St Stephens Masterplan
St Stephens is a mixed-use urban regeneration intervention located within a dense city fabric. The site presents a rare opportunity to stitch together fractured urban grain and create a vibrant, permeable extension of the existing street network. The masterplan responds to these challenges with a clear set of planning principles that balance residential density with a high-quality public realm.
Site Context and Objectives
The site is bordered by established residential streets to the north and a busier commercial corridor to the south. The primary planning objectives are to deliver a significant number of new homes while introducing a more active, permeable ground floor that connects the two sides of the site. The masterplan rejects the idea of a single monolithic block in favour of a porous arrangement of smaller volumes that echo the surrounding grain and allow sightlines through the site.
Masterplan Principles
The masterplan is guided by four key principles:
- Permeability: The site is broken down into a series of smaller parcels with a porous ground floor that maintains the existing street network.
- Contextual Grain: Building heights and massing respond to the surrounding residential streets to the north and the commercial corridor to the south.
- Mixed-use Activation: A diverse mix of residential and commercial uses creates a 24/7 active edge.
- Public Realm: A central pedestrian square and a network of pedestrian routes through the site provide a high-quality public realm.
Residential and Commercial Mix
The masterplan provides 240 new homes across four buildings, with a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. The buildings are arranged around a central pedestrian square, which serves as a social hub and a communal space for residents. The ground floor of each building is reserved for commercial uses, including retail, a cafe, and a small community centre. This mix of uses ensures that the site remains active throughout the day and night, and that the ground floor contributes to the life of the street.
Public Realm and Connectivity
The public realm is the heart of the masterplan. A central pedestrian square provides a place for people to gather, play, and relax. A network of pedestrian routes through the site connects the different buildings and links the site to the surrounding street network. The public realm is high-quality and accessible, with seating, lighting, and planting that enhance the urban environment.
Infrastructure and Connectivity
The masterplan includes provisions for a new public transport stop and a small car park. The pedestrian and cycle routes through the site connect the site to the existing transport network, and the public transport stop provides a direct link to the wider city. The masterplan is also fully compliant with the local plan’s requirements for sustainable drainage, biodiversity, and energy efficiency.
Conclusion
The St Stephens masterplan is a coherent and responsive urban regeneration intervention that delivers a high-quality public realm, a diverse mix of residential and commercial uses, and a significant number of new homes. The masterplan respects the surrounding context and creates a vibrant, permeable extension of the existing city fabric.