Prescot THI – designing the future of Market Place

PLACED worked with Knowsley Council’s Prescot Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) to help local people shape the future of Market Place.

Knowsley Council is regenerating Prescot town centre, with a focus on its heritage. Supported by Heritage Lottery Fund, Prescot THI is investing in, conserving and celebrating the town’s historic spaces and places.

Market Place is the biggest project within the regeneration plans, turning an unused corner of the town centre into a vibrant public space.

In 2017, we engaged local people in design and planning by:

Creating a project brand and promotional materials to raise awareness of the project and how to get involved
Delivering workshops for primary and secondary schools, and older residents
Organising site visits to similar projects for inspiration
Delivering a well-received survey
Producing family events including a Treasure Hunt and Design Slams
Holding a community exhibition and event to share ideas and findings.

“We got the information we wanted, but in an engaging and fun way, which in turn can only help with local buy-in to our project. By using an independent consultant to carry out the work there was no distraction for the participants of ‘the council’ being at the events and in turn the report and feedback we received has credibility. ”

Owen Barton - THI Officer

“With PLACED it was much more like a collaboration – PLACED had bought fully into what we were trying to achieve and were helping us achieve this with their skills, time and experience. It felt like PLACED had genuinely taken ownership of the project and was focusing on the qualitative outcomes of our project rather than the bottom line. I found this most refreshing.”

Owen Barton - THI Officer

We engaged people of all ages and diverse backgrounds. We created social value through volunteering and skills development. We supported Prescot THI’s reporting to Heritage Lottery Fund.

Our findings and recommendations formed the basis of the design brief, which went out to RIBA Competition in 2017. Now on site, the final design is shaped by local people.