Sefton National Model Design Code Pilot

Hyas provided support to Sefton Council in successfully bidding to become one of the Governments National Model Design Code pilot projects. The project focused on Bootle, where an Area Action Plan is being prepared, to help regenerate the town centre and its environs. Following the successful bid outcome, Hyas were appointed to lead on and co-ordinate the code implementation, partnered with Optimised Environments (urban designers) and BE Group (deliverability).

The project involved extensive stakeholder and community engagement, including multiple workshops using virtual technology such as Menti, as well as more traditional drop in sessions. Our team worked closely with Council officers to capture engagement feedback, in order to inform the preparation of a design led vision for the Bootle Area – based on the components of sustainable places. Through agreement with the client, our work then focussed on producing an area guidance for the Trent and Mersey canal corridor – recognising it as a major placemaking feature and area of change for the town centre. This involved undertaking a character analysis of the canal corridor, with OPEN then developing a design coding toolkit, demonstrating and illustrating a potential approach to design coding in central Bootle, relevant to the specific regeneration and design challenges and opportunities faced by the town and its communities.

“Hyas support to stakeholder and community engagement was excellent, bringing lively and innovative approaches, that encouraged positive discussion and outcomes. Hyas took a very supportive, organised and proactive approach to delivering the code on time and in budget, with high quality outcomes” Derek McKenzie, Chief Planning Officer, Sefton Council