Project: Poynton Village Revitalisation
Poynton Village has been regenerated with a notable Highways Shared Space Scheme that changed the relationship between the interaction of vehicular drivers with cyclists and pedestrians. The streets have been redesigned with greatly extended pedestrian areas and Fountain Place, reinstated as the historic core.
All traffic lights have been removed and traffic speeds significantly reduced to create an enhanced public realm and economic uplift for shop owners. Working closely with the designers, Ben Hamiliton Baillie and Planit- IE, Shea prepared the Economic Baseline Study of existing trading conditions before the highways investment. Five empty shops were recorded on Park lane with a further seven on Fountain Place environs. She worked closely with traders to deliver a Shop Front Improvement Grant Scheme and additional off- street car parking behind the shops. Sustrans funding investment to deliver "Safe Routes to School" for three Primary Schools and Poynton High School was constructed on budget to improve children's safety during the build. During construction, she led the weekly drop in sessions for the Trader community to air grievances.
Following the Two Phases of construction, she prepared the Economic Benefits Strategy, for the scheme. Footfall was recorded as increased by 180% with congestion decreased by 80%. All of the twelve empty shops were filled with tenants. An additional shop was created by one large empty property being spilt in two. The scheme won numerous awards including Highways Magazine Annual Award, for congestion reduction. Poynton is now a pleasant and economically thriving Market Town, with a strong Cafe society on the wide pavements.
