Public service: state of transformation case studies : reawakening the historic 10 capital of the Fens Wisbech: reawakening the historic capital of the Fens

l Years of underinvestment l Innovative flood modelling and neglect had left ancient proposal receives finance town with uncertain future from the Dutch Government l Garden town proposal could stabilise need for homes while boosting economy 10 and environment

To put this into perspective; Wisbech, was refurbished and became the What is with all its associated problems, thriving and profitable Queen Mary is home to one in four Fenlanders, Centre. In 2017, it was home to the context? around 31,500 people... 72 community groups and had The inland port of Wisbech is widely 48,000 visitors. known as the Capital of the Fens. Renowned for its elegant Georgian In order to increase residents’ architecture, history and traditions, What’s the story? employability, the community centre its reputation in recent years was Finally, enough was enough. now holds a weekly Job Café of a town on the way down. The political leaders of Fenland and an annual jobs and skills fair. District Council and Years of chronic underinvestment County Council, plus local MP In an effort to raise students’ in road and rail meant Wisbech Stephen Barclay, could all see aspiration and attainment, Anglian and its residents were becoming the challenges facing Wisbech. Water began supporting the Thomas cut off socially and economically. Their call for change was launched Clarkson Academy and the College The 2015 Index of Multiple in January 2013 with The Vision of West Anglia. It launched two Deprivation had Wisbech as the project. It called on the public new courses in construction and 80th most deprived local authority and private sectors to be united engineering. In 2016/17 the academy area from 326 local authorities. by ‘a passion to deliver a prosperous reached the government’s ‘floor future’ and to think differently to target level’ for the first time. From The market town – the largest make it work. The Vision would later the courses’ first cohort, 14 people in the UK without a railway station become the Wisbech 2020 Vision. found employment with Anglian – had a seven-year lower life or the Alliance businesses. expectancy compared to Cambridge Anglian Water was among the first just 40 miles away. It had high to join the partnership. The water The major focus was uniting levels of smoking and poor health. company became a driving force Wisbech with the growth areas Its transient population meant it had early on and in 2013, through a of and Cambridge. associated housing issues, while Business in the Community initiative, An Infrastructure for Growth group properties in Wisbech’s high street established their ‘business connector’ looked at reconnecting the rail had been boarded up or left empty Russell Beal, a senior manager, in network and road improvements. This for over 30 years. Changes within the town. In support, Anglian Water led to a community consultation on local industry had created high levels also created a steering group – The @ Wisbech beyond 2020. David Rudlin, of unemployment and four out of ten one Alliance – which brought together a planner and director of Urbanism pensioners relied on limited public their first-tier suppliers. This saw that Environment and Design, created transport for mobility. If that wasn’t a long-term project was underwritten a garden town proposal to deliver bad enough, it was ranked 6th worst with the Wisbech community. Their up to 12,000 homes. for social mobility nationwide. first step on the ground was to speak Finally, with educational attainment and listen to residents. Anglian, the Environment Agency, the way below the national average, local authorities and other agencies, more than a third of the population Their first success involved securing are looking at a new approach to lacked qualifications. a lease on a disused school with local flood modelling, where a garden charity the Ferry Project. The building

Public service: state of transformation 2018 Report from the public service transformation academy 01 town can be climate-resilient, with at its centre. Work is also being The Greater Cambridge Greater blue and green infrastructure – water done to increase engagement with Peterborough Local Enterprise and trees, parks etc – at its heart, businesses and restore the image Partnership has also offered financial supporting the existing town and of Wisbech as the proud economic support for the QMC’s Job Café. the new homes development. and social capital of the Fens. In 2016, a £40,000 LEP grant saw the centre help 928 unemployed The use of the new consultative flood Further momentum has seen people with their search for model, a first in the UK, has also the rail link included in the County employment. Of these people, attracted financial support from Transport Plan and Network Rail 580 became work ready, and 147 the Dutch Government. This work is about to begin its third stage found jobs. In 2017, on the back underpins the development of a full assessment. The Cambridge of 2016’s success, the LEP awarded garden town proposal. and Peterborough combined a further grant of £50,000. authority has funded £6.5 million behind the garden town proposal, with flood modelling underway What has Who are the key financed by the Dutch Government. been learned? partners? Between June 2014 and 2017, A collaborative approach between Council, Wisbech was part of Business public, private, charity and Cambridgeshire County Council, in the Community’s national Healthy community sectors has been Cambridge and Peterborough High Streets programme. It was instrumental in delivering progress. combined authority, the Local a national initiative to connect Enterprise Partnership, Anglian business and local authorities to For Anglian, the company gained Water, Barhale, Balfour Beatty, increase footfall, new jobs and insider knowledge of grass roots’ Sweco, Public Sewer Services, reduce empty units. This scheme needs. A spokesperson said: Morrison Utility Services, Kier and the lessons taken from the ‘Having the resources and the Group, Skanska, MWH, Claret business connector experience has experience to give practical Civil Engineering Ltd, Danaher now evolved into Business in the support, we feel as if we’re the and Walsh Group, Clancy Docwra, Community’s Pride of Place initiative. ones who can unlock private sector Mott MacDonald Bentley, Cognizant, engagement, funding and cross- Atos, CSC, Allmi, Capgemini, sector collaboration.’ Business in the Community, the Environment Agency, Ferry What have been ‘We’ve brought in and committed Project, Dutch Government, all our supply chain to work with residents of Wisbech. the key elements community groups in Wisbech, where confidence and improvement of success? is gathering momentum. As a result, Anglian Water’s Business Connector we’ve committed our long-term has been integral to Wisbech’s engagement. For us it shows real What has been rejuvenation. During his three-year commitment to our ‘connectors’ secondment, Russell Beal undertook but also to the stakeholders in that the impact? a great deal of work around In October 2017, Fenland District community. The core lesson we employment, including the creation Council and the Vision Team have learnt is that a longer-term of a business-led Job Café at refreshed the Wisbech 2020 Vision, involvement, from one connector Wisbech’s Queen Mary community focusing on education and skills, to the next, is crucial.’ centre. He was also responsible health and wellbeing and cohesion, for renovating the centre, originally infrastructure and built environment a disused school, by coordinating and the local economy. A programme 180 Anglian Water volunteers over of work is now underway with the Who are the four days. long-term ambition to improve transport, build local skills, increase The creation of two courses key contacts? Lisa Cunningham, Director tourism and boost retail, creating in construction and mechanical of Community Investment new jobs and more homes. and electrical engineering at & Business Connectors. a local college has also impacted To invigorate Wisbech’s local [email protected] on Wisbech’s attainment and economy the plan is to position 07789 396 374 job prospects. agricultural food producers

Public service: state of transformation 2018 Report from the public service transformation academy 02 Delivering the On behalf of and through

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