Form

4.1       Once a town dominated by rail and mining infrastructure Radstock now lacks a strong heart and is dominated by roads. An overarching principle for regeneration is therefore:

To establish a physical structure that enables development of a coherent and connected centre that can respond and adapt to change over time.

Function

Historically a coal town, Radstock now has an unclear role. A future regeneration principle will be:

Creation of a modern market town that remains distinctive, provides a focal point for the community and civic life, accommodates a mix of enterprise and compatible uses, and maximises visitor potential founded on its heritage and location

Economy, Uses & Activity

Originally, a town dominated by heavy industry and providing local services. Now it is dominated by a superstore with a range of services but lacks vitality. A regeneration principle for the future of the town will be to develop its latent potential:

Development of economic activity and uses around, arts based enterprise, service activity and environmentally friendly businesses , a stop off and base for visitors, retail and other services serving the local population.

Living

In an area of pit-head settlement with housing concentrated on the surrounding hillside, there is currently little town centre living. A future regeneration principle will be:

Increase town centre living to enable people to live close to shops, services and transport whilst adding to the vitality of the centre.

Community and Services

Radstock has a strong tradition of community activity, education and self-help. This continues but lacks focus and, despite recent exemplars such as the new school, is diluted by poor and disparate facilities. For the future of the town a regeneration principle will be:

Develop the town centre as a community and local service hub with excellent, flexible and accessible facilities.

Connection & Public Realm

Once a rail town, Radstock is now a through town dominated by traffic and affected by peak hour congestion. Pedestrian and cycle movement is severed and curtailed and while the centre is an important hub for buses, interchange facilities are poor. A regeneration principle is therefore:

A town for people where a sense of place predominates, with safe, attractive and connected streets and spaces, transport interchange facilitated and good access and communications into and out of the town centre.

Buildings & Natural Assets

Radstock has grown up as a distinctive industrial town in a rural setting. It has previously been at the centre of a local industry supplying fossil fuel. Today the town’s character is diluted by poor modern development and it has no particular ‘energy profile’. A principle for future regeneration is therefore:

Ensuring a town that is distinctive, urban and green, with a high quality of new building design, buildings that are safe and secure by design, promotion of sustainable energy supply and conservation, with river and green corridors providing for wildlife, recreation and links to the countryside.

Equality of Opportunity

Radstock has a tradition of seeking to address social and economic disadvantage experienced within the local community. For the future a regeneration principle is therefore:

Ensuring the town centre provides for and affords opportunities to all sections of the community.