Shad Hub

Description

Identity Consult were appointed as Employer’s Agent and Project Managers in April 2013 for this mixed housing and commercial scheme aiming to regenerate the highly deprived Shadsworth estate in Blackburn.

The project aimed to refresh and centralise key amenities whilst providing a centre from which community activities and initiatives could be operated, bringing much needed regeneration as well as employment opportunities to the area. The new ‘hub’ includes a community centre and four separate retail units. Identity Consult coordinated discussions between Together Housing Group, the design team, main contract and large commercial retailer in order to ensure that one of the retail units was designed to their required design specifications and delivered in the required timescales.

Despite some tough challenges, including the loss of Lottery funding and planning requirements for the scheme to be phased in a manner which saw the completion of the new retail facility prior to demolition of the existing units. The Shadsworth Regeneration project saw a successful completion during May 2017 with the completion of both houses and the official opening of the impressive new community hub.

Since opening, the community hub is thriving with all retail units now occupied and the Community Centre itself in full operation providing various services to the community including the teaching of cooking skills and providing access to educational courses for all age groups.