A development strategy for the Hiraethog area October 2014 A development strategy for the Hiraethog area October 2014 Acknowledgements We would like to offer our thanks to all those interviewed as part of the development of this strategy who gave their time so willingly and answered our questions in such detail. This report would not have been possible without their contributions. Report written by: Endaf Griffiths Dr Lowri Wynn Charlotte Ellis Charlie Falzon Version: Final report Date: October 2014 Client contact: Silas Jones, Cadwyn Clwyd t: 01824 705802| e: [email protected] Page | 1 A development strategy for the Hiraethog area October 2014 Contents Synopsis ........................................................................................................................... 3 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 11 2. The area and the current situation ........................................................................... 12 2.1. Overview ................................................................................................................... 12 2.2. Socio economic profile .............................................................................................. 14 2.3. Landscape and biodiversity baseline and issues analysis ......................................... 33 3. Needs in the area: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats ....................... 37 3.1. Introduction............................................................................................................... 37 3.2. SWOT analysis summary table .................................................................................. 39 3.3. Strengths ................................................................................................................... 40 3.4. Weaknesses ............................................................................................................... 46 3.5. Opportunities ............................................................................................................ 53 3.6. Threats ....................................................................................................................... 56 4. Strategic context ..................................................................................................... 59 4.1. Introduction............................................................................................................... 59 4.2. Local Authority Single Integrated Plans .................................................................... 59 4.3. Destination management plans ................................................................................ 62 4.4. Denbighshire Destination Management Plan ........................................................... 63 4.5. North Wales economic ambition: a strategy for change .......................................... 64 4.6. Rural Development Programme for Wales 2014-2020 ............................................. 66 4.7. Structural Funds 2014-2020 ...................................................................................... 66 5. Strategy & action plan ............................................................................................. 69 5.1. Introduction............................................................................................................... 69 5.2. Aim ............................................................................................................................ 70 5.3. Objectives .................................................................................................................. 70 5.4. Actions ....................................................................................................................... 71 5.5. Delivering the strategy .............................................................................................. 94 6. Outline monitoring framework ................................................................................ 96 Appendix 1: Landscape and biodiversity baseline issues analysis ..................................... 99 Appendix 2: discussion guide used for stakeholder interviews ...................................... 126 Appendix 3: Proposed RDP for Wales 2014-2020 schemes ............................................. 131 Appendix 4: References and bibliography ..................................................................... 134 Page | 2 A development strategy for the Hiraethog area October 2014 Synopsis Introduction This report sets out a development strategy for the economic and community regeneration of Hiraethog, a large rural, upland area straddling the borders of Conwy and Denbighshire in North Wales. The development of the strategy was commissioned by Cadwyn Clwyd and the Conwy Rural Local Action Group, acting on behalf of a consortium of local organisations. It was funded by the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is financed by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) with additional funding being provided by Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council. The work was undertaken by the research and evaluation company Wavehill during July, August and September 2014. Needs of the area: SWOT analysis The needs of the area were assessed using a SWOT analysis framework, the key findings of which are noted in the table below. The analysis drew upon a review of the statistics for the area (Section 2), previous research and with interviews with 79 local stakeholders from the area (Section 3). Page | 3 A development strategy for the Hiraethog area October 2014 Strengths Weaknesses Things over which the strategy / action plan can have some influence A place to live A place to live A safe place Rurality – distance from key services and Community spirit / participation poor transport infrastructure (affecting Welsh language some groups in particular) Lifestyle / peace and tranquillity Lack of affordable housing Location / transport links General high cost of living Poor digital infrastructure Economy Varied economy (for a rural area) Economy A few major / key employers Dependency on agriculture, tourism and Quality tourism product public sector Strong agricultural sector Lack of clear identity (branding) Environment & landscape Environment & landscape Quality natural environment Lack of access to / utilisation Leisure activities - a variety of potential uses (walking, cycling, fishing, etc.) Culture & heritage Cultural divides (impact on community Culture & heritage participation) High proportion of Welsh speakers / Welsh identity Opportunities Threats Things that the strategy / action-plan may seek to mitigate or take advantage of A place to live A place to live Availability of support that will ‘empower’ Aging population the local community Public sector cuts Housing shortage Economy Availability of funding for business Economy collaboration Public sector cuts Availability of funding for farm Decline in town centre retail diversification Environment & landscape Environment & landscape Wind-farms Increasing demand for outdoor pursuits Potential to produce renewable energy Culture & heritage Declining number of Welsh speakers Culture & heritage Increasing interest in / awareness of culture and heritage as tourism products Page | 4 A development strategy for the Hiraethog area October 2014 Aim & objectives A strategy is basically a high level plan which has been devised to achieve a specified goal. In this instance, the strategy has three levels as described below: The aim is the ultimate ambition of the strategy (sometimes called a vision); this is what we are seeking to achieve Aim – the impact that we want to have; The objectives sit beneath the vision and describe what needs to be Objectives achieved in order to achieve the vision; The actions then describe what will be done in order that each of those aims Actions are achieved – the activities that will be undertaken. The aim of this strategy is to: Sustain and developed Hiraethog as a place where people want to and are able to live, work and play utilising and sustaining the areas unique natural environment, landscape, heritage and culture. The objectives of the strategy are: Objective 1 To sustain and develop Hiraethog as a place where people want to and are able to live Objective 2 To sustain, develop and increase the value of Hiraethog as a place where economic activity takes place Objective 3 To utilise, sustain and develop the high quality natural environment and landscape of the area Objective 4 To sustain and utilise the culture and heritage of the Hiraethog area Objective 5 To develop Hiraethog as a place where people undertake leisure and recreational activities This is an ‘integrated strategy’. Each of the objectives overlap and are dependent to a large extent on the other. For example, developing Hiraethog as a location where leisure and recreational activities is a critical part of sustaining the area as a place where economic activity takes place. And, sustaining and developing the high quality natural environment is critical if Hiraethog is to develop as a location where recreational activities can take place. These objectives should not, therefore, be seen in isolation from each other – they are mutually supportive and all need to be achieved for this strategy to be successful. Page | 5 A development