Harrogate International Centre (3)

Harrogate

Proposal for a new exhibition hall and enhanced entrance. Designed by Archial/SMC Parr.

We also reviewed this scheme on 3 November 2009 and 7 October 2008.

10/00091/RG3MAJ (Exhibition Hall)

We continue to believe that a successful masterplan should be developed for this important site before individual planning applications come forward. The current redevelopment project for the Harrogate International Centre offers an opportunity to improve and reconsider the entire site which, to date, is characterised by a piecemeal approach, an incoherent mix of buildings and a lack of public space. We acknowledge the challenges imposed by the ongoing, intensive conference and exhibition activity and we fully understand the constraints of this site. However, we think that the present approach and the current planning application do neither resolve the inherent problems of the site in terms of providing better exhibition space, nor does the proposed new hall meet the design quality standards required for this site in one of the country’s finest spa towns.

Process

We think that planning consent to individual schemes should not be given until a convincing strategy for the whole site is in place. A comprehensive masterplan document should be prepared to ensure a cohesive, staged development strategy for the future of the centre and Harrogate. At present, the basic principles are not fully thought through, particularly the entrance strategy, circulation across the site and public open spaces, and more clarity is needed on how the centre will be integrated into the town. We feel that the continuing piecemeal approach to this site, apparent in the present planning application, is likely to damage the success of the International Centre and of Harrogate; wrong decisions could hinder and prevent further development and the land value of the site could be affected.

Public space

A clear circulation strategy reflecting the requirements of the International Centre and Harrogate should give easy access to the different elements of the site, the conference facilities and the exhibition halls for example. The restructuring and opening up of the site could create purposeful breakout areas and small public squares. We suggest exploring the potential of the spaces between the buildings in order to use them positively to add delight and pleasure to a conference hold at the Harrogate International Centre. We believe that the space to the south of the proposed exhibition hall could become more than a service yard. These intimate outdoor spaces, offering daylight and fresh air, could create a particularly pleasant character which would set Harrogate apart from other convention centres. The proposal does little to exploit this potential, however.

Design and architecture

With regards to the arguments explained above, we think that this planning application does not resolve the points which the masterplan should address. The proposed exhibition hall is – like most elevations of the International Centre – highly visible from a longer distance, in this case from the grounds of the Majestic Hotel and from Springfield Avenue. We think that the current proposal has not yet achieved the necessary design quality required to live up to Harrogate’s great architectural heritage and more work needs to be done to bring the different buildings, the exhibition halls, Springfield House, the conference centre and the proposed entrance building successfully together. We feel that the material submitted lacks the quality and amount of information required to assess the full impact of this proposal, for example an elevation of the entire Kings Road frontage. We think that a design which clearly stems from the location and its specific needs is required.

Conclusion

We feel that this opportunity should allow for a fundamental and more ambitious rethink of the reorganisation of the International Centre and its relationship to Harrogate. The proposal for a new exhibition hall could potentially be beneficial, but we think that a masterplan is needed which thoroughly assesses how the International Centre sits in the urban context of the town in order to ensure that Harrogate maintains its leading position as one of the country’s most successful conference and exhibition venues.

08/03616/RG3MAJ (Entrance Hall)

We continue to believe that a successful masterplan should be developed for this important site before individual planning applications come forward. The current redevelopment project for the Harrogate International Centre offers an opportunity to improve and reconsider the entire site which, to date, is characterised by a piecemeal approach, an incoherent mix of buildings and a lack of public space. We acknowledge the challenges imposed by the ongoing, intensive conference and exhibition activity and we fully understand the constraints of this site. However, we think that the present approach and the current planning application do neither resolve the inherent problems of the site in terms of access and circulation, nor does the proposed new entrance meet the design quality standards required for this site in one of the country’s finest spa towns.

Process

We think that planning consent to individual schemes should not be given until a convincing strategy for the whole site is in place. A comprehensive masterplan document should be prepared to ensure a cohesive, staged development strategy for the future of the centre and Harrogate. At present, the basic principles are not fully thought through, particularly the entrance strategy, circulation across the site and public open spaces, and more clarity is needed on how the centre will be integrated into the town. We feel that the continuing piecemeal approach to this site, apparent in the present planning application, is likely to damage the success of the International Centre and of Harrogate; wrong decisions could hinder and prevent further development and the land value of the site could be affected.

Access and entrances

On this constrained site, clear routes into and through the conference and exhibition complex are important to make a visit as rewarding and pleasant as possible. The masterplan document would identify how visitors travel between the site, the hotels and the station, for example, and we believe that the position of the main entrance needs to reflect these movement patterns. While an enhanced entrance on King's Road could potentially be positive, we think thought should be given to how the site might be accessed in the future. Supported by the layout of the existing buildings, a campus feel could be created which suggests a number of different entrances from Kings Road and Ripon Road. We think that this configuration would have the potential to draw more people in, to structure the site and to establish a welcoming and open atmosphere which also ties well in with the urban context of Harrogate; legibility and simple access are crucial for the success of the International Centre.

Design and architecture

With regards to the arguments explained above, we think that this planning application does not resolve the points which the masterplan should address. The elevation onto Kings Road is the centre’s main public frontage and we believe that it should be designed with particular care. The current proposal has not yet achieved the necessary design quality and more work needs to be done to bring the different buildings, the exhibition halls, Springfield House, the conference centre and the proposed entrance building successfully together. The proposed entrance answers a simple pragmatic need, but it should go further than that and be designed to invite and delight. In our opinion, this elevation offers the opportunity to give the International Centre individual character and personality and we think that a design which clearly stems from the location and its specific needs is required. We feel that the material submitted lacks the quality and amount of information required to assess the full impact of this proposal, for example an elevation of the entire Kings Road frontage, and we do not believe that the proposal has reached the quality standards required to live up to Harrogate’s great architectural heritage.

Conclusion

We feel that this opportunity should allow for a fundamental and more ambitious rethink of the reorganisation of the International Centre and its relationship to Harrogate. The proposal to enhance the design of the entrance could potentially be beneficial, but we think that a masterplan is needed which thoroughly assesses how the International Centre sits in the urban context of the town in order to ensure that Harrogate maintains its leading position as one of the country’s most successful conference and exhibition venues.

09/04424/RG3MAJ (Exhibition Hall)

We continue to believe that a successful masterplan should be developed for this important site before individual planning applications come forward. The current redevelopment project for the Harrogate International Centre offers an opportunity to improve and reconsider the entire site which, to date, is characterised by a piecemeal approach, an incoherent mix of buildings and a lack of public space. We acknowledge the challenges imposed by the ongoing, intensive conference and exhibition activity and we fully understand the constraints of this site. However, we think that the present approach and the current planning application do neither resolve the inherent problems of the site in terms of providing better exhibition space, nor does the proposed new hall meet the design quality standards required for this site in one of the country’s finest spa towns.

Process

We think that planning consent to individual schemes should not be given until a convincing strategy for the whole site is in place. A comprehensive masterplan document should be prepared to ensure a cohesive, staged development strategy for the future of the centre and Harrogate. At present, the basic principles are not fully thought through, particularly the entrance strategy, circulation across the site and public open spaces, and more clarity is needed on how the centre will be integrated into the town. We feel that the continuing piecemeal approach to this site, apparent in the present planning application, is likely to damage the success of the International Centre and of Harrogate; wrong decisions could hinder and prevent further development and the land value of the site could be affected.

Public space

A clear circulation strategy reflecting the requirements of the International Centre and Harrogate should give easy access to the different elements of the site, the conference facilities and the exhibition halls for example. The restructuring and opening up of the site could create purposeful breakout areas and small public squares. We suggest exploring the potential of the spaces between the buildings in order to use them positively to add delight and pleasure to a conference hold at the Harrogate International Centre. We believe that the space to the south of the proposed exhibition hall could become more than a service yard. These intimate outdoor spaces, offering daylight and fresh air, could create a particularly pleasant character which would set Harrogate apart from other convention centres. The proposal does little to exploit this potential, however.

Design and architecture

With regards to the arguments explained above, we think that this planning application does not resolve the points which the masterplan should address. The proposed exhibition hall is – like most elevations of the International Centre – highly visible from a longer distance, in this case from the grounds of the Majestic Hotel and from Springfield Avenue. We think that the current proposal has not yet achieved the necessary design quality required to live up to Harrogate’s great architectural heritage and more work needs to be done to bring the different buildings, the exhibition halls, Springfield House, the conference centre and the proposed entrance building successfully together. We feel that the material submitted lacks the quality and amount of information required to assess the full impact of this proposal, for example an elevation of the entire Kings Road frontage. We think that a design which clearly stems from the location and its specific needs is required.

Conclusion

We feel that this opportunity should allow for a fundamental and more ambitious rethink of the reorganisation of the International Centre and its relationship to Harrogate. The proposal for a new exhibition hall could potentially be beneficial, but we think that a masterplan is needed which thoroughly assesses how the International Centre sits in the urban context of the town in order to ensure that Harrogate maintains its leading position as one of the country’s most successful conference and exhibition venues.