S3 Ep5: Jorge Mendonça and Gavin Murray | Gascoyne Estates - giving Old Hatfield a new heart
S3 Ep5: Jorge Mendonça and Gavin Murray | Gascoyne Estates - giving Old Hatfield a new heart
Gascoyne Estates’ CEO Jorge Mendonça and architect Gavin Murray reveal how they and their teams turned a tired town square into a beautiful and vibrant space, in the latest episode of the Estate Matters podcast.
Salisbury Square at the centre of Old Hatfield in Hertfordshire was, by common agreement, “unloved and unsuccessful.” It recently reopened after a major improvement scheme to widespread praise from people in the community and further afield.
New homes, offices and shops, along with a beautiful public space at the heart of the development, were delivered. A consultation, via a charrette held at the very start of the process, ensured the local community was fully engaged.
Jorge said the secret to delivering the scheme on time and on budget was nailing down the scope from the start and sticking to the plan. “Projects always go awry when you make changes part-way through,” he says.
The episode also highlights the importance of taking the community with you when you embark on a major development project so that on completion you can hand it back to local people and businesses and watch it flourish and grow.