Challenge

To create innovative street furniture for a £215m regeneration project, intended to transform Swindon’s town centre into a cosmopolitan public space. The previous Wharf Green city-centre space, surrounded by under-trading retail, needed significant improvement to inject personality and a real sense of place.

Solution

Woodscape created an iconic central seating planter area for Wharf Green to complement their new events space and huge screen. Constructed from durable hardwood with stainless steel corner edge detailing to allow for use by skateboarders. A key requirement of the scheme to encourage a sense of community and belonging to all.

Outcome

Wharf Green has now become an elegant and uncluttered public meeting space buzzing with activity, café life and live events regularly taking place. The scheme won recognition in the 2009 Civic Trust Awards and has played a major part in improving retail trading in the area. The success of Wharf Green helped to earn Swindon Council an extra £3 million of Government Growth Point funding.