Design process

The public realm works have resulted from a seven-year process commenced in mid 1997 with the development of an Integrated Action Plan (IAP). This was prepared by BDP for Liverpool City Council and English Partnerships. The IAP document set out a comprehensive regeneration works programme, concentrating on three overarching themes; The Public Realm Programme; The Development Progamme; and The Business Support and Training Programme. The IAP identified the poor environmental conditions of the Rope Walks area as the principal barrier to private investment. As a consequence the public realm works programme was to be implemented first, to act as a catalyst to inward investment, with the development programme of private investment projects to follow. In reality the two programmes overlapped with private investment triggered during the course of the public realm works. The main principles of the public realm strategy that emerged from the IAP were:

• The need to maintain mixed uses
• Legibility - to improve pedestrian orientation, and understanding of the area
• Accessibility - to open up the area and create greater levels of public access
• Vibrancy - create a unique sense of place through development of the area's cultural and creative character
• The need to design out crime to help tackle the major crime problems which blighted the area
• The need to create clear safe linkages between nodes located at an optimum spacing of 200m
• The creation of 'transitional spaces' to create areas of social interaction between public and private space, such as street cafes and active shop frontages
• The need to restore the characteristics of streets not roads

In 1998 BDP helped the Liverpool Rope Walks Partnership prepare a Public Realm Handbook to further develop the public realm strategy as the next stage of the IAP programme. This document set out the brief for the detailed design and implementation of the public realm works packages. It also acted as a design guide, incorporating all major issues such as public art, lighting, transportation issues, management strategies, consultation processes and palette of materials.

BDP were appointed, following an OJEC advertisement and selection process, to undertake detailed design of the public realm works in 1999. A Management Contractor, Banner Holdings (formerly Henry Boot Management), was appointed simultaneously with the Design Team to manage the implementation of the works. The works themselves were subsequently sub-let to specific work package contractors (i.e. paving/lighting/planting) with details worked up during the tender period.

The vocabulary of materials was influenced primarily by the historic site context. As much of the public realm is designated as public highways consideration also had to be given to their technical performance, buildability and cost. The historical aspects of the work required specific consultation with English Heritage and the City Council Conservation Department. Key stakeholders were also consulted in a series of workshops and meetings together with several open public forums and exhibitions. These took place throughout the design and implementation stages.

Construction work commenced in early 2000 and was completed in Autumn 2004. A full management/maintenance plan was prepared for the City Council maintenance department.