![landscape-architecture-martin-brothers 1600x1000.jpg](/imported-media/2467/landscape-architecture-martin-brothers-1600x1000.jpg?width=1440&height=960&quality=90)
![Public realm scheme in Magherafelt, a busy town centre](/imported-media/12432/magherafelt-public-realm.jpg?width=830&height=533&quality=90)
Magherafelt Town Centre Public Realm
Magherafelt is a small historic Plantation town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland; its layout reflects this, with four streets radiating out from a central Diamond.聽聽
We provided multi-disciplinary services for the design and implementation of the public realm scheme in Magherafelt's busy town centre, working collaboratively to develop the client's brief through all the design stages of the project.
Project name
Magherafelt Town Centre Public Realm
Client
Mid Ulster District Council
Location
Magherafelt, Northern Ireland
Services provided
- Landscape design
- Project management
- Structural engineering
- Civil engineering
- Principal Designer
- Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) engineering
- Planning
- Consultation
- Traffic and roads engineering works
- Town planning
- Environmental services
Challenge
The design and implementation for the high-quality public realm scheme included new civic spaces with bespoke design features. As well as accommodation for events and activities that may have affected the streets within the commission.聽
Our consultant team agreed on the phasing of the work with the employer, traders, stakeholders and end users to ensure minimised disruption and allow the town to be 鈥榦pen for business鈥 at all times during the construction phase.
Solution
Magherafelt is historically known as the 鈥淭hree Spires鈥 due to three local landmark churches. We designed three bespoke lighting spires as key features in a new high quality civic/event space at its core, along with significant landmark artwork sculpture. The lighting spires have computer controlled small lights along the sides that can change colours for certain events/times of the year. As well as creating a large, central multi-use shared space with segregated vehicular and pedestrian areas and pop-up power supplies.
Working with local artist Maurice Harron, we integrated a focal point sculpture 鈥 鈥Our Story鈥. The spherical centre piece uses over 200 designs submitted by community groups, schools, and members of the public. The sculpture was the finishing touch to the 拢2m scheme, funded by Mid Ulster District Council and the Department for Communities (DfC).
We worked closely with the client鈥檚 initial brief and prepared the scheme design and detailed drawings to allow the relevant planning consents to be secured. We then advised the client on the appropriate procurement strategy and prepared the relevant documents (NEC3 Option A contract documents) to allow Contractors to be appointed.
Successfully implementing the scheme on behalf of the client, we ensured the Employer's Requirements were achieved on site. The scheme also involved extensive public and statutory consultation.
We applied strict cost management procedures to ensure adherence to the client's and the DfC budget expenditure requirements.
Related services
![landscape-architecture-martin-brothers 1600x1000.jpg](/imported-media/2467/landscape-architecture-martin-brothers-1600x1000.jpg?width=1440&height=960&quality=90)
Key contacts
![Holbeach_Raymond.jpg](/imported-media/2428/holbeach_raymond.jpg?width=830&height=533&quality=90)
Ray Holbeach
Director - Planning and Environment (Northern Ireland)
![Anderson_Stuart.jpg](/imported-media/2434/anderson_stuart.jpg?width=830&height=533&quality=90)
Stuart Anderson
Associate - Landscape Architecture