Scheme

The Brocklesby Estate are bringing forward plans for a new 1,500-home neighbourhood at Weelsby Park through the Local Plan process. The team has been working with local students to support learning and gather ideas for the future of the area. The proposals for Weelsby Park include new homes, community facilities, green spaces, and support for local services such as schools and roads.

The plans are being developed to respect the local area, connect with Weelsby Woods, maintain a clear boundary between town and countryside, and provide more public access to natural green space.

Strategy

A public consultation took place in February, receiving more than 360 responses from residents. Alongside this, The Brocklesby Estate worked with Beacon Academy to deliver workshops introducing students to planning, design and the built environment.

The sessions encouraged students to think about how places are created and what makes public spaces feel safe and welcoming. They also gave students the opportunity to share ideas for the green spaces that could form part of Weelsby Park.

Questions were also asked about safety, accessibility and feelings of belonging within spaces. Students shared their ideas about why they might be drawn to certain places or areas they might avoid, exploring what could be done to improve the equitability of open space.

Pupils who were engaged were in year 8 but had chosen geography as a GCSE. This started to set the scheme, leading into their curriculum for the following year where they will explore urban growth across the UK and the globe.
Within the session pupils also heard about possible careers within the built environment sector and were encourage do present their ideas considering specific disciples. This included explaining how an ecologist, a transport planner or a builder might explain their ideas for the public open space and parks, drawing on what might be important to each role.

Outcome

The feedback showed that young people want green spaces that are flexible, inclusive and social, with places for activity, nature, seating and relaxation.

Weelsby Park is about more than delivering new homes. It is about creating a place that feels connected to the local area and provides lasting benefits for the wider community.  Working with Beacon Academy has allowed the team to hear directly from young people about the kinds of places they want to see in the future.  Their ideas show the importance of creating green spaces that are safe, inclusive, active and connected to nature. That feedback will help inform the proposals as they continue to develop.