Stratford street could be partially closed to traffic under Gateway Site plans
PART of Windsor Street could be closed to cars and turned into an open space for people as part of long-held ambitions to redevelop the Gateway Site in Stratford.
More ideas and policies for the site on the edge of the town centre have emerged in a draft masterplan document commissioned by Stratford District Council as part of its commitment to delivering the project.
As previously reported by the Herald, key to the entire scheme is a World Shakespeare Centre, a new visitor attraction that would allow the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to update and expand its offering. This would be the anchor building on the site, a triangle of land between Birmingham Road, Arden Street and Windsor Street, while there could also be homes, shops, cafes and restaurants, and a hotel.
Open space – public realm – would also be central to the project, creating an attractive link between the Canal Quarter, Arden Street, Henley Street and the rest of town with seating, planting and public art. Green credentials (such a rooftop gardens) would also feature.
The planning document is seen as the next step in trying to move the project forward – it will go out to public consultation next month for public feedback.
The future stages – and they are still the big hurdles to clear – is to get the land under the ownership of the council and to secure funding to be able to achieve this.
Cllr Susan June, Lib Dem leader of SDC, said it was still early days with lawyers involved in the negotiations for the land while the council has held talks with the West Midlands Combined Authority about funding.
“The chief executive of the combined authority came to Stratford and we had a discussion about how this might progress,” she said. “We wanted to know what the position would now be with Birmingham City Council’s financial difficulties which we think will not impact [the Gateway Site].”
She added that the government really should step up when it comes to funding.
“When you realise that Shakespeare is recognised around the world and is a window for the cultural heritage in Stratford and the region, because of that the government really needs to look at the importance of this heritage on the national and international stage and support it.”
There is a determination to get the funding in place, which then allows for more detailed plans to be created. And long-standing ideas for the site will remain, including the demolition of the multi-storey car park and the moving of the coach park from Windsor Street.
More than 200 new parking spaces could be created at the Arden Street car park, adding an extra deck, to replace those lost in Windsor Street and allowing the road to be partially closed.
The report states: “Closing the northern end of Windsor Street to through traffic while allowing coach drop-off and/or diverting coaches to a drop-off at Rother Market Square, will improve visitors’ first impressions of the town.”
Cementing Stratford’s status as the premier Shakespeare area is the long-term goal.
A spokesperson for SBT added: “The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is committed to exploring the opportunity to develop a new World Shakespeare Centre on the proposed Gateway Site.
“Alongside our current offer for visitors there is a unique possibility to create a new world-class museum destination, in the heart of Stratford, bringing together the trust’s remarkable collections and more elements of the Shakespeare story.
“Conversations are continuing with our partners at Stratford District Council as they develop the wider plans for the Gateway Site and we look forward to engaging more broadly in the coming months as the consultation for the site progresses.”
The draft masterplan report concludes that the next steps for the scheme (subject to funding) include creating a parking strategy for the whole town centre, increasing the parking spaces at Arden Street and getting the necessary Gateway Site land secured.
It would then be onto working with partners on designs, planning permissions and project planning. There is also a suggestion that Shakespeare Birthplace Trust should run a competition for the design of the World Shakespeare Centre.
The public consultation, if SDC’s cabinet agrees on Monday to proceed, will go live on 19th October and will run for six weeks.
