Heaton Moor Street Design

Client


Architect


Year


2015

Project Type


Street Design

Status


In Progress

Intro

Natural Dimensions undertook a self-initiated study of Shaw Road and Heaton Moor Road in Stockport and identified opportunities for an improved, more accessible, balanced greener streetscape, providing more shop frontage pavement width, trees and improved surfacing materials for outdoor pedestrian activity and cafe space. We produced plans, visuals and consultation sheets and organised community engagement with meetings, consultation events and social media platforms to develop ideas for a better street. We then finalised designs for street improvements. Our work won funding from the local authority to regenerate the street and work was completed in 2017.

  • View of Shaw Road before street realignment.
    2015
  • View of Shaw Road before.
    2015
  • View of Heaton Moor Road, outside of the Co-op before pavement upgrade.
    2015
  • 3D perspective sketch of Shaw Road improvements showing pavement widening outdoor cafe and street trees and setted speed hump.
    concept sketch
  • Nicholas Atherton of Natural Dimensions undertaking in community consultation for Shaw Road improvements in a tent
  • Shaw Road pavement widening and streetscape improvements using conservation flags, tree pits
    2017
  • New Pyrus street trees on Shaw Road Heaton Moor
    April ’21
  • view to Pale outdoor seating street on Shaw Road
    April ’21
  • view to Pokusevskis outdoor seating street on Shaw Road
    April 21
  • Leoni's outdoor seating street on Heaton Moor Road and Shaw Road
    April ’21
  • people drinking at Leoni's and Cork of the North outdoor seating street on Heaton Moor Road post lockdown
    April ’21
  • streetlife people drinking at Leoni's on outdoor seating street on Heaton Moor Road post lockdown
    April ’21
  • post lockdown cafe life in Leoni's on Shaw Road Heaton Moor
    April ’21
  • seating at Leoni's and Cork of the North outdoor seating street on Heaton Moor Road post lockdown
    April ’21
  • people drinking at Leoni's and Cork of the North outdoor seating street on Heaton Moor Road post lockdown
    April ’21

Working in collaboration with Stockport MBC and local councillors, streetscape improvements were proposed as part of a scheme envisioned and led by Natural Dimensions to upgrade and widen existing patchy and narrow tarmac paths with good quality paving. We proposed the removal of some parking spaces to allow path widening and carriageway narrowing (CONTROVERSIAL!) , integration of STREET TREES and the creation of a more pedestrian friendly street environment. This would improve the shopping experience, provide a better context to the historic buildings, enhance Heaton Moor’s unique features and encourage street culture and STREET LIFE.

Natural Dimensions initiated consultation with the local trader group and organised community consultation exercises and events, produced community consultation sheets and liaised with the local authority to progress the scheme towards an achievable and realistic result fully informed by local knowledge. Funding was successfully secured through discussions with the local authority and the scheme was implemented in the first half of 2017. Since then, the shops have gradually been knitting into the street amid economic and pandemic fluctuations and tree vandalism! But as of April 2021, the good news is that cafe tables are outside and the street is coming to life as the trees come into BLOSSOM!