Stitching together the potential

The town of Rawtenstall is part of a string of settlements within the Rossendale valleys of Lancashire. During the post war years, the character and form of Rawtenstall’s town centre was fundamentally altered by new big-box retail and employment developments of an ‘out-of-town’ character placed within the central area. The construction of three major roads has also shattered its core. The heart of town has shifted four times during its development; it currently has no clear centre or role within its sub regional context.

 

The Area Action Plan, prepared for Rossendale Borough Council, presents an ambitious vision that reinstates the clarity of the town’s structure that once existed, reinterpreted for the modern age. It is based on a thorough analytical understanding of the town’s morphology, the profound influence of topography on its urban form and the specific nature of its views.

 

Proposals developed through design workshops and discussions with the community, client team and key stakeholders include fundamental remodelling of the town’s highway network. This is to be introduced in parallel with infill and redevelopment opportunities within the existing town centre fabric and public realm improvements to achieve a fully integrated town centre