Collett Park Gateway

Description

The Collett Park Gateway project is an opportunity to reconfigure the park's western gateway making a fresh and exciting contribution to the town. Shepton Mallet Town Council (SMTC) wish to appoint a design team to work collaboratively to bring imaginative, sustainable design to this pivotal site. Improving the arrival to this important public park will enhance users experience and attract greater footfall to the park year round, serving a growing local population. It will provide an attractive café and amenities with good indoor, outdoor connectivity between spaces. It will improve accessibly and active travel connections marking the beginning of the extended Strawberry Line the cycle route and multi user path to Wells and Clevedon. The project is led by a working party of Town Councillors and should continue to be informed by active stakeholder and public engagement. Project Aims • To improve the facilities at the park, providing better experience for park users and residents. • To support economic regeneration encouraging greater footfall to the town through the year. • To make the park gateway more attractive, accessible and sustainable. • To support people's health and well-being, bringing people in contact with one another and nature. • To mark the beginning of the Strawberry Line enabling active travel and recreation. 3.2 Project Outcomes The proposed indoor and outdoor spaces should maximise the potential of the site, creating a renewed sense of place whilst contributing to character, natural beauty and heritage of the park in an inclusive, fresh and innovative way. Proposals should include: • A safer, more welcoming, accessible and well-connected park entrance that reflects the significance of the park in the town and is attractive to passers-by. • Modern and accessible toilets that meet the needs of the volume and diversity of park users, that may if feasible, include a Changing Places standard room. The toilets should operate separately from the café and be able to be locked remotely to extend opening hours. • Improved café appearance and function with the capacity to also serve outdoor/ takeaway refreshments at busy times of the year. Options to include as feasible: > An updated, expanded kiosk with a covered outdoor area. > An indoor space for around ten to fifteen covers. > An area to be used as a community space e.g. for small meetings, workshops or events at quieter times. • Tool storage and a small vehicle garage for the maintenance team. Store for four commercial refuse and three wheely bins. • Collett Park and Strawberry Line signage. • The re-siting of existing amenities as needed such as; the water fountain, existing park signs and defibrillator. • The potential to develop areas of soft landscape elements with the park community over time. • A welcoming space for cyclists at the beginning of the Strawberry Line with improved cycle connections from the Strawberry Line to Park Road and the town centre. The building and outdoor spaces should be robust and sensitively lit and become part of the regular maintenance of the park. It is likely that the cafe will continue to be leased by an operator and not run by the Town Council. Outline Programme Jan Feb 2026 Design Team Appointed Feb / April 2026 RIBA Stage 2, Develop Concept Design & Make Pre-Application Enquires May / June 2026 Visualise possibilities and engage the public. July / Oct 2026 RIBA Stage 3 & Planning Application 2027 RIBA Stage 4 and Tender & Start on Site.