Fort William Town Centre | A concept for future growth- past planning decisions have left the town disconnected from the waterfront
- A82 currently creates a strong, negative visual and physical barrier
- access to waterfront area very limited and not pedestrian friendly
- only one safe access across A82 to waterside at town centre area
- much of the town centre has 'turned its back' to Loch Linnhe
- development potential within the town centre is perceived as limited
- opportunities to enhance the brand 'outdoor capital of uk' limited
- use of land beyond existing town centre risks diluting the historic centre
- buildings from the 1960's and 1970's contribute little to the town
The Opportunities:
- reinforce the existing historic town centre
- reclaim part of the water frontage for human activity
- allow part of the town centre to address Loch Linnhe
- create a sustainable development within the existing town centre edges
- create a vibrant mixed development to replace existing facilities and provide new
- outdoor towns such as Keswick and Ambleside are useful models
- retain sites beyond town centre for complimentary uses eg supermarket, industrial, education, hospital, diy / garden centre retail
Concepts for site:
- demolish all poor quality 'modern' buildings
- reinstate retail high street
- build along A82 to provide set back landscaped pedestrian frontage
- provide residential accommodation at higher level facing over loch linnhe
- avoid visual intrusion of car parking by placing it underground
- maintain the necessary services to the rear of the high street, again underground
- provide a mixed development that will include the following:
- retail, mixed but centred around outdoor activities
- restaurants, cafes, leisure
- offices including council accommodation
- hotel, 120 bed
- library, to replace existing
- residential, new apartments providing a mix of tenures for private, affordable and holiday let
- by removing poor quality buildings and rebuilding on effectively brown field land, the development has sustainable credentials
- architectural and urban design treatments that are more sympathetic to the sense of place
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