Area 1: Elland Bridge Riverside Park Development Brief

6.6 The Elland Bridge Riverside Park (“the Park”) has tremendous potential to provide a high quality public open space for the people of Elland and visitors to the town. The park is within short walking distance of the Town Centre, and could act as a 'green corridor' between the Town Centre and the proposed railway station.

6.7 The Park is allocated in the RCUDP as a Cycle Corridor, Wildlife Corridor, Urban Open Space and Leeds-Bradford Airport Wind Turbine Consultation Zone. A small portion of the site, to the south east, forms part of the Elland Conservation Area. The relevant RCUDP policies are detailed in Appendix 1.

6.8 Site Analysis

The following site analysis should be read alongside the respective site analysis diagram, at Figure 14

6.9 In its existing state the Park is in a poor condition and is consequently under used. The Park suffers from the following problems:

1. The park feels neglected and rundown, with low quality landscaping in an overgrown and untidy condition.

2. The unkempt nature of the landscaping results in a lack of visual permeability through the Park. As a result, the Park does not take advantage of valuable views around it, towards the Elland Bridge and over the River Calder, for example.

3. The lack of visual permeability makes the Park feel very isolated and closed-off, consequently it relates badly to the rest of Central Elland rather than integrating with it. The Park feels unsafe and disorientating.

4. The paving within the Park is poor and there is no provision for it to be used by cyclists.

5. Access to the Park is very poor, and this compounds the problems of isolation and under-use. The access into the Park from Briggate is extremely to pedestrians and cyclists, being located on a busy road corner, and having very low quality pavements leading into it.

6. The entrances to the Park are inconspicuous, with little indication that there is even a park there.

7. The River Calder, which runs alongside the Park, is an asset that is not being utilised. The river side in the park is neglected and inaccessible.

8. The Park lacks street furniture, high quality landscaping, public art, and other features that would make it an attractive place for people to visit and enjoy spending their time in.

Flood Risk

6.10 The northern boundary, and an area to the north east of this site, are within Flood Zones 2 and 3, as set out by the Environment Agency. Planning applications should therefore be formulated in accordance with the guidance of Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 25: Development and Flood Risk.

6.11 Development Brief

The following development brief should be read alongside Figure 15.

6.12 In order to achieve the development brief objective, the following proposals are made:

1. A proper management plan needs to be implemented to ensure that the Park is consistently maintained in a tidy state.

2. Much of the landscaping needs to be thinned down or completely removed, particularly along the riverside, to open up views to the river and Elland bridge.

3. The paving within the Park should be improved, as should the pathways and lanes leading into the Park from Century Road, and from Briggate and Elland Bridge. The pedestrian crossing and other highways measures discussed in Chapter 5 should be implemented.

4. Part of the the route through the park should be upgraded to permit cycling.

5. The entrances to the park should be enhanced using high quality signs and gates.

6. High quality furniture and street lighting should be introduced to the Park.

7. The Park's landscaping should be enhanced by improving turfed areas and introducing soft landscaping.

8. Public art, such as sculptures, should be installed at strategic locations in the Park.

9. A board walk should be constructed along the riverside to Elland Bridge, with a ramped access up to the main entrance of the Park from Elland Bridge. 

10. A bandstand could also be introduced at a strategic location in the Park.

11. Sympathetically designed and placed CCTV cameras should be installed in the Park.

12. Sufficient car parking should be provided, and any other facilities considered necessary, such as toilets, although structures of this nature should be located to the south west of the site, to ensure they are located in Flood Zone 1.