Urbanism
Environment
Design

info@urbed.coop

This proposal for the Radcliffe SUN Quarter was prepared in response to a brief by Bury MBC who were seeking a developer partner to bring forward the comprehensive redevelopment of this town centre site. 

URBED first started working in Radcliffe in 2003 when we were appointed to work on a Vision and Development Strategy for Inner Radcliffe. The strategy promoted six areas of change and developed framework masterplans for each area - the most important of which became the SUN Quarter within the town centre. The Inner Radcliffe Vision and Development Strategy was adopted as a material planning consideration in May 2004 and the authoring team were appointed to prepare a development brief for this site.

Following this URBED led the submission on behalf of Countryside Properties, assembling a solid consultancy team including the architects David Adjaye (Sterling Prize nominee), Maurice Shapero, Stephenson Bell and Planit Landscape Designers. The subsequent bid submission was successful and the team were selected as the preferred development partner by Bury Metropolitan Council at the end of March 2007.

This was not a straightforward design solution. A diversity of issues presented themselves, ranging from achieving Environment Agency access to the River Irwell through to the intergration of the bus station and an open air market.  However, the combination of URBED's intimate understanding of the site and some highly creative design solutions on behalf of the entire team meant that an exciting yet highly efficient submission was realised.

These images represent some of the most transformational aspects of the scheme include a waterside gallery to house the famous Ulrich Ruckriem's stark granit sculptures.  This space was designed by old associates Maurice Shapero and David Adjaye who have been seeking an opportunity to work together for a number of years.  The last image shows the final masterplan.      

Published 23 March 2007 by the Architect's Journal.

URBED and Adjaye unite to design Bury neighbourhood – images

A team including regeneration expert Urbed, David Adjaye, Stephenson Bell and Maurice Shapero has won the competition to mastermind the new Radcliffe Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood (SUN) in Bury, Greater Manchester.

Backed by Countryside Properties, Urbed had already worked on a larger masterplan for Radcliffe in 2003 and highlighted the tricky riverside SUN Quarter as the most important area for renewal.

The team has now been chosen ahead of 60 other submissions as preferred bidder by Bury Metropolitan Council.

At the heart of the mixed-use proposals will be a new gallery overlooking the River Irwell, which will house stark granite sculptures by Ulrich Ruckriem.

This space will be designed by Shapero and Adjaye.

A spokesman for Urbed said: ‘This was not a straightforward design submission. A great diversity of issues presented themselves, ranging from Environment Agency access to the River Irwell through to the compatibility of a bus station and an open-air market.

‘However, the combination of Urbed’s intimate understanding of the site and some highly creative design solutions on behalf of the entire team meant that an exciting yet highly efficient submission was realised.’

by Richard Waite