West Blackhall Street Public Realm Public Exhibition

West Blackhall Street Public Realm Public Exhibition

Welcome Introduction Thank you for coming to this public engagement, your input is sought to help to deliver high quality public realm improvements to West Blackhall Street. This is the second of two consultations. The first event, held in June 2018, explored initial ideas & reviewed a series of concept design approaches options. Your Involvement We will be developing technical proposals. Further consultation will be undertaken with specialist access groups, public utilities companies, the Regeneration Forum and the Community Councils. We welcome all views and will be reviewing all feedback to inform the emerging scheme. Come and speak to one us; or complete a comments form, leave comments on a post-it or send us an email. Today we will present an emerging design concept which has been informed by the initial round of consultation.

Design Brief & Objectives The Greenock Town Centre Masterplan, developed in 2015 / 2016 through an inclusive Charrette process, identified a key public realm project considered as the priority for Town Centre regeneration: West Blackhall Street Public Realm Improvements to the quality of environment in West Blackhall Street Better connections to the town centre West Blackhall Street sits north of the Oak Mall and needs to see investment and better town centre o e ti it, to attra t a pote tial arket of ruise isitors & re as ell as o solidate a d support it s role as a key retail & residential street and emerging night-time quarter. Ocean Terminal will continue to deliver a major tourism gateway to Inverclyde, with over 100+ liners expected to bring over 100,000 international visitors to the Waterfront at Greenock each year. The West Blackhall Street project seeks to develop attractive, accessible and convenient routes, connecting Greenockians, tourists, cruise visitors & crew to the retail offering, but importantly to wider town centre lo atio s, e ouragi g full a ess to retail a d leisure opportu ities, to oost the to s e o o. Project funding has been secured and Riverside Inverclyde, on behalf of Inverclyde Council, have appointed a Design Team to develop proposals in conjunction with a steering group including members of the Greenock Town Centre Regeneration Forum. Design development will progress over the late summer/ autumn months. If support is successfully secured works could commence in 2019.

The Vision West Blackhall Street becomes: A Vibrant Street Supporting CONNECTING local retail THE & food TOWN & drink business by enhancing accessibility & appeal as a place to spend time. A Distinctive Street Conserving & enhancing traditional street qualities & building heritage links with Conservation Area, Art Gallery & Museums An Attractive Thoroughfare Promoting active travel through improvements to pedestrian & cycle access encouraging footfall & use as a safe & attractive route A Residential Street Improving street quality, safety, amenity & appeal as a place to live A Street with a New Purpose Enhanced to attract new visitors by being well connected to Town Centre and promoted as a Night-time Quarter

Location Plan

Engagement: Key Messages A Public Consultation and Exhibition was undertaken to promote dis ussio arou d the rege eratio of Gree o k s West Bla khall Street in June. This was held to review emerging options and explore the initial ideas within the West Blackhall Street Regeneration project brief, the consultation sought to gather information and to identify the perceived challenges and issues for West Blackhall Street. Additionally, a separate Trader Consultation and Exhibition was undertaken to discuss specific traders eeds for Gree o k s West Bla khall Street, o sultatio ith various special interest groups was advance and departments within Inverclyde Council were consulted. Overview: Loss of Retail Activity & Footfall Port Glasgow & GTC failure to compete of key concern West Blackhall Street Businesses Location of Ocean Terminal significant Key Issues considered of influence are: Parking - Charges & availability Business Rates - Not supporting existing businesses Oak Mall - Town Centre needs to be better connected & consolidated, Mall an obstruction to this Recognition of need to do something to develop its offer: If not successful adverse impacts could be severe Whole Town Centre Strategy is required, cannot address West Blackhall Street in isolation The significant issues and key themes identified were: Retain Vehicle Access & Parking Change to through access supported No significant loss to parking - important No broad support for pedestrianisation Support Business Needs Connect to Ocean Terminal & reduce Oak Mall severance Invest in shop frontages / extend areas of licensed pavements Improve lighting & night time ambiences Support local traders (rates/ grants etc.) Develop a Destination Enhancement Night time quarter - improve lighting & night time ambiences Retain & enhance historic character (setts / lights / buildings) Actions to support footfall is critical Investment in streetscape trees / furniture etc. supported Improvements to quality of materials, better maintenance supported

Design Approach Our approach is to deliver end-to-end Public Realm Enhancement for West Blackhall Street. Creating a sense of place attractive, vibrant, commercially successful Create a safe and attractive place for people Create a flexible street that can be used for a range of activities U ified e d to e d approa h: Unified approach: Wall to wall natural stone Unified approach: Widened footways & integrated street trees Quality public realm & natural stone along full length Widened footways & integrated street trees Complete kerb & footpath/ surface water drainage renewal Conservation of quality carriageway setts Laid with distinctive heritage tramlines Rich colours, pinks & silver-greys Characteristic large unit sizes Reconstruction where necessary Conservation of quality carriageway setts New lighting/wifi/ street furniture throughout

Traffic & One Way System The proposals re-open the West Blackhall Street as a through route to all traffic. The route will be a one way street, going East West. The direction of travel on the side streets will be unchanged to side streets. Direction as existing Change to existing Our objective: Support access Improve safety Address business & resident requirements Create a flexible street A logical, permeable movement strategy for the street has been developed to support access to the retail street, improve access to parking & address both business and resident requirements. Carriageway widths (4m) are narrow to encourage safe driving speeds, whilst meeting the needs for all vehicle types. Junctions, will be opened to facilitate a continuous one way route, with pavements also widened to 5.5m at the junctions for increased pedestrian space. Further analysis, to verify junction traffic and capacity, particularly on arrival and exit to the street will be advanced during the next phases of design. The one way system, and re-opening of West Blackhall Streets junctions to it s side streets allo s for se tio s of partial closure for special occasions and events, with access and use of side streets uninhibited.

Parking Parking: Existing (144 spaces) Parking: Proposed (130 spaces, 90%) 144 on street parking spaces on West Blackhall Street & surrounding streets 7 on-street loading bays 8 car parks within 5 minute (400m) walking distance To achieve meaningful change some loss of parking is necessary, however we recognise that parking is important for residents and for retailers and therefore proposals have been developed to retain a significant proportion of parking. 13 14 17 10 5 25 12 11 11 10 18 13 14 10 10 (-7) 5 23 (-2) 12 11 6 (-5) 10 18 In developing proposals for the West Blackhall Street we need to balance the needs for public realm, access and circulation, on-street parking, servicing and public transport. Key considerations are: Capacity to reduce road widths and support safe crossings Retaining significant areas of short-stay on-street parking Providing for accessible parking (disabled) Allow for residents parking Provide for loading/refuse collection/maintenance/other essential access Providing for taxis/ other specific user needs Anticipated future change

West Blackhall Street Arrival Full Street Site Plan West Blackhall St to Grey Place Central Core of the Street West Burn Street to Nicolson Street

West Blackhall Street Arrival West Burn Street to Nicolson Street The proposals seek to strengthen the key arrival points to West Blackhall Street and create spaces which priorities the environment for pedestrians, whilst maintaining vehicle access. High quality materials from wall to wall, seating and street trees, ill reate i i plazas at the arri al ju tio. High quality, new, natural stone Street trees & seating paving wall-to-wall New feature lighting Widened footways LED Lighting upgrades Low quality carriageway setts replaced with new granite sawn setts

West Blackhall Street Central Core of the Street The core street will have widened footways, with junction carriageways narrowed to reduce vehicle speed and create pedestrian spaces with a much increased width in high quality natural stone materials: New natural stone, widened footways Space for café outdoor seating Retained heritage carriageway setts Street trees & seating Flexibility to host street events Retention of on street parking maximised LED Lighting upgrades

West Blackhall Street Arrival West Blackhall St to Grey Place The i i plaza at the Gre Pla e ju tio is e ha es a d e te ded extending the use of high quality materials from wall to wall and introducing seating and strengthening the street trees. High quality, new, natural stone paving wall-to-wall Widened footways Extensive space for outdoor café seating Retained heritage carriageway setts with conservation value Street trees & seating New feature lighting signals entrance to West Blackhall Street Statue and other recent public realm works integrated

Awnings / Banners / Christmas Lighting /Art

Next Steps We will be developing technical proposals which build on the proposals e e rought toda. Toda s o ept proposal sho s our broad intent & scope, the technical design proposals will be subject to costs & funding. Further consultation will be undertaken with specialist access groups, public utilities companies, the Regeneration Forum and the Community Councils. Developed proposals will be taken forward to promote a new Traffic Regulation Order and/or a Planning Application in due course. Email: info@riversideinverlcylde.com or mail@ironsidefarrar.com With the subject West Blackhall Street Thank you for attending, we look forward to hearing your thoughts and receiving your feedback.