This winning competition scheme for Hadleigh Gateway successfully establishes a new civic heart for the town and will become a focal point for a mix of commercial, arts, and social activities. A state-of-the-art public library provides a community hub at the centre of the new market square.

As an ‘island’ site situated at the western gateway of Hadleigh, the proposal improves permeability by introducing a number of pedestrian routes that will reinforce pre-established routes adjacent to the site. An additional diagonal route visually connects the library to sightlines from London Road. These permeable routes form an important part of the site’s public realm proposal, which not only include a market square, but also other high-quality landscaped spaces designed to attract visitors and significantly improve the area’s local environment.

Each residential building, containing a mix of studio, one and two bedroom dwellings, is designed to deliver excellent private amenities for its residents whilst contributing towards the passive surveillance of the public spaces below. Landscaped gardens set in-between each residential block are designed to provide an attractive outlook for all apartments at each level.