Valley Gardens is a 1.5km public open space through central Brighton from St Peter’s Church past the Royal Pavilion to the Palace Pier. It’s the historic course of a winterbourne stream which prevented it from being developed with the rest of the city. Instead it became an urban commons, and then a series of promenading gardens from the Pavilion. Until recently this valuable city centre space had become dominated by traffic over pedestrians.
Untitled Practice worked with Urban Movement to redistribute vehicular traffic along the site, reducing carriageways, and introducing cycle routes and new pedestrian paths, to prioritise active travel options, whilst also better connecting up the city across the site. This new accessible infrastructure is set within a remade linear park landscape, which UP describes as a new ‘linked park system’, inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted.
The sequence of spaces through Valley Gardens includes reconstructed garden areas as well as pocket squares at pivotal urban locations, for events. These provide welcome leisure space for city centre residents, workers, students and visitors, in an enhanced landscape environment, improving health and wellbeing. Lawns were re-turfed for better resilience, and meadow margins and perennial planting beds were introduced, along with new trees.
25% less hard surfaces
33% more green park spaces
650m of perennial gardens
33,000 perennial plants
140 new trees
The ‘River of Flowers’ is a linear perennial garden running continuously along the east side of the park, designed with specialist planting designer Nigel Dunnett. It creates a big visual impact, an extended nectar season for pollinators, and boosts biodiversity. The garden is also a major people-magnet, attracting children and adults alike.
Brighton is part of the first UNESCO Urban Biosphere Reserve in the UK and Valley Gardens sits centrally between the terrestrial South Downs and maritime English Channel environments, making its ecological function significant. Brighton is also home to the National Elm Collection, with many veteran elms protected through Valley Gardens, and augmented by new disease resistant species to safeguard their legacy.
“The overall impact and scale of this project is huge. It’s a project of exceptional value to the user and to the city.” AJ Awards Judge
“Our vision at Coast to Capital is to build our economy back stronger, smarter and greener, and Valley Gardens is a fantastic example of how our towns and cities can be enhanced with sustainability in mind.” Jonathan Sharrock, Chief Executive, Coast to Capital (LEP)
“It’s been great to work with Untitled Practice during this fantastic project to transform Valley Gardens. Their landscape expertise has helped to build a space which can be enjoyed by our residents and visitors for years to come.” Tracy Beverley, Senior Project Manager, Transport Projects & Engineering Team, BHCC
“That’s just amazing.” Judy Bloomfield
“Fabulous work – a model for urban planners everywhere.” The Market Gardener
“Such a happy mix of colours. You can’t help but feel good seeing them.” Sarah Pajwani
“Such never ending beauty.” Renee Way
(all from Instagram)
A Surface Design Awards winning project with Urban Movement, Project Centre and Nigel Dunnett for Brighton & Hove City Council, funded by the DfT through the Coast to Capital LEP. Photos by Edward Bishop, Debbie Roberts and Barry Willis. Films by Edward Bishop, and Airview for BHCC.
