The masterplan for Trent Basin delivers a new 21st century neighbourhood inspired by Nottingham’s unique riverside character. The proposal creates a residential waterside neighbourhood, primary school, a public realm of legible streets and a new riverside infrastructure.
The site contains a significant historic wharf that sits perpendicular to the river and provides a water focus at the heart of the new development. The spatial configuration of the masterplan has been informed by historical waterside precedents including Pieter de Hooch’s 17th Century paintings of Delft which depict the layered threshold spaces (from the canal side to the sheltered domestic courtyard) which still support the city’s public realm today.
The masterplan is designed to support a hierarchy of public and private realm space. This begins with three site-wide movement corridors; the new East West vehicle connection across the site, a section of the new Riverfront path including a new pedestrian bridge across the head of the Basin (and access for pedestrian around all sides of the Basin), as well as a new pedestrian connection through a new pocket park to Daleside Road. The new neighbourhood facilitates good connections for both pedestrians and cyclists to the city centre and the surrounding neighbourhoods.
The extensive people friendly public realm that stitches the development together is made possible by the introduction of a ‘car barn’. Most of the required parking is located within the barn and this frees up space for people and landscape rather than cars. This is not a new idea and was used at the Greenwich Millennium Village 20 years ago where the streets and spaces have become the focus of community life. Arranged as a series of sheltered courtyards - all homes have been designed to employ the very best in new construction technologies and to provide energy efficient dwellings.
Proctor & Matthews Architects alongside Sarah Wigglesworth Architects and Turner Works Architects will continue to work on the development to deliver high-quality, low carbon homes. The next stage of Trent Basin is due to start in the Autumn with new homes being released from 2024 through to 2027 following completion of the new bridge.
