A creative and economic hub that encourages innovation and collaboration

In December 2017, the final livestock sale was held at the Liskeard Cattle Market, creating an opportunity to rethink the future of this key site in the heart of the town. With strong support from the local community for revitalisation, the vision for the cattle market creates new economically active spaces that support and complement the town centre with a mix of uses including community employment, business and enterprise, arts and culture.

With the site’s prime location in the town centre, the ambitious regeneration enhances and celebrates Liskeard’s prosperous Cornish market town heritage to create flexible public space for markets, events, and other activities. The positive acknowledgment of the town’s heritage is manifested in the design including simple building forms with pitched roofs. A stepped façade of three blocks will establish a sense of arrival and active frontages, whilst still maintaining a dialogue with adjacent spaces and buildings.

The material palette has been chosen in relation to the site’s former use as a cattle market featuring a robust façade of corrugated zinc and blonde timber walls to create a durable exterior and one that seeks a recognisable connection to site’s historic past.

Located to the east of the site, closest to the town centre, JTP were commissioned as architects for Phase 1, the first of three key phases for the delivery of the masterplan. Phase 1 comprises a new creative workspace hub providing 17 flexible units aimed at Cornwall’s booming digital and creative industries sectors and medium sized enterprises, a new marketplace, a market canopy and generous public realm.

Improved and protected valuable green spaces in and around Liskeard will be supported by better walking and cycling routes that connect to surrounding neighbourhoods.

Grounded with an ethos for Equality and Diversity, the proposal aims to create a place for all ages and backgrounds to come together and interact as a community. By enhancing connectivity, celebrating heritage and being bold, the proposal strives to achieve social, economic and environmental sustainability. This ethos is embedded within a wider vision: to Remember, Re-imagine and Redefine Liskeard in order to meet its current and future needs.

Community engagement has been central to the planning and design process. The ongoing dialogue ensured the aspirations of the community were at the heart of the proposals for the creation of The Workshed.