JMP Urban Design Team Proposes Plan To Revitalize Hemel Hempstead Town Centre

The Hemel Hempstead council has supported the creation of a public consultation group including residents and local businesses to decide on options for the vacant space at the Market Square in the heart of Hemel Hempstead town centre, which currently does not express its full potential. A preferred option for innovative, temporary interventions aimed at activating the space throughout the day and evening will be voted on by the public later in the year.

A tree lined, shared space boulevard combined with a bustling food court and an led linear ‘thread of light’ running through large grass planters within the town centre are among the immediate and short term aspirations of a revitalisation plan drawn up by the urban design team at JMP for the Marlowes Shopping Zone.

The proposals form part of a series of interventions which have been earmarked by Dacorum Borough Council as priorities to help to revitalise the ageing town centre over the next five years. Among the priorities aimed at spreading activity and prosperity across this busy retail environment and encouraging the growth of an evening economy are the introduction of a coherent palette of materials for bins, signs and seating. JMP has also drafted a new signage strategy to create a web of key destinations, each connected by innovative wayfinding and lighting treatments.

Detailed designs of the functional and attractive new planter seating will be drawn up in autumn, following on from its popularity at the public consultation events, and will provide comfortable and modern seating. The council will be providing an improved play facility within the town centre.

JMP has also proposed a number of additional ‘green and water links’ in the medium to long term to reconnect the Marlowes with the Watergardens, providing a visual and symbolic link to the adjacent River Gade, which runs parallel to the shopping area.