The Doncaster Waterfront development was identified in the 2003 Urban Renaissance Masterplan as an opportunity to regenerate a major area of brownfield land and strengthen connections between the town and waterside. Phase 1 included the two-hectare public realm surrounding Doncaster Education City (DEC), a major new further education college situated on an important gateway site.The brief was to create a high quality, lively, pleasant and safe public realm for use by the College and wider town. Special consideration was needed to balance the requirement of the College, for uncluttered flexible space, with a design intervention that would create a sense of place for a variety of user groups. It was also important that the design scheme complemented and responded to the generous scale of the College building and was able to be appreciated from various elevated vantage points.The quality of the design and materials used was of the utmost importance – as the project aimed to set a benchmark for future development in the area.
