RadioStation Rugby

Project type:	New Settlement
Location:	Rugby, United Kingdom
Client:	Urban&Civic
Stage:	On-site
Programme:	2013 - ongoing

A sustainable, flourishing new community in the birthplace of transatlantic communication

RadioStation will be transformed into a sustainable new urban extension for Rugby, which will be home to more than 15,000 residents, offering opportunities for employment, education, leisure, recreation and community interaction.

A historically important site, RadioStation was formerly at the heart of the nation’s radio communications systems playing a leading role in global communications since the first transmitter was opened in 1926. Framing the neighbourhood square, the C-station on the site has been retained and embedded through its refurbishment and integration as part of a new secondary school. Further helping to embrace and preserve its connection with British history, some of the site’s geometry is driven by the former layout of the communication masts.

Designed around the principles of healthy placemaking and active design, the neighbourhoods will encourage walking and cycling providing formal and informal opportunities to encourage everyone to be physically active. RadioStation is defined by green ecology corridors – natural landscaped wildlife passages between the neighbourhoods – with tree planting, grassland and sustainable urban drainage ponds providing an abundance of natural habitats that support a wide range of native wildlife and ecology, delivering biodiversity net gain.

“

Rugby Radio Station delivers much-needed housing for a growing town as well as being a key driver of local economic growth.

Richard Coppell, Development Director of Urban&Civic

Project Delivery

– The extension will provide over 6,000 homes, four schools and 31 hectares of adaptable employment space, community uses and extensive green space.

– JTP’s masterplan for Key Phase 1 will deliver 600 homes as well as substantial public realm and mixed uses, embedding the new buildings into their setting to create a strong sense of arrival.

– Distinct parcels of housing respond to the different characteristics throughout the site, and are generously arranged to give the neighbourhood a rich diversity.

– A mixed-use hub, converted from the former Dollman Farm, already forms a focal point for the new neighbourhood, accommodating community and commercial activity with offices, exhibition space and a café.

– A network of multifunctional wildlife corridors will preserve the area’s existing population of great crested newts and provide wider biodiversity and recreation opportunities.

– JTP’s Design Guides set a framework for high quality placemaking, and Developer Briefing Packs distil the information into concise guidance for the developers of each parcel.