Evaluation

This significant new civic space extends the pattern of streets and spaces of the surrounding area, fitting seamlessly into adjacent streets and the adjoining Chamberlain Square. While changes in level disconnect the central public space somewhat from facades of enclosing buildings, the area beyond and the 'belvedere' in front of the Town Hall and Council House give easy access to surrounding streets.

Although vehicles still pass two corners of the Square, its quiet atmosphere in contrast to the busy surrounding streets creates a place for meeting, pausing and orientation, and generates a sense of calm. This composure is emphasised by the restrained palette of paving, which refrains from competing with the eclectic and lavish civic architecture aound the Square, including the Grade I listed Town Hall, the Grade II Council House, and the Grade II former Post Office.

The sounds of flowing and falling water effectively mask traffic noise and are a dominant feature of the Square, while surrounding buildings (of between three and eight storeys) give a good sense of enclosure and define the space at the convergence of a distinctly linear network of streets feeding into it from all sides.

Great care has been taken to provide materials and detailing of high quality. The water feature (known locally as 'the floozy in the jacuzzi') and planters are clad in hard fine-grained Derbyshire sandstone from the same quarry as that of the nearby Council House. Extensive areas of clay paving have specific areas denoted by York stone setts and paving slabs. A range of metal and weathered bronze street furniture was designed especially for the scheme.

The volume of people passing through demonstrates that this is a well-linked route, and people sitting, resting, enjoying the sun, studying, reading, eating and drinking, give a sense of the Square's oasis effect. More active uses including rollerblading and skating are testament to the wide appeal of this new hub within the city's open space network. The use of the Square at off-peak times is further proof of its success independent of retail or commercial activity.

Although a pedestrian area, it is well linked to public transport, with buses and taxis running around the edges and the main rail station a 5 minute walk away. Cars are provided for in an unusually integrated solution, with parking in adjoining streets ranging from limited on-street parking to the east, an underground car park approximately 100m away at the end of Chamberlain Street, to well-integrated multi-storey car parks on adjacent streets.