An alternative masterplan for Burton Street
Architect John Fowkes' proposal for the Burton Street siteIN response to Melton Council’s call for comments and ideas here’s my proposed masterplan for the redevelopment of the site between Burton Street and Play Close.
As an architect I took as my starting point an earlier town centre masterplan produced by Taylor Young in 2008. It identified a fantastic opportunity to provide Melton with a new street, which it called St Mary’s Walk, to take pedestrians from the station to the town’s historic quarter. (An alternative area for car parking would obviously need to be found).
I’ve developed this premise and reinforced the avenue idea with trees and landscaping. The walk would provide a backdrop for the new Melton Arts Centre or library and a new outdoor civic space in the Burton Street ‘gap’. There would also be an opportunity for new shops, art galleries and restaurants linked to Market Place via the well established and successful Church Street.
The open space of Play Close would be fronted with new, high quality apartments and houses, taking in the afforded view and the under-used park amenity.
To my mind to simply resurface Melton’s south car park, in the heart of the town’s best Conservation Area, would be an opportunity missed. I hope these plans will generate and inspire a real debate.
The new civic offices have been designed and positioned to afford rail passengers with views of the church when exiting the station. Let’s try to help them get there in a manner they would remember and enjoy.
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