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KENDAL ECONOMIC GROWTH ACTION PLAN 2015 -2025 APPENDICES Douglas Wheeler Associates Ltd November 2014 Kendal Economic Growth Action Plan 2015-2025 Final Report APPENDICES 1 WORKSHOPS 3 JUNE & 3 SEPTEMBER 2014 1 2 KENDAL ECONOMIC PROFILE (SEPARATE PDF DOCUMENT) 3 TABLE 3.1 KENDAL EXISTING INDUSTRIAL LOCATIONS: REVIEW 11 4 TABLE 5.1 WIDER KENDAL EMPLOYMENT LAND: TARGET USES & TYPOLOGY 13 5 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS & AGENCIES REVIEW 15 Appendices Douglas Wheeler Associates Kendal Economic Growth Action Plan 2015-2025 Final Report APPENDIX 1 WORKSHOPS 3 JUNE & 3 SEPTEMBER 2014 KENDAL ECONOMIC REGENERATION ACTION PLAN REFRESH: LISTENING WORKSHOP 1 Overview The Listening Workshop brought together 23 businesses, agency representatives and local community organisations at Kendal Town Hall on Tuesday 3 June 2014. The list of attendees is included at the end of this Appendix. Much of the discussion took place in four informal groups. A record of the points raised in the workshop discussions is outlined below. Workshop Feedback Task 1: Identify significant positive & negative aspects (2014 Overall) Group 1 Group 2 Positives Positives • Quality of life • Proximity to the lakes – good place to live • Low unemployment • Connections – M6 & West Coast Main Line • Diverse economy • Exceptional cultural offer • Market town • Educated workforce • Landscape and location close to Lake District • Business Improvement District • Strong public centre – Local Authorities and others are active in providing links for voices to be put forward Negatives • Cost of housing Negatives • Infrastructure links • Low wages, lack of high skill wages • Narrow valley – geography • Less/no major employees any more • Accessibility/car parking • House prices – insufficient stock at an affordable price • Accessible employment land • Not in my back yard attitude (NIMBY) • Low GVA per head • Lack of projects ready to go ahead when funds become available 1 Appendices Douglas Wheeler Associates Kendal Economic Growth Action Plan 2015-2025 Final Report Group 3 Group 4 Positives Positives • Green/outdoor spaces – parks and the river • Location • Retail offer – mix of independents and brands • Crime-free and safe • Educational offer – schools and Kendal College • Festival feel, friendliness • Connectivity: rail and road • Food and local produce • Quality of life (culture) • Unique shopping offer Negatives Negatives • Lack of vibrancy in the town centre after 5pm • Local perception of negativity, ‘things can’t be done’ • Lack of organised parking (there is enough!) • Lack of social activities for the younger generation (18-30) • A591 bypass means people bypass the town centre & public • Cost of living - very low wages transport lacking in the evening makes people car reliant • Access to key retailers • Ability to retain/attract younger people • Cultural/leisure offer is very good but not joined up Task 2: Future: What could Kendal be like in 2024? Economic Activity and Enterprise (Groups 1 & 4) • Promote eating more – eg Festival of Food, locally sourced and produced food Group 1 • Link shopping with attractions so people do both at the same time • Lower rent and rates • Science park at Kendal Fell/Quarry • BID grant ready • Greater proportion of affordable homes – more land required • Creative cluster e.g a technical site • Exploit age related spend and skills • More of a destination – encourage people to come to Kendal for • Less dependent on health and Local Authority sectors for income more than one activity at a time and wealth • More people living in the town centre – upper floors and shops • Age related transport infrastructure returned to residential • Cycle friendly access/cycle to school • Quality broadband • Supermarkets to embrace online shopping/deliveries • Joined up venues and attractions to make it more convenient for • More volunteer co-ordination visitors • Vibrant independent shops and businesses in the town centre • Good reputation for festivals – make them easier to access, not just • Potential of the river by car 2 Appendices Douglas Wheeler Associates Kendal Economic Growth Action Plan 2015-2025 Final Report Group 4 - Vision Group 4 - Key Projects to help achieve this vision • No empty shops/quality retail offer. ‘Vibrant and viable diverse • Skills projects with college, universities and specialists within the High Street’ workplace • Prosperous, sustainable town that is well connected with an • Infrastructure to support business and population growth attractive environment • Encourage inward investment/new high value business into the • A contemporary, thriving trading market town ‘comfortable yet town – ‘satellite marketing’ edgy’ • Improve business environment visually, including the industrial • ‘You can do it in Kendal’ estates • ‘A thriving market town with a twist’ Place: Buildings & Spaces (Group 2) Vision • Scroggs Wood development / Quarry / businesses at J36 • Economically diverse, culturally vibrant rural centre • Kendal ring road completed. Draw haulage away from the town centre Key Projects to help achieve this vision • Integrated transport solution: better accessibility /Park and Ride / • Scroggs Wood development / Quarry / businesses at J36 Ring Road / better public transport • Integrated transport solution: better accessibility /Park and Ride / • More homes in the town centre – above shops and in unused Ring Road / better public transport properties. Link to improved conservation • More homes in the town centre – above shops and in unused • Hub for creative industries – use suitable buildings properties. Link to improved conservation • Enhanced use of Market Square and Finkle Street – possible covered • Hub for creative industries – use suitable buildings roof structure • Explore heritage and make yards more of a feature eg Police and Abbots Yards • New Road - opportunity for high quality space/leisure along the riverside. Narrow to one lane. Skating rink in Winter? • Better building conservation/enforcement/ HLF? • Reuse vacant buildings: BT and Condor buildings; pubs to residential use • Redeveloped Canal Head. Consult young people to identify suitable leisure/recreational opportunities • K Village?? 3 Appendices Douglas Wheeler Associates Kendal Economic Growth Action Plan 2015-2025 Final Report Community & Third Sector (Group 3) Other Comments Raised: • More balanced population – economic and social • Leisure not mentioned • Better connectivity between businesses/local community and the • Community led regeneration important- bottom up rather than top third sector down • Changing face of the town centre to become more vibrant • Cars/traffic issue in 50 years time. Access required from hinterland attracting more people into the town after 5pm, 7 days a week as so no change OR opposite view - access without cars? Sundays and Bank Holidays are quiet (joined up cultural/leisure • Kendal wasn’t planned. offer etc) Key Projects to help achieve this vision • People engaging cultural/leisure strategy • Transport plan to get people in and out of the town centre • Low cost housing/better jobs/better pay/career prospects/real jobs • Digital and technology hub (community and business) to help people to connect Listening Workshop Attendance: Name Organisation Derek Jones Cumbria Chamber of Commerce/North Country Leisure Peter Hosking Cumbria County Council Highways Cllr Geoff Cook Cumbria County Council/Kendal Town Centre Cllr Jim Bland Cumbria County Council/National Farmers Union Ian Stephens Cumbria Tourism Brian Harrison Federation of Small Businesses Daniel Morley Kendal Business Improvement District/Beales Patricia Hovey Kendal Civic Society Paula Scott Kendal Futures Austen Robinson Kendal Futures Board/Kendal Town Council Liz Richardson Kendal Town Council 4 Appendices Douglas Wheeler Associates Kendal Economic Growth Action Plan 2015-2025 Final Report Name Organisation Peter Hensman Lake District Estates Gordon Watson Lakeland Arts Trust/Abbot Hall Art Gallery Caroline Leigh South Lakeland District Council Cllr Giles Archibald South Lakeland District Council Fiona Clark South Lakeland District Council Imelda Winters-Lewis South Lakeland District Council Jackie R? South Lakeland District Council Joanne Golton South Lakeland District Council Michael Keane South Lakeland District Council Pete Thomson South Lakeland District Council Alan Price The Quaker Tapestry Bridget Guest The Quaker Tapestry 5 Appendices Douglas Wheeler Associates Kendal Economic Growth Action Plan 2015-2025 Final Report KENDAL ECONOMIC REGENERATION ACTION PLAN REFRESH: PARTNERS DELIVERY WORKSHOP 2 Overview The Partners Delivery Workshop brought together 18 businesses, agency representatives and local community organisations at The Shakespeare Centre on Wednesday 3 September 2014. The list of attendees is included at the end of this Appendix. Much of the discussion took place in four informal groups to discuss the vision, delivery and four emerging programmes. A record of the points raised in the workshop discussions is outlined below. Workshop Feedback Group 1 • Creative and cultural development: - impact beyond job creation Views on the Vision & Programmes - USP for town and skills • Affordable housing required - all year round offer – Abbot Hall and BAC • Age-friendly housing and town - invest in infrastructure • Workspaces - where is the strategy for festivals? Who is best to lead this? • Vacant space above shops • Kendal can deliver • Business rates on empty properties • Need for agencies to work together to attract new businesses • Cultural destinations