3.3 The Public Realm
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Paradise Square is an attractive Georgian Square presently
overrun with cars. It could be reclaimed as the heart of the
Cathedral Quarter and finished with either hard or soft landscaping
treatment, instead of being used as a parking facility for surrounding
businesses.
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Fitzalan Square is hidden away and somewhat disconnected
from the activity of the city centre as a result of the poor
quality of connections leading to the space. The built form
surrounding the square creates a sense of enclosure to the space
which benefits from substantial mature trees. The square, which
is located on an important historic route, should be revitalised
and connectivity to other parts of the city centre improved.
There is the potential for Fitzalan Square to serve as an important
node en route from the Railway Station to Castlegate and Riverside.
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Sheaf Square/Howard Street is an essential route from the
train station and Hallam University to the Heart of the City.
This area should be developed as a more pedestrian orientated
route to better connect the station to the city centre.
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The grounds of the religious buildings are valuable resources
in the city centre, providing green refuges from the hard urban
fabric. They should be reinforced as special places within the
public space network through improved accessibility and/or landscape
works where appropriate.
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The banks of the River Don are important linear spaces which
must form an integral part of the public space network and provide
links to the surrounding locality. Victoria Quays should be
visually and physically reconnected with the city centre by
way of pedestrian links facilitated from Castlegate. The downgrading
of Exchange Street on completion of the Inner Relief Road provides
an opportunity for this link to be achieved.
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There could also be an opportunity to downgrade West bar
and the area in front of the Law Courts as a traffic route on
completion of the IRR. This would allow the space in front of
the law court to be developed as a hard landscaped public space.
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There is a multitude of vacant sites within the city centre,
largely facilitated for car parking. Many of these could be
viewed as opportunities for new public squares, providing a
stimulus for the development of adjacent sites and a focal point
for activity within their precinct.
Every opportunity must be taken to introduce new spaces and places
as a part of new developments to contribute to the public space
network of the city. This is particularly relevant in the drive
to promote city centre living.
Public spaces should contribute meaningfully to the network in
the city and not just be left over spaces. They should make connection
with key pedestrian routes and other spaces, be of quality design
and maintained to the highest possible standard. A network of
formal and incidental spaces should weave through the city from
the centre out to the surrounding large green spaces, such as
Weston Park and Parkhill.
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