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RHS Garden Bridgewater Salford PART 1 ITEM NO. 3 REPORT OF THE CITY MAYOR TO COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY 16TH DECEMBER 2015 TITLE: Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Garden Bridgewater, Salford RECOMMENDATIONS: That Council: 1) Notes the significant opportunity and supports the establishment of the RHS Fifth Garden Bridgewater, Salford. 2) Approves Salford City Council’s financial commitment as set out in sections 4.3 and 4.4. 3) Authorises the City Director in consultation with the S151 Officer and Monitoring Officer to enter into the necessary legal agreements. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This report seeks approval to the investment required by Salford City Council to underpin delivery by the Royal Horticultural Society of RHS Fifth Garden Bridgewater, Salford. This is a long term commitment by the RHS and the largest investment made by them to create a sustainable and innovative new garden in the UK. The RHS Fifth Garden will generate up to 600 jobs, provide volunteering, science, education, skills and training opportunities and generate up to £24 million additional Gross Value Added over 15 years. KEY DECISION: Yes 1 DETAILS: 1.0 Introduction 1.1 The RHS is the leading horticulture organisation in the UK, is internationally renowned and manages major events such as the Chelsea Flower Show, Hampton Court Flower Show and Tatton Park Flower Show. They lead on science, research and education and community engagement in the horticultural field and champion gardening and the green environment. 1.2 The RHS has been undertaking a site search for a “Fifth Garden” in the Midlands / North West to add to its existing four which are: RHS Wisley (Surrey @ 200 acres); RHS Rosemoor (Devon @ 44 acres); RHS Hyde Hall (Essex @ 229 acres); and RHS Harlow Carr (Harrogate @ 60 acres). 1.3 Complementing the City Plan objectives, the sympathetic development of the west of the city has been a feature of the City’s regeneration prospectus, Salford 2025. Opportunities to enhance the strategic western gateway to the City have been prioritised in recent years. 1.4 During Autumn 2015 it became clear that the 156 acre site at Worsley New Hall was of interest to the RHS as the location of their fifth garden. Close dialogue between the RHS, Peel the landowners and Salford City Council progressed this position and on 22nd October 2015, the RHS announced that the Fifth Garden would be located in Salford. RHS Garden Bridgewater, Salford is central to the RHS’s £160 million strategic investment programme in its gardens and charitable outreach nationally. 2.0 Strategic Importance of a Fifth Garden 2.1 The RHS’s vision is to secure the rebirth of a lost historic site to create a welcome and inspiring garden of national and international significance. The project will bring life to the heart of the Northern Powerhouse, forming the centre of a horticultural network that includes RHS Garden Bridgewater, RHS Garden Harlow Carr, RHS Flower Show Tatton Park and RHS Flower Show Chatsworth that launches on 7th June 2017. The intention is that each would drive business for the others and the RHS also has ambitious plans to grow tourism locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. 2 2.2 This undertaking by the RHS in a fifth garden is a long term commitment and the largest investment made by them to create a sustainable and innovative new garden in the UK. As a new addition to the RHS portfolio with a significant investment package, RHS Garden Bridgewater will enable not just horticulture but all of the accompanying economic, education, training, skills, employment, health and well-being, environmental, social and community benefits to be delivered across the City and the North West. 2.3 As well as securing outstanding reputational benefits for the City, the project is a game changing component for the North West and will become a major visitor attraction within the region. It also significantly contributes towards Manchester’s designation in 2016 as the European City of Science. In terms of benefits: a) The garden will generate up to 600 jobs (200 direct; 400 indirect) in the service/retail sectors and through the supply chain with businesses. It will provide volunteering, science, education, skills and training opportunities, facilitate social value and community engagement and generate up to £24 million additional Gross Value Added over 15 years. b) Encompassing a new Learning Centre and eventually a possible Horticultural College and Learning Centre, the garden will forge links with regional educational bodies to run higher level RHS courses. It will showcase horticultural science, develop new apprenticeship and student programmes, develop links with colleges, schools and universities and drive improved health outcomes. Early community engagement locally and regionally will be prioritised. This builds on existing groups such as Incredible Edible and community allotment groups. c) The RHS is leading as a charity on campaigns around climate change and sustainability, through, for example, its Greening Grey Britain campaign and its 3 work on encouraging people to participate in ecological gardening through the use of plants that encourage and sustain pollinating insects. Having the RHS as an active partner will make a major contribution to promoting the City’s green agenda, and its reputation as a Green City. d) In the first five years or so (dependent on the phasing) it is likely that visitor numbers will grow sequentially as the garden becomes established. Experience at the RHS flagship garden at Wisley, Surrey demonstrates that the main visiting times are either outside peak hours or at times where bespoke and well-managed events are taking place. 2.4 In terms of involvement in delivering the project and making it a success: a) Renowned landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith, together with Cullinan Studio have been appointed by the RHS to create an inspiring masterplan for the 156 acre (63 hectares) site. There will be opportunities for regional architects and garden designers to input to the final design of the garden. The local supply chain, local consultants and local contractors will also benefit as the project is established. b) Local nurseries, businesses and garden designers will be encouraged to support RHS shows. c) Universities will be engaged for science and social history. Local schools, colleges and adult learning groups will support improved educational outcomes. Young adults will benefit from apprenticeships and studentships and employment opportunities will be promoted across Salford. d) Local health practices will be engaged to help drive improved health and well- being. e) The RHS are extremely keen to engage residents (of all ages) and community groups as early as possible in the project through volunteering, learning and events. They will establish a local presence in the area during 2016 to deliver an outreach function that will invite communities, individuals from all backgrounds, schools and colleges amongst others to participate in and benefit from the horticultural experience. 3.0 Planning Process 3.1 RHS Garden Bridgewater will involve development and change of use and planning permission will be required. The site sits in the green belt and part of it is a site of biological importance. Sustainability and access considerations will be important as well as other infrastructure issues. A broad range of technical matters will need to be addressed as part of the application which will be progressed during early 2016. 3.2 Following early discussions, planning officers are confident that matters of principle and detail are resolvable. An understanding of the RHS proposals for development at Wisley in Surrey (which lies in the green belt) and Hyde Hall in 4 Essex, has provided confidence in the professional approach of the RHS and its commitment to good design including sustainability. 4.0 Salford City Council’s contribution to delivery 4.1 The RHS’s investment in this project is a fundamental aspect of their £160 million strategic investment in their gardens nationally. Their commitment to deliver RHS Garden Bridgewater will be in excess of £25 million over the next decade increasing in the decades following that. The RHS will drive a national fund raising strategy to facilitate investment in their gardens and more locally, a collaborative and focused external funding strategy will be developed for RHS Garden Bridgewater. 4.2 For Salford City Council, delivery of this nationally significant project requires formal legal agreement between Salford City Council, Peel the landowners and the RHS. 4.3 To facilitate the site being utilised by the RHS and to ensure that the Council has a substantial input into the design and delivery of the fifth garden in a way that complements the Council’s strategic priorities, Salford City Council is required to: a) Secure a headlease of the land from Peel at a cost of £9 million with a phased capital payment to Peel over three years (subject to an approved planning application by the RHS during 2016). b) Support the on-site delivery of the fifth garden itself alongside the RHS’s direct investment. A commitment of £5 million over a maximum of five years is required from Salford City Council which can be in-kind. The scope and timing of this investment will emerge as the design and planning process takes place during early 2016. This financial contribution is seen as crucial to the RHS to complement their own initial investment of £25 million. 4.4 The RHS also require Salford City Council to deliver the necessary highway and other areas of infrastructure to facilitate access to and operation in the new garden. The scope of this work will be driven by the detailed design and masterplanning of the site. The phasing of its delivery will allow key highway and strategic access improvements to be considered and sequenced around both actual and projected visitor growth.
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