Background
The former Co-op is situated just off Gillingham Town High Street and has sat unoccupied for circa 10 years, having also been subject to a fire a few years ago. The town is the most northerly town in Dorset and sits east of the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The site is located in a highly accessible and sustainable location with an abundance of everyday facilities in close proximity, due to the nature of its location on the High Street. Facilities include a number of banks, supermarkets and cafes, takeaway shops, a pharmacy and a church.
The site comprises previously developed land and therefore represents an opportunity for redevelopment. The existing site does not make efficient use of land and the building is tired, dated and set back from the High Street with limited visual “presence” within the town centre.
After examining the historic core of Gillingham, materials that were consistently found within it were noted down for consideration for use in the redevelopment scheme. This included red brick, white stone and render. Window detailing is also another common feature. As a result, these aspects of the existing town centre were all carried through into the new residential development proposals.
After assessing the site the following opportunities were identified which any new development should seek to maximise:
The following constraints were also identified:
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