Improvement works to Bangor University’s College Park will create an attractive and vibrant place for everyone in the city to enjoy and experience, according to plans submitted to Gwynedd Council.

 

The plans include the provision of new footpaths, street furniture, lighting and associated landscaping. The area will be divided into four key zones, each offering a set of appropriate, location relative activities and uses. The aim is to create a public space, visible from Memorial Square and Deiniol Road, helping to bridge the gap between the city and the university.

The proposals build on an earlier design concept produced in 2009, which explored the issues, opportunities and potential for College Park at the time. The aim was to transform College Park into a vibrant urban green space bridging the city of Bangor with the University and creating an asset for the whole community – a park for everyone.

These aspirations for College Park have also been highlighted in the Bangor City Masterplan (2020), identifying the Site as one of the key catalyst projects in the regeneration of the City Centre.

In 2021, In partnership with Gwynedd Council and Bangor City Council, Bangor University have applied for and secured financial support for the redevelopment of the College Park as part of the Transforming Towns Programme by Welsh Government

College Park is located at the heart of Bangor, a cathedral city in Gwynedd, North Wales. The Site lies approx. 100m Northwest of Bangor Cathedral and 200m of High Street, the city’s retail and hospitality hub. Bangor Pier, the main attraction of the city, is located approx. 1km to the North.

The closest regional and national public transport is Bangor Railway Station, a 10-minute walk to the south-west of the site.

The Application Site covers an area of 3.58ha and is broadly defined by the College Road Campus and Main Arts Building to the north-west, Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre to the south, Deiniol Road to the south-east and Love Lane to the north-east

The site has a rich history associated with the Bangor Cathedral (Grade I listed), one of the oldest cathedrals in UK. In medieval times it was home to Llanfair Garth Branan Church with it’s assumed foundations unearthed in 1924.

Until late 19th Century, the Site in its entirety formed a part of the Bishop’s Estate associated with Bishop’s Palace (currently Storiel), covering a significant portion of the Bangor City Northeast of the Bangor Cathedral. In the early 1900s the Bishop’s Palace has been vacated and shortly after adapted into a Town Hall. In 1910s the former Bishop’s Estate was dissected by construction of Deiniol Road and while most of the estate East of Deiniol Road was gradually redeveloped, the Site has remained largely unchanged.

The Bangor University, established in 1884, was donated a 10-acre land overlooking the Site where, with the support from people of Bangor, the University College (Currently known as Main Arts building, Grade I listed) was built in 1911.

Over the time, the Site has become an integral part of the building setting and has been referred to as the College Park.

In the last 100 years the College Park has seen some further changes, including the following developments:

  • Erection of the Memorial Arch in 1923;
  • Construction of tennis courts in 1920s, outlines of which are still visible in the Site’s topography;
  • Erection of Refectory and Student Union in 1960s;
  • Erection of Theatre Gwynedd in 1975;
  • Demolition of theatre and Student Union in 2010.

Most recently the Pontio building was constructed in 2015 as an initiative by Bangor University. ‘Pontio’ translates to ‘bridge’ in the Welsh language, signifying the connection between the university grounds and the city’s centre

College Park is an important green space connecting the University and the City of Bangor, it is however often overlooked and underused. Historically, the park has been treated as an isolated space with its use and purpose unclear.

Long-term plans to connect the University and the city centre, however, the plans were never realised.

College park comprise of a number of young and mature trees, including such species as oak, silver birch, lime, bird cherry and yew.

Trees

An arboricultural survey was undertaken by Ascerta in December 2021. The survey has identified fifty-one individual trees, twenty-three groups and two woodland compartments. The survey provides recommendations for the improvements to the existing tree cover, including:

  • Removal of any dangerous or unhealthy trees;
  • Selective thinning of existing tree cover to improve quality of the retained trees; and
  • Management recommendations for the existing woodland compartments.

To avoid any removals taking place during the bird nesting season, the tree works proposed in the arboricultural survey have been submitted to the Gwynedd Council via Conservation Area Notice and have been undertaken in February 2022.

The existing habitats on Site comprise a semi-improved grassland with scattered trees and patches of bramble scrub present throughout the Site dissected by hardstanding footpaths. A small area of amenity grassland is present in the southern section of the Site.

The site provides habitat for nesting birds, badger, red squirrel, reptiles, hedgehog and bats.

The Opportunity

Reflecting on the site’s limiting constraints and spatial formation, the following opportunities have been determined to help develop a park that is accessible and follows quality design principles.

Opportunities Summary:

  • Create new feature main entrance at intersection of Love Lane and Deiniol Road
  • Create space to introduce new activities and uses
  • Improve existing entrance points
  • Improve existing pathways and formalise informal footpaths
  • Create central maintenance/access route connecting the Pontio building with the park
  • Improve natural surveillance of the park through boundary improvements
  • Open up the views and encourage better tree growth through ongoing management and selective thinning of the existing trees
  • Improve Pontio entrance area as an active zone for students and visiting school groups
  • Enhance biodiversity on site

The feedback received during workshops and public consultation provides an indication of the key issues and directions of how the park should be transformed.

When asked about what the respondents think of the current state of the College Park, most of the views were negative, describing the park as inaccessible, unsafe and uninviting space or just simply referring to it as a ‘shortcut’ or a ‘thoroughfare’, clearly indicating that the space is underused and often seen as transitional space between the University and the City Centre.

Limited accessibility, anti-social behaviour, and general public safety were the most occurring issues identified by the responders and these aspects alongside with the protection of the existing trees and improving habitats for wildlife were highlighted as the top priority elements.

The initial consultation feedback has assisted us in key decision making in the design process for College Park. The key themes and improvement desires have been reflected in the strategy and underpin the Landscape Masterplan

Proposals

College Park can be divided into four key zones, each offering a set of appropriate, location relative activities and uses:

  • Town Welcome Zone along the Deiniol Road frontage
  • Activity Zone adjacent to Pontio
  • Student Welcome Zone to the upper section of the park
  • Nature Zone in the north-eastern section of the Park

The Active Zone is located around Pontio to the south-east of College Park.

This area will create a transition zone between Pontio and the park by providing opportunities for play, socialising and outdoor learning and encouraging people into the landscape. It will be very much a public space, visible from Memorial Square and Deiniol Road, helping to bridge the gap between the City and the university.

Key features of the Active Zone include:

  • An active frontage to Pontio adjacent to Deiniol Road and the coach drop off. This will include a widened accessible spill-out space with eyecatching street furniture, table tennis and play opportunities for Pontio visitors;
  • A bespoke traverse wall which makes use of the sloped topography and mimics the architecture (brise soleil) of Pontio; This will extend into grass terracing which will make the space in front of the existing boiler house useable;
  • An accessible new route leading to the Pontio Lawns and Town Welcome Zone, extending from the existing sloped footpath off Deiniol Road;
  • A new walking/maintenance route connecting Pontio with the rest of the park;
  • An extension of the existing grass terracing at Level 2 to include formal stone terraces around the “Celebration Moment” area. This will encourage use, outdoor socialising and learning at different times of year as well as providing a ideal location for social media images promoting student life at Bangor University.
  • The potential for a big screen to be added to the facade of Pontio in the future for the terracing to be used as an open air cinema/performance space;
  • Flexible use street furniture to levels 3 and 4 adjacent to main Pontio access points and the Student Union.

Town Welcome Zone

The Town Welcome Zone creates a welcoming new approach to College Park for all. The design aims to increase accessibility and connections to and from the park, provide space for public events and recreation, and reduce anti-social behaviour, particularly around the Love Lane/Deiniol Road entrance.

Key features of the Town Welcome Zone include:

  • An inviting relocated new entrance from Deiniol Road to line up with the crossing point leading into the City Centre. This will be much wider than the existing entrance, repaved with a central lighting/wayfinding feature to encourage use and increase sense of safety into the park;
  • A new accessible route from the entrance leading directly up towards Pontio and the central events space. Retaining walls will be designed to discourage loitering;
  • A direct stepped entrance up through the park via a central nodal point. The two-level nodal point will be widened and re-paved with ornamental planting. Views to and from the area will be opened up through tree thinning to help reduce ASB;
  • Existing natural spring utilised to form area of wet woodland to increase biodiversity value;
  • A formalised central access/maintenance route through the park helping to connecting Pontio with the park and beyond;
  • A sculptural skateboarding feature along the main path which will help to bring animation into the park and draw skaters away from the Pontio entrance area;
  • Pontio Lawns – re-use of the flatter old tennis court area as open lawns to facilitate informal seating and events. This area is visible from Deiniol Road/Memorial Square and will help to draw people into the park;
  • Reclining seats overlooking Pontio Lawns;
  • A quieter story-telling corner off the main path making use with a veteran yew tree as the focal point. Paving with interpretation located around the old church ruins and felled tree material re-used as seating and retaining walls;
  • Boundary improvements to increase access and visibility to/from the park.

Student Welcome Zone

The Student Welcome Zone is located at the top of College Park adjacent to Bangor University. The area will be opened up with new and improved pathways leading to the university campus and halls, helping to improve connections and sense of safety through the whole park. The zone will help to draw students, staff and visitors into the park and make use of the key spaces and views across Bangor.

Key features of the Student Welcome Zone include:

  • Re-surfaced viewpoint terrace adjacent to the Grade I listed Main Arts Building including multi-functional communal seating for outdoor study and socialising overlooking the park and the city;
  • Interpretation plaque installed to existing retaining wall along the terrace to including information on the view, history of the park or listed building. There is the potential for community involvement and artwork;
  • Existing steep grass banks enhanced with new native planting to increase biodiversity value across the park;
  • Selective tree thinning of existing woodland to help open up views across the park and improve the condition of the remaining trees;
  • Re-surfaced and widened pathway leading from the viewpoint terrace to the north-east through the existing woodland;
  • Boundary improvements to increase visibility and safety along the top path;
  • This will increase use of the space and help to form a welcoming secondary entrance into the park;
  • Existing pathways retained but with lighting replaced to match proposed lighting columns in the Town Welcome Zone.

Nature Zone

The Nature Zone is located to the north-east end of College Park, mainly consisting of existing mature woodland. Although the majority of the woodland will be retained, usability and educational value will be increased with opportunities for anti-social behaviour reduced.

Key features of the Nature Zone include:

  • The north-east entrance will be opened up adjacent to the potential future Health Sciences building. This will connect to a re-surfaced and widened pathway. A staggered timber barrier will help to improve safety when exiting onto Love lane;
  • The existing woodland will be managed and contain areas of ground flora enhancement to help increase biodiversity and educational value through the park;
  • The existing pathway leading from the central steps towards to University halls will be re-surfaced to improve connectivity through the area;
  • The existing boundary wall at the bottom end of Love lane to be reduced in height with a railing added. This will help to increase visibility into/out of the park in an area which is currently a hot spot of antisocial behaviour from St Mary’s Hostel;
  • An informal winding pathway with wildlife/educational watch points and fitness points. There is the opportunity to re-use felled trees from the park and the local community to be involved in the design

The proposals presented in this Design and Access Statement will help to improve this green space and create an attractive and vibrant place for everyone to enjoy and experience.

The improved footpath links and new accessible routes will help to ‘bridge’ the gap between University and City Centre. New uses and exciting furniture will encourage park user to spend more time in the nature and improve their health and wellbeing.

Planners believe that the new, upgraded College Park will benefit both the University of Bangor students and staff and local communities

To see the plans in full please visit: https://amg.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=32767