The Town Centre
Key Buildings
Wherever possible the setting of key buildings identified as part of the Townscape Heritage Initiative study should be included within public realm proposals for key spaces and within street works as projects emerge. They include:
* Victoria Hotel, St. Thomas’s Street
* Royal Squadron Hotel, Union Street
* Victoria Arcade, Union Street
* Roundhouse Hotel, George Street
* Vectis Hall, Melville Street
* Duffetts Mill, High Street
* St. Thomas’s Church, St. Thomas’s Street
* Town Hall, High Street
Key Spaces
The following spaces illustrated in Strategy Drawings 1 and 2, Figures 3.2 and 3.3, were identified as initial priorities in improving the public realm in Ryde to enhance quality, experience and connections to principal spaces:
The Upper High Street (Green Street to Star Street)
This section of the High Street possesses a variety of retail outlets, many of a specialist nature with some residential land use interspersed, creating a mix of uses and good levels of activity. The street is contained in spatial terms with narrow pedestrian footways and mainly two storey
buildings. Footfall is reasonably high and the users are predominantly residents.
In general the condition of the environment is fair, but pedestrian accessibility is the main issue. Throughout this section the footways are very narrow and obstructed by street furniture in places, making it difficult for wheelchair and pushchair users to negotiate. Proposals for this section include footway widening, although this will require some reconfiguration of carriageway levels to resolve levels and avoid an exaggerated ‘gull-wing’ arrangement and back falls on the footways which might adversely affect buildings.
Traffic calming measures to side road entries would improve the pedestrian environment. New lighting and street furniture within this stretch of the High Street would be contemporary in design limited to essential equipment only due to the tight nature of the street.
The High Street (Star Street to St Thomas’s Square)
This section of the High Street has changed considerably in recent years with an increase in the number of well known high street shops. A number of outlets including Somerfield supermarket which adjoins the High Street, are connected by alleys and informal spaces.
The High Street itself is contained with predominantly two/three storey continuous street frontage. The public realm environment is tired and in pressing need of upgrading to improve the shopping experience for both local people and visitors. At present it is unclear to pedestrians and vehicle drivers, whether the High Street is wholly pedestrianised. A clear stipulation for access and servicing of the units along the pedestrianised section of the street is needed. Within the section of the High Street which is not pedestrianised, there is an opportunity to reduce the dominance of through traffic and improve connections and accessibility north-south
for pedestrians.
It is also important to encourage more visitors to venture further uphill into the High Street area. New areas for outdoor eating, not only throughout the pedestrianised section of the High Street, but also on
widened footways and within some of the adjoining alleys and spaces would create diversity and increase the street life. It is proposed that the High Street is resurfaced and equipped with new contemporary street furniture and lighting. The design of the space should be flexible to allow for temporary use of the street for outdoor eating, extending the potential for shoppers to spend more time there.
A principal element of the scheme should be the restriction of traffic, loading and servicing to certain hours to reinforce the role of this street as a pedestrian haven. Consideration will need to be given to design elements and avoiding street clutter as deliveries must be allowed for and the street is used seasonally for Ryde Carnival. Access for buses will be maintained through the lower section of the High Street, From St. Thomas’s Square to Garfield Road. From Garfield Road to Star Street, delivery times will be restricted to certain hours to reinforce the pedestrian environment.
The progression of this scheme will require agreement of the business community and local residents. The possibility of upgrading the current “square” off Anglesea Street to accommodate family space as well as retaining the market square potential should also be explored.
Union Street and St. Thomas’s Square
The principal design intention for St Thomas’s Square should be to create an attractive and active space which connects Union Street and the High Street and encourages visitors to venture beyond the top of the former and into the latter. In general the vehicle routes should be traffic calmed with raised tables to create a seamless pedestrian environment.
Integrating St Thomas’s Churchyard and connections to the former Town Hall (Ryde Theatre) with this space will be a key consideration. To further improve pedestrian movement, Crown Street should be pedestrianised with restricted vehicle movement. In the longer term there may be opportunities to reconsider the role of the Bank situated within the centre of this key space. Union Street is the part of the town centre where most
visitor activity in Ryde Town Centre is concentrated. The types of shops, bars and restaurants reflect this, with more tourist focused business. The scale of the street is greater, with three storeys plus and key buildings such as Victoria Arcade.
The consultation process considered the potential to develop the tourism offer by reinforcing the existing arts presence with an Arts Quarter centred on the Union Street area. In terms of the public realm the existing quality is good, if a bit dated. There are opportunities for improvements to the pedestrian environment and rationalisation of car parking and loading. It is however recommended that the mixed circulation of the street for pedestrians and vehicles is maintained. In the longer term it is proposed that the carriageway capacity is reconsidered to determine whether there is potential to widen footways generally. In places it is suggested that build-outs are created to accommodate outdoor seating and permanent benches.
Rationalising parking and loading bays would do a lot to improve the quality of the environment and establish the pedestrian priority within the street. Raised crossings will contribute towards traffic calming measures and improve accessibility generally. In the longer term it is suggested that footways are repaved with larger unit natural stone paving to complement the plethora of Listed Buildings within this striking street. Creating better links from St Thomas’s Street car parks through the Royal Victoria Arcade as part of comprehensive shop front conservation programme and also from Union Road to Union Street, should be explored as a priority.
Links and Alleys
The series of spaces adjoining the High Street could be improved for use as active outdoor spaces. Many of these spaces are adjoined by public houses, café’s and restaurants and with some collaboration, there is potential to create a vibrant series of spaces which reflect the character of Brighton’s Lanes district. Creating different types of spaces offering outdoor eating will encourage longer stays within the town centre.
New Development
There are many small to medium sized development sites around the town centre which offer opportunities to create new links to the key spaces such as Union Street and the High Street. New east-west links should be encouraged as part of mixed use developments. Public realm design for these links should be in accordance with the general design guidance. Improvements to the lanes and adjoining spaces surrounding the town centre should also automatically be built into proposals for
developments in those areas.
Redevelopment of Existing Buildings
Buildings which have the potential to be redeveloped to house new attractions have been identified. These are generally located close to Union Street or the High Street and therefore proposals should reflect the initiative to promote the Arts within Union Street and to diversify the shopping experience within the High Street.
Green Spaces
These include St. Thomas’s Church Yard, Western and Eastern Gardens and the environs of the Boating Lake. Designs for these spaces require detailed consideration in terms of their potential use and the development of appropriate detailed designs. However the overall approach must be to recognise their importance and ensure that they are handled with care, restoring historic features and improving their integrity with appropriate
improvements.
New tree planting which reflects the character of vegetation in this coastal location should be considered. A common approach to paving and street furniture will reflect the palettes to be adopted for either the town centre or Esplanade locations. Where there is the potential to include new kiosks or attractions within these spaces the design of these elements should be considered carefully. Although outside the town centre, the restoration of St Johns Park should be considered an important part of the town’s park programme with a formalizing of the current ad-hoc public access arrangement. The creation of a network of open spaces throughout the town and beyond should also be part of the longer term strategy.
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Ryde Esplanade
The Esplanade does not relate well to Ryde town centre, principally in terms of access and connections to and from the Ryde Interchange, an arrival point for both island residents and visitors. Additionally east-west
access along the Esplanade, is not direct and is impeded by barriers such as the rail line and the disjointed nature of the waterfront route. The proposed approach for the Esplanade is summarised below. Detailed design considerations can be found in Part 5.
Ryde Interchange and Arrival Space
Ryde Interchange is being taken forward with an open architectural design competition for the new building. The design of the area should be considered in the context of the initial experience of the island. The site
and surrounding area should be designed as a whole, ensuring a seamless public realm which improves accessibility to the town centre and along the Esplanade.
Traffic Calming and Environmental Improvements
It is difficult to cross between the waterfront and the town centre along the entire Esplanade. Widened footways and reduced carriageway widths are needed, especially at the junction of Union Street and the Esplanade. Proposals should also include wide crossings and encouraging the creation of outdoor eating areas by existing hotels, restaurants and cafes on the Esplanade. Street furniture should reflect equipment chosen in the town centre, taking into account the different colour used for the waterfront promenade along the Esplanade.
Opportunity Sites and Development Areas
Redevelopment and renewal of leases for current concessions should consider potential to introduce high quality new development at strategic waterfront sites, for example opposite the harbour and within the car park.
Green Spaces
Open spaces include Western Gardens, Eastern Gardens and The Boating Lake Area. Western Gardens has potential for improvement to incorporate an events space close to both the town centre and Ryde Interchange. It would also be possible to gain space from the carriageway to help to create a larger multi-functioning space.
Eastern Gardens has retained a lot of its character and offers a second waterfront park area. Some features within the gardens have becomed outdated/redundant and works in this space should also explore the potential to improve the waterside promenade. New tree planting and environmental improvements to the boundary of the gardens would reinforce the landscape structure. Proposals in Part 5 illustrate a contemporary approach with contemporary lighting and seating along the
harbour side.
Ryde Boating Lake, subject of a separate study, offers the potential to provide a sheltered retreat from the waterfront. Its enclosed character and location could accommodate a series of well managed all-weather
activities, including, play areas, a new café to complement the existing swimming pool facilities.
Keys spaces in Need of Improvement
At North Walk, new public realm works have recently been completed which improve the pedestrian walk, raising the levels to allow views over the sea wall, removing old shelters and providing rationalised car parking and traffic calming measures.
The public realm in other areas of the Esplanade is still somewhat disjointed in areas and has been considered in more detail in the previous study, ‘Ryde Comprehensive Development and Improvement Plan’. In general the aims and objectives of that study remain relevant and the following principles are reiterated:
* Opportunity to vary the waterside experience and views of the Solent
* Create a continuous direct route along the Esplanade incorporating environmental improvements
* Rationalise paving and street furniture and lighting
* Improve links to the town centre
* Explore opportunity to insert new development/attractions along the Esplanade waterside route.
Individual project areas have been included from the previous study and are numbered on the proposal plan. In depth analysis of the sites was undertaken as part of the previous study and therefore the proposals have been summarised in the Appendix under Ryde Esplanade.
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