BDP appointed to design 23-mile East Lancs park 

The Super Slow Way is a project aimed at creating a canalside park stretching from Blackburn to Pendle. 

International design practice BDP has been appointed to create a series of thematic landscape strategies and area studies that explore and demonstrate how to unlock the 23-mile stretch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal through the repurposing of disused land and buildings. 

BDP will deliver its design concepts for The Super Slow Way ahead of a community consultation in May 2022. The Super Slow Way is being developed by a joint venture between the Canal & Rivers Trust, Pendle Council, Burnley Council, Hyndburn Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council, UCLan, Creative Lancashire, Lancashire BME Network, Arts Partners Pennine Lancashire and Incredible Edible.

James Millington, director of landscape architecture at BDP, said: “We are very excited to start our work with local stakeholders to create strategies for green infrastructure, lighting and wayfinding and design beautiful landscaping projects that focus on the needs of local people and local places.  

“Our subsequent designs will create beautiful green spaces along the canal that vary in scale and complexity”. 

The stretch of landscaped riverside park will “marry physical improvements to infrastructure and buildings with creative landscape architecture to support expansive programmes of environmental, cultural, leisure, educational and economic activity”, according to BDP. 

BDP’s work will focus on three main strategies: 

• Greening and biodiversity – making the land more productive with healthy by encouraging biodiversity and supporting climate resilience in local communities 
• Lighting and wayfinding – installing lighting and signage to make the area feel safer, and easier to navigate 
• Movement – connecting town centres and neighbourhoods to the canal, improving movement and access to the new park. 

Darrell Wilson, design team lead at BDP, added: “Ours will be an inclusive and integrated design approach that seeks to revitalise neighbourhoods, improve access and safety, enhance biodiversity, increase walking and cycling routes, deliver wider integrated transport systems, and enable commercial growth across this part of Lancashire.”  

The project is part of the Pennine Lancashire Linear Park pilot project delivered by non-profit The Super Slow Way.  

The Pennine Lancashire Linear Park pilot project is funded by the government via the UK Community Renewal Fund.