A designated New Growth Point, Didcot’s population is set to grow from just over 25,000 to around 43,000 by 2026. Located at the heart of one of the strongest economic growth areas in the UK, the town plays an important role in the economic development of the region. Accordingly, Didcot needs a town centre that reflects this role and raises civic pride.
A comparison with similar towns highlighted a severe lack of shops and facilities in Didcot town centre; the amount of retail floorspace per inhabitant is less than half that of comparable towns, even before the planned growth. Our masterplan sought to address this deficiency by proposing a mix of uses, combining shopping, leisure, housing and community facilities in a centre that should be lively by day and into the evening. A key challenge of the project was to meet the Council’s need for a plan that would form a sufficiently rigorous basis for a SPD to be prepared to guide the development, and Hammerson Plc’s requirements for flexibility in a turbulent market. studio | REAL met this challenge by focusing the masterplan on a series of core elements which would structure the development, leaving the infill of other areas flexible.
Client
South Oxford District Council and Hammerson Plc
Scope
Town Centre Extension Masterplan
Location
Didcot, South Oxfordshire
Status
Completed 2009
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