Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council sought design concepts to transform the currently unused public open space at Prescot Market Place in Knowsley, Merseyside.
Prescot’s historic Market Place was once the centre of economic and social life of the town for almost 700 years. The competition sought designs to create a vibrant special space in the town centre which will complement other new developments in the town and make Prescot an even more attractive place for its visitors, residents and businesses.
Selected from 42 entries, five shortlisted teams were selected as follows:
- Blackstaff Architects, Belfast
- Charles Tashima Architecture, London
- Mark Wray Architects, Bath with Seed Landscape.
- OMI Architects, Manchester
- Periscope Studio, London
Mark Wray Architects with Seed Landscaping was selected as the overall winner. The panel felt their winning proposal created a flexible, engaging space for activity to take place. The scheme aims to improve connections to the site of the proposed theatre and St Marys Church and provides places for people to sit and relax in the centre of Prescot.
The new public space opened on 29 November 2019, the space has flexibility for outdoor performances, a covered tent, outdoor dining, food stalls or just as somewhere to sit and relax.