Pennine Lancashire Squared

Competition Winner

Project Details

Location: Bacup Square

Project: Environmental Enhancement

Client: The Landscape Institute

Consultants:  LOCI Design, Space Syntax, Kate Gould

Contract Value: £3.6m

Project Description

Our winning competition design for Bacup defines the form and function of the public square, creating a sensitive response to the needs of the community and transforming their vision into a well-balanced and innovative solution.  The design is both kinetic and stimulated by the historic importance of the town; the rail tracks for the movable planters, the exciting ‘live chimney’ focal point, the elegant ribbon of water, all reflect the important heritage of the town and touch the senses. 

The cornerstone of the project was the ‘live chimney’ a listening post for the river below and illuminated by the same river, the fast the flow the brighter the illumination. There were 7 key issues raised by the community from which we agreed a set of strategies. The scheme was designed with these in mind to create a project that responded to the site and engaged the community with playful structures that connected the space, the people, the history and the landscape of the town. 

The square functions as a road, bus stop and shopping street with extra space for pedestrians. We proposed a one-level surface layout, introducing more generous paved areas to St James Street and Irwell Terrace. This was to enable businesses to offer outdoor seating and pedestrians to safely navigate the shops and services. Occasionally St James Street could be used for civic events such as market days, public performances and weekend fairs. All of which will help to attract visitors and widen interest, putting Bacup back ‘on the map’. The design creates a place, which is exciting but user friendly and owned by the community, who were to be involved in every stage of the project and it’s long term future through a series of programmes.