Bank Precinct
2019
The Bank Precinct area forms part of Gateway 1, situated on the eastern side of Gatwick Road in the Green Zone 4.
The area itself was previously dominated by the extensive six-lane highway and littered with hundreds of metres of steel barriers. It made for a dull and uninspiring space that almost designed-out use by people and was more akin to a dual-carriageway.
The design intent was to look at ways to soften the landscape features, to remove as many of the unsightly metal barriers as possible and to introduce green elements along with an element of art in keeping with those found underneath the nearby pedestrian footbridge to make it a more friendly and welcoming space.
The Bank Precinct is found in the Green Zone 4 on the eastern side of Gatwick Road and forms part of Gateway 1 in the south-eastern corner of Manor Royal Business District.
The main creative drive was to reduce the hard, grey and dominant highway feel of the area and to introduce more green elements towards the front of the small Bank Precinct parade. As we journey from the direction of the Hazelwick Flyover the progression of green elements leads up to and culminates in the biggest single green space of Manor Royal – Crawter’s Brook.
Nestled in the new planted area to the front of the commercial units – consisting of new trees, shrubs and hedges – there are two corten art works similar to those found on the underside of the footbridge.
One says, “Green it” and it is a reminder of the changing climate and the need to respect, value and appreciate the
environment and the natural assets around us for the benefit they bring to our health and wellbeing.
The other says “Live it” that speaks to our living planet and, perhaps, an encouragement for us to live our best lives in
harmony with nature and the world around us.
Artist: Allen Scott Landscape Architecture
The Bank Precinct is so called because it used to be the area where the bank originally was. There was a bank here for many years until sometime in the 2000s when the last bank closed as customer habits changed and was replaced by other commercial uses.
