Well-thought through changes to the design and layout of Devizes Market Square have transformed it into an accessible, attractive and functional space. Designed by Colin Davis Associates.
Trade is the lifeblood of market towns. These places exist to serve as a centre for exchange and interaction. Most have a central civic space to serve as the focal point and market, usually at the intersection of the principal streets.
Devizes' triangular market square is a perfect example. It is composed of an assorted collection of buildings of varying ages and qualities, and it serves as the transport interchange for local buses and taxis, with traders and customers drawn together around the central monuments and warmth of local hostelries. Although there is little to alert the visitor to the10 years' dedicated work and careful design that underpins the scheme, it has succeeded in retaining and enhancing the vitality of historic Wiltshire town.
The regeneration of Devizes Market Square was driven by economics. Changing retail patterns and the critical importance of the square to the town’s economy were highlighted by an economic study in 1993. The square successfully adapts to modern transport pressures whilst promoting the civility, charm and informal flexibility that we associate with good public space.
