Design Review helped shape a new civic leisure centre for Trowbridge, strengthening its relationship with the town centre, River Biss and surrounding streets.
The Scheme
The new leisure centre will provide a 21st-century, sustainable facility for the local community and a new water space. The challenging site was dominated by surface parking and highway space, with Bythesea Road separating it from the Town Hall and historic town centre.
Design Review
Design West reviewed the scheme three times before planning submission, providing an opportunity for the applicant and design team to test and refine the proposals as they developed.
The Panel focused on active travel, the building’s entrance and relationship with its surroundings, landscape and connections, the building’s architectural character, and sustainability.
The Panel’s Recommendations
The Panel’s advice focused on:
- prioritising walking and cycling;
- strengthening the entrance and connections around the building;
- improving the relationship between the building, landscape and River Biss;
- developing a stronger civic character; and
- increasing sustainability and future connectivity.
Impact
The scheme was approved at planning committee in December 2024, and construction is now underway.
The design evolved significantly through the three reviews, with the design team responding positively to the Panel’s advice.
The Value of Design Review
Three reviews before planning submission allowed the scheme to evolve quickly and respond to constructive challenge at key stages of design development.
The applicant’s strong civic ambition and the design team’s willingness to engage with Design Review helped strengthen the building’s relationship with its context, improve connections and raise its sustainability ambitions.
Trowbridge Leisure Centre demonstrates the value of early, iterative Design Review in turning a strong vision into a more considered and deliverable scheme.
Photo credit: Wiltshire Council