First ideas on square design
Thursday October 8, 2009
» See Le Herisson school childrens' design ideas on Flickr (opens new window)
Local school children have come up with some intriguing ideas for a new £1million public square in Hammersmith.
Five and six year olds from Le Herisson School on Rivercourt Road went on a tour of the King Street site before coming up with sketches on what could replace it.
The concrete extension to the old town hall currently occupies the site where the new public square will be built and has been voted the ugliest building in the borough.
Councillor Mark Loveday, H&F Council Cabinet Member for Strategy, said: “The ideas from the Le Herisson School were fascinating. Some of the pupils wanted to see a bandstand or places to have a picnic, others wanted to have trampolines or even a racing track.”
The council is seeking to save taxpayers’ cash and regenerate the west end of King Street by replacing the ugly 1960’s extension with a new building to the side of the original town hall. The move would allow the creation of the new public square next to King Street.
The square will open up views of the art deco façade of the original Town Hall and be the centrepiece of an ambitious regeneration project.
A formal competition to come up with a design for the public square has begun and a shortlist of three architects have until October 14 to submit their entries.
Residents will have a chance to have their say on each of the short-listed schemes before a public square design panel – made up of expert stakeholders and development partners – recommends a preferred architect to the council.
Residents can have their say on the proposals and find more about the overall scheme – which includes shops, restaurants and offices – at a public exhibition from October 15-17 in a trailer parked outside Hammersmith Town Hall.
Thursday 15 October: 4-8pm
Friday 16 October: 10am-4pm
Saturday 17 October: 10am-4pm
Cllr Loveday concludes: “Getting the final design right for the public square will be a vital part of getting the overall regeneration right. I am keen that as many people as possible come along to King Street and have their say on the short listed designs.”
Once the current round of consultations is complete, the council’s development partner – King Street Developments Ltd – is expected to hold further events in the early part of 2010 before bringing forward a planning application that summer.
Matthew Bonning Snook, of King Street Developments Ltd, says: “We welcome all of the children’s designs and are glad to see the pupils of Le Herisson School take such an interest in the future of their local area - after all, the public square is a vital part of the regeneration of King Street which will breath new life into this area of Hammersmith. We look forward to hearing the wider community’s views on the short listed designs at our forthcoming public exhibitions.”
At that stage the council’s formal consultation with residents would begin before the planning committee considered any proposals.
» See Le Herisson school childrens' design ideas on Flickr (opens new window)
