Infrastructure Programme Area Review
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Developing Stratford District’s Strategic Infrastructure Projects Infrastructure Programme Area Review Final Report 10th May 2017 SDC Infrastructure Programme Review Prepared by: Mike Woollacott & Andy McDarmaid, ATI Projects Ltd Project Reference: ATI 064 Confidentiality, copyright and reproduction This report is the Copyright of Stratford District Council, and has been prepared by ATI Projects Ltd. The contents of this report may not be reproduced in whole or in part, nor passed to any organisation or person without the specific prior written permission of Stratford District Council. ATI Projects Ltd accepts no liability whatsoever to any third party for any loss or damage arising from any interpretation or use of the information contained in this report, or reliance on any views expressed therein. ATI Projects Ltd, Minerva Mill, Station Road, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 5ET T: 01789 761367 E: [email protected] w: www.atiprojects.co.uk SDC Infrastructure Programme Review ~ 10.5.2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 1 Programme Analysis Approach ............................................................................................................... 2 Infrastructure Working Group ~ Project Areas ....................................................................................... 3 PROGRAMME AREA ~ TOURISM ............................................................................................................. 7 Project 12~Stratford to Warwick Avon Navigation ~ the ‘South Warwickshire Ring’ ............................ 7 Project 4 ~ World Shakespeare Centre ................................................................................................. 11 PROGRAMME AREA ~ ENTERPRISE ....................................................................................................... 13 Project 1 ~ Business Centres ................................................................................................................. 13 Project 1a ~ Studley Digital and Creative Hub ...................................................................................... 15 Project 11 ~ Wellesbourne Innovation Campus, University of Warwick .............................................. 20 PROGRAMME AREA ~ REGENERATION ................................................................................................. 22 Project 21 ~ Priory Square (former Co-operative Retail site), Studley ................................................. 22 PROGRAMME AREA ~ TRANSPORT ....................................................................................................... 24 Project 8 ~ Improved Rail Connectivity ................................................................................................. 24 Project 9 ~ South Stratford Transport Hub ........................................................................................... 29 Project 10 ~ Stratford Eastern Relief Road ........................................................................................... 31 Project 19 ~ South Western Relief Roads ............................................................................................. 33 APPENDICES ~ SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION .................................................................................. 35 Appendix 1 ~ Core Strategy Compliance Statements ........................................................................... 35 Appendix 2 ~ Infrastructure Project Locations ..................................................................................... 37 SDC Infrastructure Programme Review ~ 10.5.2017 Executive Summary 1. Stratford District Council is committed to a programme of infrastructure projects designed to ease traffic congestion, improve transport links, raise air quality standards, increase tourism, encourage enterprise and support inward investment. 2. Local consultants ATI Projects Ltd who have a successful track record of building initiatives and accessing funding for SDC and other local councils have been engaged to prepare a review of infrastructure projects. 3. A long list of infrastructure projects was identified by the Infrastructure Working Group (Portfolio Holder and Senior Council Officers) in conjunction with the Consultants. 4. The Consultants have taken account of recent surveys of Stratford District’s business and resident communities - ‘sounding boards’ – which provided feedback on the infrastructure project priorities. 5. The Consultants have categorized the Infrastructure projects within four categories – Transport, Enterprise, Tourism and Regeneration. These differ slightly from the surveys but in essence reflect the main themes within the Infrastructure Strategy. 6. Following an initial assessment, those infrastructure initiatives which are already being progressed, where stakeholder engagement exists or where access to external funding is likely, have received closer analysis and are summarized in this Review. 7. Individual project summaries have examined the challenges each project is to address, the background, the current situation, the main opportunities, the main issues to be faced, the next steps, the key stakeholders and the delivery forecasts. 8. Those projects considered to be outside of the direct control of the Council, or which are not yet clearly identified or are already well under way were excluded from the more detailed Programme Review. 9. Five project areas were identified as being appropriate and suitable to be worked up as ‘shovel-ready’ projects suitable for current and future funding bids. 10. In the course of their work, the Consultants have engaged with key stakeholders to identify their project objectives, their commitment to proceed and their willingness to work with the Council to achieve results. 11. Each infrastructure project reviewed was benchmarked against the Corporate Priorities included within the Core Strategy 2016, and has been cross-checked by the Council’s Policy Planning Officers as due diligence (Appendix 1). 1 SDC Infrastructure Programme Review ~ 16.5.2017 Programme Analysis Approach Project consultants ATI Projects Ltd have been appointed by Stratford District Council (SDC) to prepare a listing and carry out a review of those strategic infrastructure projects with the potential for further development and in particular could attract external funding. For a number of years, investment in key infrastructure development across the District – and indeed the pursuance of funding activities to support the development of such investment – has been limited. This Review summarises the Council’s key infrastructure projects and creates a series of pre-application project outlines. As a result of this Review, a selection of projects has been identified where there is strong evidence of stakeholder commitment and potential for external funding. Following Council approval, these projects will be subject to preparation of expressions of interest and bids for future regional and national funding applications leading to interventions which bring economic, social and environmental benefits to residents, businesses and visitors. Method The first task was to identify and prepare a long list of 24 projects which divided into four distinct categories: a) Transport b) Tourism c) Enterprise d) Regeneration This has enabled the Consultants and the Council to cluster projects with a common focus and shared issues as against ‘stand-alone’. Whilst the sector allocation is useful, there will be a degree of overlap and integration of all four categories in order to ensure that actions planned address the combination of economic, social and environmental issues and opportunities that the infrastructure programme intends. Individual projects have been the subject of an initial assessment of current – and changing - situation, and other existing information. The project categories covered in this Interim Report reflect the range of challenges – and opportunities – facing the Council in the short, medium and long term. The summaries highlight the likely timing of events which will impact upon project development, funding and subsequent implementation. It should be noted (as shown in the table overleaf) that a number of projects are out of the direct control of SDC e.g. A46 Highways Authority. Others are already underway as part of existing delivery projects e.g. Canal Basin – and as such have been excluded from this Programme Area Study. The next phase of activity will focus upon those infrastructure projects which have identified potential to move forward, have good local stakeholder commitment and engagement, require a degree of further project development and have good prospects for submission of applications for external grants and other funding. 2 SDC Infrastructure Programme Review ~ 16.5.2017 Infrastructure Working Group ~ Project Areas Following a review of the Infrastructure Projects longlist identified by the SDC Infrastructure Working Group, and of the Business and Residents ‘sounding board’ surveys, it became clear that whilst there were a number of project areas that could be classified as ‘of high priority or essential’, some of these were already the subject of detailed discussions, consultations, agreements and feasibility studies involving outside agencies. It was also apparent that whilst certain projects are indeed considered important to businesses, residents and the District Council