Briefing Paper to the Riverside Area Committee
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Briefing Paper to the Riverside Area Committee Wards: Newington and Gypsyville, 11 th September 2020 St Andrews and Docklands, Drypool Riverside Regeneration Projects Briefing Paper of the Assistant Director, Major Projects and Infrastructure 1. Purpose of the Paper and Summary The purpose of this briefing paper is to update Members of Riverside Area Committee on the regeneration projects delivered by the Major Projects & Infrastructure Team. 2. Background 2.1 Regeneration activities across the city are focused in the Council’s priority renewal areas. These areas include Newington and St Andrew’s, the Holderness Road Corridor, Orchard Park and North Bransholme. 2.2 This briefing paper outlines the progress made within the Riverside area, including an update on developments currently on site and new programmes being brought forward as a result of successful funding bids. 3. Issues for Consideration City Centre & Gateways Albion Square 3.1 The asbestos removal works are now complete with residual asbestos content still present within structural elements of the building. Detailed structural survey investigatory works have been undertaken to inform on the condition of the mural and the anticipated life expectancy of the overall structure. In addition to this further asbestos surveys have been undertaken to better inform the costs associated with the potential demolition works, should this be the route that is agreed. The overarching report around structural integrity of the mural, demolition methodology and option appraisals is expected mid-September. The Asbestos Risk does not change. 3.2 Work continues with the contractor to develop firm costs for the scheme with a number of design options under review regarding the potential outcomes for the future of the mural. Scenario based cost options are under development to inform the overall scheme, taking into account the mural remaining in place or to be demolished. 3.3 Stakeholder engagement continues with Strata and Home Group to progress the residential offering. MP&I have now received an updated offer from Home Group for the residential units in Blocks B1 & B2, including the commercial spaces. Strata have recently submitted indicative plans for the residential development on Albion Street which are to be presented to HCC Planning for initial comments. A63 Castle Street improvements – Princes Quay Bridge and Roger Millward Way 3.4 Highways England have formally consulted the Council, as Local Planning Authority, with regards to several elements of the scheme, including for example Archaeology, Trinity Burial Ground, Landscaping and High Street. The decision on these aspects is ultimately determined by Department for Transport. 3.5 Initial site clearance works have commenced at Lister Street, ahead of the construction of a new access road from Spruce Road to Lister Street. 3.6 Trinity Burial Ground – a significant number of trees have been cleared from the site; sheet piles forming the alignment of the new slip road are being installed. 3.7 Works within the Holiday Inn site and Kingston Retail Park and at High Street will also get underway within the next month. Cruise Hull & Yorkshire 3.8 The COVID-19 virus has impacted the project programme, however the first operational season for the new port remains 2024. The planned hydrodynamics study reported two months later than expected due to the furloughed workforce. The Detailed Stage of Dialogue with the prospective commercial partner will resume in August where the latest design solutions will be presented. Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City 3.9 Following the successful Round two National Lottery Heritage Fund (NHLF) bid for £13.6m The NLHF have issued a staged Permission to Start which allows us to draw down funding until the end of September. After initial delays the team have been working effectively during the C-19 crisis and the construction and engineering designs are complete for the historic ships along with the Hull Maritime Museum and Dock Office Chambers. The Whale Skeleton removal and restoration tender was issued on the 27 July and at the time of writing was awaiting assessment with a good response. The Historic Ships tender was issued on the 11 August following market testing and a well-attended virtual workshop and is due back on the 9 Sept. The tender for the restoration and refurbishment of the Hull Maritime Museum and Dock Office Chambers was issued on the 19 August and is due back on the 28 September. 3.10 Documentation and assessment of the reserve collection continues, with detailed audits. 3.11 The detailed activity plan working with the communities, schools, colleges with other institutions and partners have been reviewed given the impact C-19 has had and continues to have. The team have discussed in detail our plans with the NLHF who were impressed with our developed response and we are working up those plans now. We have put a number on activities online and have reprogrammed others to achieve our contracted outputs. We are working with Princes Quay to put on the first temporary display in the near future. Queens Gardens 3.12 Design of a new sub-station to provide increased power capacity within the gardens is progressing well. The Arts Consultant has produced a writer’s brief for the text/ poetry which will be incorporated in to the cladding of the building. A writer will develop the text as part of the ‘Humber Mouth’ festival. Options for cladding of the building are with QS to provide indications of cost. 3.13 A concept design for an additional piece of art work for the central area of the gardens has been produced, which complements the piece designed for the ‘peace garden’ area. 3.14 A condition survey of the Rose Bowl fountain has been completed. A specification for its refurbishment has been produced and has been sent to the QS for costing. The works include repairs to the stonework and copper lining of the central fountain bowl, electrical upgrade to re-introduce the original timing sequence of the formation of the fountains, upgrading the liner of the outer bowl and improvements to the lighting scheme so that the colours can be changed. A visualisation of how the fountain will look following its refurbishment has been commissioned. 3.15 The size, shape and location of interpretation panels has been agreed. Images from Heinrich and Palmer will be included on each panel, which will be finalised once 3D scanning of items in the Maritime Museum has been completed. Coordination between the artists and interpretation designers is ongoing. Guildhall Greenwich Time Ball 3.16 The tender for the Principal Contractor has closed and the bids received are now being reviewed and scored. 3.17 The manufacturer of the time ball mechanism has recommenced following the reopening of the contractors workshop following lockdown. The mechanism is almost ready for its 12 week testing period, which needs to be undertaken in preparation for its installation. 3.18 The Schools & Community Learning Officer is using the project’s social media pages to engage people and raise the profile of the project. The officer has also worked with the Engagement Officer on the Pearson Park project to undertake craft workshops in the park to raise awareness of the Time Ball project. 3.19 The Trainee Clock Technician is now in post and is developing a working model of the time ball for the Learning Officer to use at engagement events. Old Town Regeneration Hull Old Town Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) 3.20 Options are being developed to inform a Highways England funding bid for the South Blockhouse site. Proposals are currently being refined to ensure that awareness of a key part of the Old Town’s heritage can be raised whilst retaining full flexibility to accommodate development related to the Hull Cruise Terminal. 3.21 The Humber High Street Challenge Fund project is progressing in all local authority areas, and following a review with the funder, the scope of the scheme has been widened to allow local authorities to fund COVID-19 related capital investment in their target high street areas in order ensure economic regeneration objectives are fully met. The scheme remains fully committed to delivering targeted improvements, with the first grant being awarded to deliver business expansion on Silver Street in July 2020. A further two grant applications for proposals on Whitefriargate are currently under assessment. 3.22 Historic England has confirmed that the Council has been successful in its High Street Heritage Action Zone bid for up to £1.75m funding and both parties have entered into a formal funding agreement. Tenders for conservation design services and evaluation services have been prepared to allow the scheme to commence delivery promptly. The scheme includes a community engagement programme which is being updated to ensure that heritage activities can be delivered in a COVID-19 safe manner. 3.23 The Council submitted its large scale Future High Street Fund bid to the government in June 2020. An announcement on the outcome of the £20m bid is expected by Autumn 2020. Fruit Market 3.24 The COVID-19 virus impact on tenants of the FMLLP is monitored by the Council and Wykeland Beal. To mitigate the close down in trade the FMLLP has worked very closely with tenants. Many restaurants developed take away/click and collect offers. Currently all tenants are making a recovery with the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme boosting trade mid-week. A temporary car park is now open on land near the lock gate which has had a positive effect on trading boosting turnover. Construction on site B Arco headquarters and the multi-storey car park is progressing to programme and should complete in early Dec 2020. 3.25 Construction has commenced on site for the new Arco headquarters and mulit- storey car park, the completion date is the 9 th October 2020.