Another Victory For Nelson

Trafalgar Square has won a coveted Civic Trust Award. The World Squares for All (WSFA) project team was the winner in the new Hard Landscaping category.

The re-modelling of Trafalgar Square, took some 18 months to complete and included the pedestrianisation of the northern terrace, in front of the National Gallery, building new steps down to the square, implementing a new traffic scheme, enhancing the Charles 1 island including new pedestrian crossings, and the introduction of new lighting, street furniture and general landscaping to the whole area.

The project team, comprising Transport for London, Atkins, Foster and Partners, TPS Schal, Fitzpatrick and Davis Langdon and Everest, used creative and practical hard landscaping solutions that incorporated sustainable materials and, where possible, used traditional craftsmen.

The redevelopment of a heritage site meant that there was a sympathetic use of materials, such as York stone and Cornish granite, which were both durable and practical.The WSFA project was commended for the positive impact the development has had on the community.

The new Hard Landscaping award, sponsored by Charcon, shows appreciation of good landscaping design with the recognition of schemes that positively relate to their settings and the people they serve.

One of the unique features of the Civic Awards is that the team includes the views of a local advisor someone who live or works in the area but is not professionally connected to the project.

The advisor ascertained the opinions of the local community and advised the team accordingly.

This distinguishing feature underlines the value the Awards place on the views of the local community.

On winning the award, Graham Nash, TPS Schal's project manager, stated: "The award positively encourages sensitive development and we are delighted to have won.

We are pleased that through the collaborative effort of the client and project team we have been able to sympathetically redevelop Trafalgar Square, which is one of the UK's best-known landmarks.".

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