|
|
| |
|
Town Centre
For decades plans have included a proposal to build an inner relief road (IRR) from Wellington Road to Bridge Street. At Castle Street and Wood Street the development of Tesco and Lidl foodstores has contributed to the building of the first parts of the road. Planning permission has been granted for the remainder of the road, including a new bridge over the River Tone. Following the Vision for Taunton, consultants have prepared ideas for the development of the town centre, which do not include the IRR. A choice must be made between the options, and the issues relating to each are set out below.
Option 1 - Inner Relief Road (IRR)
- Reduced traffic on North Street and Corporation Street, enabling pedestrianisation during the middle of the day, and assisting bus reliability.
- Provides another river crossing, with limited additional road capacity at peak times, but caters for mainly short trips around the town centre: it would have neutral impact on wider traffic congestion.
- Improved accessibility to Tesco and Lidl foodstores, but the quality of retailing on North Street could decline.
- Could go ahead quickly, and reduce uncertainty for investment in the area.
|
|
|
Option 2 - Vision for Taunton (Without IRR)
- Delivers Vision for high quality riverside developments, including 550 seat theatre and 3 screen cinema on a prominent key site.
- Cultural and leisure developments along the river expand the town centre, helping to link the existing shopping centre to prime office development at Firepool.
- Improved linkages from expanded town centre to adjoining neighbourhoods, including health and further education facilities.
- Opportunity for Debenhams to expand with a new waterside frontage, continuing to anchor on North Street as a primary retail area.
- Depends on development of the Firepool site.
- Retains traffic through the existing town centre.
|
|
|
Top of page
Top of page
|
|
|
|
