Long Term Plan for Towns: Leigh
Transformative 10 year vision and objectives
Layer.studio played a pivotal role in shaping the Leigh Long Term Plan for Towns, aligning with its vision to create successful places that are the life & soul of communities. Rooted in adaptive and resilient principles, Layer.studio’s expertise in community-led urbanism ensured that the strategy was both context-responsive and future-focused.
Positive Impact driven by a Strong Community Spirit
Driven by a commitment to people, planet, and place, Layer.studio conducted a comprehensive place context appraisal to assess Leigh’s strengths and challenges. A detailed diagnostic revealed key pressures, including pedestrian severance, absentee landlords, and public realm deficiencies, while also identifying strong community spirit and local business potential.
Creative Community engagement and Collaborative Design
Engagement was at the heart of the process, with the team running a five-week public consultation campaign that gathered insights from over 1,500 residents. Through workshops, surveys, and interactive pop-ups, the studio ensured that underrepresented voices were heard, fostering an inclusive, community-owned vision for Leigh.
Creating a Forest amongst Trees
Inspired by Leigh’s rugby heritage and cultural assets, Layer.studio mapped key town “spots” to define a distinctive, place-led vision. This included public space renewal, active travel networks, and heritage activation, ensuring the strategy remained rooted in local identity.
Layer.studio outlined five key interventions, ranging from public realm enhancements and safety initiatives to economic capacity-building and cultural programming. These actions established a clear roadmap for investment and long-term regeneration, reinforcing Layer.studio’s role as a place futurist, shaping resilient and inclusive communities.
