new path network, recreation spaces and access points to the River Ouse were developed, maximising access for all and encouraging enjoyment of the River. Sports facilities were to be improved, with new sports pitches, a bespoke skatepark and cycle routes.
A new destination play space and cafe, and enhancements to the community hub would create a new vibrant hub for the town. Local features and heritage references informed the design of a play tower resembling the fire beacons found across the South Downs and Lewes. Fossil hunting areas in the sand pits referenced the fossils found in the surrounding chalk pits, and furniture was inspired by the site’s industrial heritage, with references to the former Phoenix Ironworks and timber yards on the site. The new path network increased accessibility for all and maximised access to the River, with skate features, outdoor gym equipment and incidental play creating opportunities for playful journeys around the parks, streets and spaces.
Next to the River Ouse, the site was in a high flood risk zone and over landfill. We worked with specialist sports pitch designers to incorporate land drains within the scheme. An integrated blue-green infrastructure network has allowed the development to overcome challenges associated with flooding and storm water management whilst providing huge benefits for biodiversity, edible landscapes, doorstep play and community gardens. The series of interwoven green roofs, rain gardens and bioswales all contribute towards the creation of a joined-up mosaic of diverse habitats.
