Evaluation

The Rope Walks project as a whole has helped to transform this once neglected, run-down and unsafe part of Liverpool into a vibrant mixed use city quarter with a strong creative community. The strategy to use the Public Realm Works Programme as a catalyst for inward investment has clearly worked, as evidenced by the number of new buildings/building conversions happening in the areas.

The increase in the number of people living and working in Rope Walks has consequently improved the sense of personal security. However, some areas such as Wolstenholme Square and the less developed streets to the south still lack natural surveillance and feel a little isolated. This should reduce as development continues to spread.

The generally uncluttered streets and the use of a limited palette of high quality materials is appropriate to the area's tight knit urban grain and historic context and creates a coherent streetscape that does not compete with the rich surrounding architecture.

Pedestrian priority has been increased along all but the two main vehicular routes through the area. Although the carriageway and footpath areas are clearly defined by granite sets and yorkstone slabs, the streets do appear to function as shared surfaces, especially where kerbs are laid flush. The presence of cars actually helps to enliven the streets and gives the impression of a vibrant, working quarter. The bollards used to control on street parking have proved to be inadequate for the task and most display damage to varying degrees.

The density of built form and narrow streets originally limited available open space. The creation of six new urban squares has provided much needed breathing space between the buildings. Specific uses for these spaces are not dictated, but the squares have been located at existing or conceived nodes of activity such as bars, restaurants, the new arts centre and new community college building. In the day the generous provision of seating in these spaces provide resting or meeting places whereas lighting and adjacent uses allows the extension of activity into the night. Public art provides another level of interest in the new spaces and helps to reinforce the perception of Rope Walks as the Creative Quarter within the City.

Despite being only recently completed, poor maintenance, graffiti and fly postering has been a problem. The litter bins and metal cladding used on the block seats has not worn well and oxidization has occurred where the surfaces have been scratched. Although paving and other surfaces have been designed to withstand high pressure water-jet cleaning, the frequency of this operation appears to be inadequate and the light colored French limestone and marble used to pave many of the new squares has a dirty appearance. Private management of the spaces around the new Community College appears to be of a higher standard.

As anticipated, the phasing of the regeneration programme, with development works following on from the public realm works, has led to some damage to paving and lighting from construction activities. Developers have an obligation to reinstate and damaged works and this will need to be closely monitored to ensure the high standards of the original works are met and maintained.