River Soar & Grand Union Canal - Charnwood · The River Soar and Grand Union Canal Corridor...
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The River Soar and Grand Union Canal Corridor occupies a central position within the East Midlands Region, located in the north of Leicestershire. The Waterway corridor area encompasses the Districts of Charnwood, Blaby, Oadby and Wigston, as well as running through the centre of the City of Leicester. The character of the route and its surroundings vary significantly throughout the corridor, the Waterway flowing through urban suburbs, industrial areas, city centres, villages and open countryside. The Waterway provides an important link between the urban environments and rural Leicestershire, providing an element of greenspace as well as functioning as an access route between the differing areas. Waterways are a vital component of the country’s infrastructure – encapsulating economic, social and environmental functions. They represent a part of the country’s public realm and a place where a broad range of activities are undertaken. This importance is reflected in waterways being widely adopted as the focus for regeneration in both urban/rural areas throughout the UK helping to achieve balance between economic, social and environmental impacts in a sustainable way. This strategy provides an assessment of the current position, issues and future opportunities for River Soar and Grand Union Canal, “the Waterway”, recommending a series of short to medium term actions to secure a successful long-term future for the Waterway. For further information please visit: www.waterscape.com www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk THE STRATEGY River Soar & Grand Union Canal Produced by Arup and Lathams On behalf of the River Soar Steering Group M1 Thurmaston Mountsorrel Quorn Barrow upon Soar Sileby Syston Birstall Humberstone Thurnby Abbey Meadows Glenfield Braunstone Aylestone Blaby Wigston Oadby Kilby Bridge Loughborough Leicester 1 4 6 19 14 16 17 18 8 11 13 15 10 12 9 5 3 2 7 21 20 KEY Access Improvements Increased Access Desirable Potential for Increased Waterway Activity Key Landmark Potential Key Landmark Enhancement Opportunity Railway and Stations Navigable waterway Non-navigable waterway Motorway 1 Loughborough Wharf 2 The Bell Foundry 3 The Great Central Railway 4 Windmill Road Development Area 5 Pillings Lock Marina 6 Barrow Boating 7 Watermead Country Park 8 Raynesway Marina, Thurmaston 9 National Space Centre 10 Abbey Park 11 City Wharf 12 Walkers Stadium 13 St Marys Wharf 14 Aylstone Riverside Park 15 Glen Parva Wharf 16 County Arms 17 Crows Picnic Area 18 Kilby Bridge Yard 19 Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre 20 LRC Waterside Area 21 LRC Abbey Meadows Science Park A C C E S S I B L E V I S I B L E G R E E N H U B S L I N K A G E S P R O M O T I O N Maximise the Impact of the Waterway for the Economic Benefit of Leicestershire. Respecting the Natural Environment Development & Public Realm Quality and Valuing Heritage Promote Green Transport Enhancing the Visitor Experience Improving Access Optimising Waterway Activity Inspiring Interest and Involvement Raising the Profile of the Waterway Secure Funding P A R T N E R S H IP www.waterscape.com www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk
Transcript of River Soar & Grand Union Canal - Charnwood · The River Soar and Grand Union Canal Corridor...
The River Soar and Grand Union Canal Corridor occupies a central position within the East Midlands Region, located in the north of Leicestershire. The Waterway corridor area encompasses the Districts of Charnwood, Blaby, Oadby and Wigston, as well as running through the centre of the City of Leicester. The character of the route and its surroundings vary signifi cantly throughout the corridor, the Waterway fl owing through urban suburbs, industrial areas, city centres, villages and open countryside. The Waterway provides an important link between the urban environments and rural Leicestershire, providing an element of greenspace as well as functioning as an access route between the differing areas. Waterways are a vital component of the country’s infrastructure – encapsulating economic, social and environmental functions. They represent a part of the country’s public realm and a place where a broad range of activities are undertaken. This importance is refl ected in waterways being widely adopted as the focus for regeneration in both urban/rural areas throughout the UK helping to achieve balance between economic, social and environmental impacts in a sustainable way. This strategy provides an assessment of the current position, issues and future opportunities for River Soar and Grand Union Canal, “the Waterway”, recommending a series of short to medium term actions to secure a successful long-term future for the Waterway.
For further information please visit: www.waterscape.com www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk
T H E S T R AT E G Y
River Soar & Grand Union Canal
Produced by Arup and LathamsOn behalf of the River Soar Steering Group
M1
Thurmaston
Mountsorrel
Quorn
Barrow upon Soar
Sileby
Syston
Birstall
Humberstone
Thurnby
Abbey MeadowsGlenfield
Braunstone
Aylestone
Blaby
Wigston
Oadby
Kilby Bridge
Loughborough
Leicester
14
6
19
14
1617
18
8
11
13
15
10
12
9
5
32
7
21
20
KEY
Access Improvements
Increased Access Desirable
Potential for Increased Waterway Activity
Key Landmark
Potential Key Landmark
Enhancement Opportunity
Railway and Stations
Navigable waterway
Non-navigable waterway
Motorway
1 Loughborough Wharf2 The Bell Foundry3 The Great Central Railway4 Windmill Road Development Area5 Pillings Lock Marina6 Barrow Boating7 Watermead Country Park8 Raynesway Marina, Thurmaston9 National Space Centre10 Abbey Park11 City Wharf12 Walkers Stadium13 St Marys Wharf14 Aylstone Riverside Park15 Glen Parva Wharf16 County Arms17 Crows Picnic Area18 Kilby Bridge Yard19 Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre20 LRC Waterside Area21 LRC Abbey Meadows Science Park
AC
CESSIBLE VIS
IBLE
GREEN
HUBS
LINK
AG
ES
PROM
OT
ION
Maximise the Impact of the
Waterway for the Economic Benefit of Leicestershire.
Respecting the Natural Environment
Development & Public Realm Quality and
Valuing Heritage
Promote Green Transport
Enhancing the Visitor Experience
Improving Access
Optimising Waterway Activity
Inspiring Interest and Involvement
Raising the Profile of the
Waterway
Secure Funding
PARTNERSHIP
www.waterscape.com www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk
V I S I B L E
I N S P I R I N G I N T E R E S T A N D I N VO LV E M E N T
THE STRATEGY AIMS TO:Deliver a coherent identity, signage and other way fi nding material for the Waterway which is user friendly. Encourage engagement at all levels through education and active participation.
S E C U R E F U N D I N G
THE STRATEGY AIMS TO:Deliver a coherent and realistic framework for securing funding, increasing the legitimacy, and visibility, of the Waterway as an asset to the County
R A I S I N G T H E P R O F I L E O F T H E WAT E RWAY
THE STRATEGY AIMS TO:Increase the Waterway’s perception and profi le by developing opportunities to publicise the Waterway.
www.waterscape.com www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk
P R O M OT E G R E E N T R A N S P O R T
THE STRATEGY AIMS TO:Encourage increased use of the Waterway corridor by providing a high quality green open space.
G R E E N
R E S P E C T I N G T H E N AT U R A L E N V I R O N M E N T
THE STRATEGY AIMS TO:Balance increasing access to the Waterway with the need to conserve and enhance its landscape and ecological value.
D E V E L O P M E N T & P U B L I C R E A L M Q U A L I T Y A N D VA L U I N G H E R I TA G E
THE STRATEGY AIMS TO:Value the importance of the Waterway’s heritage and ensuring new development makes a positive contribution to the waterside.
www.waterscape.com www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk
E N H A N C I N G T H E V I S I TO R E X P E R I E N C E
THE STRATEGY AIMS TO:Raise the profi le of the Waterway as a feature which connects together existing historic, natural and leisure assets, providing an overall enhanced experience for all users and visitors.
A C C E S S I B L E
I M P R OV I N G A C C E S S
THE STRATEGY AIMS TO:Provide safe and improved access along the Waterway and enhance gateways to enable access to the Waterway by a range of transport modes.
O P T I M I S I N G WAT E RWAY A C T I V I T Y
THE STRATEGY AIMS TO:Optimise the use of the Waterway for leisure based short trip travel and the accommodation of business where compatible.
www.waterscape.com www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk
T H E WAY F O RWA R D
River Soar & Grand Union Canal
www.waterscape.com www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk
It is recommended that the following set of actions should be delivered as a priority:
1) Form a strong, Waterway Partnership consisting of the local authorities and key agencies. This Partnership should champion and take responsibility for ensuring the delivery of this Strategy.
2) Develop a destination management plan for the Waterway.
3) Draft an Access strategy to identify which areas need to be improved, secure agreement / funding and commence access upgrades.
4) Compile a funding strategy and promote the Waterway’s potential to deliver other funding related objectives.
5) Undertake an area wide desk study to defi ne the signifi cance of the environmental resource.
6) Develop masterplans for the “hubs”.
7) Promote the Waterway with strong and attractive image through all literature and marketing material.
8) Support the development of a new visitor centre at Watermead focusing on USP – nature, eco-energy etc.
9) Establish a “Friends of the Waterway” volunteer group.
10) Prepare a design aid for the Waterway as a source of inspiration for new waterside and public development.
Produced by Arup and LathamsOn behalf of the River Soar Steering Group
M1
HUBS
Railway and Stations
Navigable waterway
Non-navigable waterway
Motorway
Kilby Bridge, South Wigston and Blaby
Aylestone
Leicester City Centre
Belgrave and Abbey Meadows
Watermead Country Park and Environs
Barrow on Soar
Loughborough and Environs
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Thurmaston
Mountsorrel
Quorn
Barrow upon Soar
Sileby
Syston
Birstall
Humberstone
Thurnby
Abbey MeadowsGlenfield
Braunstone
Aylestone
Blaby
Wigston
Oadby
Kilby Bridge
Loughborough
Leicester
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
AC
CESSIBLE VIS
IBLE
GREEN
Maximise the Impact of the
Waterway for the Economic Benefit of Leicestershire.
Balance increasing access to the Waterway with the
need to conserve and enhance its landscape and
ecological value.
Value the importance of the Waterway’s heritage
and ensuring new development makes a
positive contribution to the waterside. Encourage increased use
of the Waterway corridor by providing a high
quality green open space.
Deliver a coherent and realistic framework for
securing funding, increasing the legitimacy,
and visibility, of the Waterway as an asset to
the County
Increase the Waterway’s perception and profile
by developing opportunities to
publicise the Waterway.
Deliver a coherent identity, signage and
other way finding material for the Waterway
which is user friendly. Encourage engagement
at all levels through education and active
participation.
Provide safe and improved access along
the Waterway and enhance gateways to enable access to the
Waterway by a range of transport modes.
Optimise the use of the Waterway for leisure
based short trip travel and the accommoda-
tion of business where compatible.
Raise the profile of the Waterway as a feature
which connects together existing historic, natural
and leisure assets, providing an overall
enhanced experience for all users and visitors.
HUBS
LINK
AG
ES
PROM
OT
ION
PARTNERSHIP
