Castle Lane in Bedford is an area of archaeological importance within what was the inner bailey of Bedford Castle and an ancient lime kiln. Despite this history it spent more than four decades as a muddy car park full of puddles following clearance for unrealised redevelopment. A Council led public consultation revealed that the community wanted to see eyesores like this removed to demonstrate Bedford’s heritage.

The Council leader’s vision was for a landmark building marking the site as a new place and an expression of the council’s pioneering intent and commitment to placemaking, and a compact, green, sustainable city. The brief also prioritised re-making historic views and pedestrian links across High Street to St Pauls Church and the enhancing of the Conservation Area’s important views of the site when approached from the bridge over the River Ouse. They also wished to include affordable housing and small workshop and office use to make a mixed-use area that responded to local people’s needs.

BFF’s scheme has provided a mixed-use new build development of 108 private flats, eight specialty shops, and three restaurants. Part of the site is within the curtilage of a Scheduled Ancient Monument and six months of archaeological excavations preceded the construction works. The completed scheme includes the Castle Bailey Gardens, a public park which displays the excavated foundations of the original Norman Hall on the site, and an excavated 12th century lime kiln.

Our urban design focused approach reinstated streets: a spatial transformation of the town’s grey wasteland, making a new, popular and active place. Carefully scaled streets have shops and doorways to courtyard spaces, and new mixed tenure dwellings overlook them to make them safe, always alive and active. Our solution redefined and reshaped the area, by giving evidence of the town’s history and origins pride of place in an exemplary, landscaped public realm.

The setting has attracted new businesses, brought new job opportunities and new street level everyday services for local people. BFF’s plan also brings new visitors to the historic riverside remains of the inner walls of Bedford’s former castle and the new restaurants and outside terraces overlooking the archaeological park. All happily co-exist alongside the residential development and the varied mix underpinning the economic regeneration of the new ‘Castle Quay’ quarter as intended.

The completed scheme won the Homes and Communities Academy Places for All Award, recognised as a project that strengthens the community through culture and heritage.