Hemingway appointed to Penwortham project

South Ribble Borough Council has enlisted the services of noted Lancashire designer Wayne Hemingway as it begins a major programme of investment in Penwortham.

HemingwayDesign has been tasked with creating the vision which will guide the town's new masterplan, created to make the Liverpool Road, Kingsfold and Middleforth commercial areas more attractive places to live and shop.

Hemingway's team will work in partnership with real estate consultancy GL Hearn. Together, the pair have already worked on urban plans for Blackpool, Blackburn and a number of other UK towns including Scarborough, Kidderminster, Basingstoke, Exmouth, Andover, North Shields and the London Borough of Barnet.

Local residents and business owners are encouraged to take on a key role in the process. A three-week public consultation will begin with a drop-in workshop event on 10 August.

An online survey has also been launched to gather feedback will help the assist the design team.

Councillor Bill Evans, cabinet member for planning, business support and regeneration at South Ribble Borough Council, said: "So many of our local independent traders and suppliers have had an incredibly difficult 18 months, but the creation of this masterplan presents an opportunity to look forward and build a thriving local economy that brings benefits for the whole community.

“I would urge as many people as possible to share their views and help us set Penwortham up for a bright future.”

Wayne Hemingway said: "The pandemic has led to significant changes in all aspects of our everyday lives. It’s broken old habits and created new ones – and while Covid won’t be here forever, the changes it has brought will be lasting.

“People are now spending much less time in the bigger town and city centres and turning instead to their local high street. For Penwortham and places like it, this is a real time of opportunity.

“The pandemic has also demonstrated how access to open spaces is vital to our physical and mental wellbeing and it’s important the places in which we all live adapt to meet these needs.

“Our aim is to develop a plan for Liverpool Road, Kingsfold and Middleforth that responds positively and takes advantage of these societal shifts, by building on Penwortham’s existing character and ensuring it evolves to deliver more of the experiences that people now want."

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