Granting small businesses a presence in ‘micro-scale retail units’, the shipping container designs bring new business to Caerffili and expand the reach of existing establishments. With external spaces as a hub for residents, the design maximises high-street presence and prioritises pedestrian access.

 

Who is on the project? 

 

Architecture , urban planning, planning, and landscape - Stride Treglown. 

Contractor - Lancer Scott

Mechanical Engineering and Structural Engineering - Arup

Cost Consultant - Currie & Brown.

 

What is the programme and use of the space? How does the project foster community, connect people and contribute to urban life?

 

The shipping container ‘micro-scale retail units’ grant small businesses a presence without the associated upfront costs of fitout, marketing, and property management. This has attracted new business to Caerffili and has allowed existing businesses a second site, expanding their reach and establishing strong, lasting connections within the community. One of the council’s aims for the scheme was to complement the existing commercial offering of the town. As a result, a benchmarking study was undertaken at early stages, to identify the gaps in facilities and commercial offering. The study identified that the Food & Beverage options and small office spaces were limited. The constructed scheme therefore consisted of 17 retail & produce shops, seven food & drink establishments, three office spaces, plus generous outdoor event spaces. The external spaces have been designed with a focus on community engagement, offering a vibrant setting for events that have since become a hub for local residents, with food and drink available well into the evening. These spaces also offer views across the moat to the castle grounds reinforcing the connection between the town and its historic monument. The design maximises high-street presence and prioritises pedestrian access. Ffos Caerffili’s location between the railway station and Caerphilly Castle (the town’s most prominent asset), provides a new pedestrian route to the castle to attract visitors to the town.

 

 How does the community space make a positive social and environmental contribution? 

 

The project’s environmental impact is embedded from the site level, where the decision was made in the early stages to exclude customer parking. This avoids increasing pressure on the already car-dominated town centre. Cycle stands around the site generate connections with the Route 4 National Cycle Route that runs to the north of the site. The main entrance welcomes pedestrians from the high street to Caerphilly castle, encouraging pedestrian and active transport. A wide range of sustainable technologies have been integrated into the design, including Photovoltaics, EV charging, rain gardens, rain planters, permeable paving, green roofs, and a green wall. Each trader’s unit is independently insulated and metered. This means that only spaces in use are heated, reducing operational energy consumption significantly. The individual metering gives traders autonomy over their own energy usage. Energy generated from the photovoltaic cells goes back into the site-wide energy requirements. The client chose to insulate the containers to a higher standard than required by building regulations, achieving a U-value of 1.8W/M2K on all walls, floor and roofs of the containers. This was agreed to be a suitable balance between energy efficiency and reduction in overall unit area. Since opening in April, the market has been widely adopted by local residents and community groups for day-to-day events as well as special occasions. These include Caerphilly Pride, Caerphilly cheese festival, weekly park-run meetups, the community cycling club ride out, family events and activities, planting workshops, craft fairs, business networking, and local school events.

 

Please explain the governance of the project, such as its viability, purpose, motivation and any consultation, co-creation or community engagement undertaken in the development of the community space. 

 

Ffos Caerffili was delivered directly by the local authority, funded through a combination of Welsh transforming towns grant & loan, Shared prosperity fund (SPF) grant, European regional development fund (ERDF) grant, and direct funding from the Local authority (CCBC). The construction costs are not being recovered through the income of the market, which instead are being used to cover its monthly running costs. The council retains ownership of the market, but employs an operator, who is responsible for its day-to-day operation and administration. Prior to the project’s construction, an extensive consultation process was undertaken as part of the Caerphilly 2035 placemaking plan, with a consultation board located in the town’s library for three months. Regular community consultation events were organised at different times of day, to allow residents with a range of schedules and working patterns to talk directly with council representatives, architects, urban designers and planners. This resulted in over 350 residents giving in-person feedback on plans for the town, which shaped the design decisions that led to the final market design. This has resulted in a scheme that provides a home for small businesses to grow, while contributing to a more vibrant, prosperous town. The market was selected as the first delivered project under the masterplan, because it was large enough to act as a catalyst for the town’s development, but also small enough to be deliverable and affordable, without significant outlay to the local authority.