Tetra Tech has led the design for this landmark project, providing design leadership and multidisciplinary support to transform the existing car park along the River Don into Riverside Gardens – a new public open space. It enhances pedestrian connectivity from Rotherham Town Centre into Forge Island and Rotherham Train Station while offering residents a relaxing open space with scenic views of the River Don.
Tetra Tech was commissioned by the Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) to design and deliver the public open space called Riverside Gardens following successful bids to the Future High Street Fund and Town Deal Fund.
The project will create a vibrant open area that connects to the leisure development on Forge Island, including a hotel, cinema, and restaurants. It will also enhance pedestrian links between the riverside , town centre and surrounding public realm through strategic improvements.
Overcoming water levels and community needs
The Riverside Gardens project forms a key component in the regeneration of Rotherham Town Centre. The site posed a significant challenge due to a four-metre difference between river level and street level, which was addressed during the design development process to provide inclusive access for all to the new public open space.
The new public open space connects and navigates through the difficult changes of level whilst retaining the existing structures and presenting a unified public realm experience. It also includes the introduction of playful sculptural elements and references to cultural and historical associations with Rotherham.
Additionally, the existing river wall is home to several protected species. The design integrated measures to preserve this and the habitat for all the local wildlife.
Bringing together statutory bodies, residents and local wildlife
To address the technical challenges on the project relating to the retaining structures of the River Wall and Market Street, our multidisciplinary team, including engineers from the structures, highways, ground investigation, flood risk and drainage teams, provided a coordinated approach that worked within existing constraints to meet the client objectives. We led the engagement with various statutory bodies to achieve effective design solutions for the project and successfully achieved full planning application for the scheme in 2023.
To support the protected species, our ecology team incorporated the presence of an otter holt and the installation of sand martin boxes in the river wall design, as well as installing bat boxes.
Social inclusion was also a key part of planning and design considerations, to ensure that integration of the area to Forge Island and the leisure development included accessibility for vulnerable, elderly, and less mobile residents.
Benefits
– Multidisciplinary skills brought together within Tetra Tech and the wider project team
– Provided the client with a design solution that will successfully connect the town centre
– Increased connectivity with Forge Island, allowing residents to enjoy the nearby leisure facilities and river
– Protected species in the area incorporated into the design of the project
We are pleased to work with RMBC on Riverside Gardens and provided them with an all in one multidisciplinary solution, led by our experienced Landscape Architecture team, to deliver a new public open space with innovative solutions
Sakshi Gupta, Project Manager & Design Lead for Riverside Gardens at Tetra Tech
We brought together key skills within Tetra Tech and the wider project team to overcome the technical challenges presented by the site and ground conditions. We have provided the client with a design solution, which successfully binds the town centre and strengthens its connection with Forge Island allowing people to enjoy the river views and relax
Phil Blackshaw, Director – Landscape at Tetra Tech
We developed a strong understanding of the Council’s aspirations, supported them in securing investment and funding from various resources, and delivered a transformational change which will make Rotherham Town Centre a thriving place for all
Andrew Clarke, Director – Urban Design at Tetra Tech
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