Westquay Phase 3 Masterplan.Dot 2

DRAFT ITEM NO: DECISION-MAKER: LEADER OF THE COUNCIL DATE OF DECISION: 8 SEPTEMBER 2003 SUBJECT: WEST QUAY PHASE 3 MASTERPLAN REPORT OF: HEAD OF CITY DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMY AUTHOR AND CONTACT DETAILS: RICHARD SMITH CITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Tel 023 8083 2588 [email protected] EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CONTACT LORRAINE BROWN, DETAILS: tel: 023 8083 2011 , EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & SUS TAINABILITY (INTERIM) tel: 023 8083 2011 [email protected] A. RECOMMENDATION That the West Quay Phase 3 Masterplan be adopted as a Material consideration for development control purposes, subject to the following changes to the phasing: Phase A will comprise: § The western area Phase B will comprise § The whole of the central area § Arundel Circus § The Castle Gardens § The works to Bargate Street (or in Phase C) § The southern extension to Western Esplanade south from the City Plaza Phase C will comprise; § The eastern area. VERSION NUMBER: 2 DATE LAST AMENDED: 01/08/03 1 B. REASONS FOR REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS The Master Plan is a natural progression from the Development Brief drawing upon the specific requirements of the preferred developers and their professional advisors. To assist the Local Planning Authority make the decisions on the two separate applications for the western and central areas the Master Plan can now be adopted as a material consideration following the period of consultation. The phasing of the implementation of the Masterplan should deliver the works to Western Esplanade as part of the central area in order to link the new development to the Waterfront both in its current and proposed form under the proposals in the Royal Pier Waterfront Development Brief. This requirement was specified in the original development brief used to market the site and the accompanying marketing material. C. ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED The alternative would be to completely rethink the concept and content of the Masterplan, neither of which are justified by the comments received. D. WARDS /COMMUNITIES AFFECTED: Whilst the development area lies within the Bargate Ward, the proposals to create new sports and entertainment arena, City Plaza and other developments will have an impact on all citizens and communities of Southampton and the wider city region. If development/regeneration were not to take place the currently vacant central and western sites would continue to create a poor image in a prominent location. SUMMARY 1. The purpose of the report is to consider the responses of the consultation exercise and to consider whether any amendments to the Masterplan are required. BACKGROUND & REPORT DETAILS 2. On 1 August 2001 the Corporate Committee agreed to complete the Development Brief for the site and market the land, with the western area being marketed for a multi-purpose sports and leisure facility without revenue or capital contribution by the Council. VERSION NUMBER: 2 DATE LAST AMENDED: 01/08/03 G:\Democratic_Support_2003-2004\Meetings\Executive Decision- Making\Cabinet\Decision Making Meetings\Reports\11th August 2003\Consultation\22 - WestQuay Phase 3 masterplan.dot 2 3. The Development Brief was completed and the site was marketed in February 2002. For marketing purposes the site was divided; the western area being offered for a multi purpose facility incorporating an ice rink and the central and eastern areas for mixed use commercial, leisure, retail and residential development to incorporate new public spaces. Developers were invited to bid for all, part, or a combination of these areas. 4. On 12 April 2002 the Cabinet Member for Strategy and Economic Development considered the expressions of interest and selected a shortlist. These short listed parties were invited to submit detailed bids. All partook in informal discussions with officers and the consultants before doing so. 5. On 3 October 2002 the Leader of the Council considered the officers and consultants report on the selection of the preferred developers plus the recommendations of the Cross Party Steering Group and selected the Bravo consortium for the western area and the Hammerson/Linden Homes consortium for the central area. 6. On 26 April 2003 the Leader of the Council approved the Masterplan for consultation. CONSULTATION 7. The list of consultees is shown in Appendix 1. A display was manned in the WestQuay Shopping Centre 23 to 25 May and placed in the Civic Centre foyer 23 to 27 June. 8. Two evening meetings were held, one for the residents closest to the site in the Old Town and the other for city-wide interest groups and the Central Neighbourhood Forum. Presentations were made to the Chamber of Commerce Planning and Transportation Committee and the City Centre Management Development Group. 9. The full Masterplan was placed on the Invest in Southampton website with links from Southampton City Web. It was viewed 674 times in May, 1,445 times in June and is still being viewed after the end of the consultation period. 10. It was reported to the Planning and Rights of Way Panel for information on 3 June. 2003 VERSION NUMBER: 2 DATE LAST AMENDED: 01/08/03 G:\Democratic_Support_2003-2004\Meetings\Executive Decision- Making\Cabinet\Decision Making Meetings\Reports\11th August 2003\Consultation\22 - WestQuay Phase 3 masterplan.dot 3 11. An informal discussion was held with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment and a meeting was held with English Heritage. COMMENTS RECEIVED 12. The respondents are listed in Appendix 2. Their comments are summarised in Appendix 3 with responses to them. 13. There are expressions of support and a lot of positive comments were received while manning the display in the WestQuay Shopping Centre. The written comments concentrate on two main areas, transportation and quality of design. 14. The Masterplan provides a framework in which the transportation issues can be highlighted but it is not its role to deal with them in detail. This can only be done when the details of the planning applications are known. Both applications will have to be supported by a Transport Assessment and a Transportation Plan. The Head of Transportation is represented on the Joint Working Group and has made comments to the developers about is sues that the Masterplan highlights and which will have to be resolved at the detailed stage. 15. The quality of design is very important and in particular the residential towers need to be of the highest quality design to achieve a landmark status. The Masterplan provides the framework in which this can be achieved. 16. Although not referred to in any of the responses, the Masterplan does contain a section on Phasing which suggests the following: Phase A will comprise: § The whole of the central area § The western area § Arundel Circus § The Castle Gardens § The works to Bargate Street Phase B will comprise § The southern extension to Western Esplanade south from the City Plaza Phase C will comprise; § The eastern area. VERSION NUMBER: 2 DATE LAST AMENDED: 01/08/03 G:\Democratic_Support_2003-2004\Meetings\Executive Decision- Making\Cabinet\Decision Making Meetings\Reports\11th August 2003\Consultation\22 - WestQuay Phase 3 masterplan.dot 4 17. The site was marketed on the basis that the works to Western Esplanade would be carried out as part of the development of the central area and the Council should retain that principle. It is now clear that the western area will start on site before the central area. The works to Bargate Street are dependant on achieving the appropriate traffic regulation order which will be sought within the wider context of the proposals in the North/South Spine Strategy. A revised phasing to reflect both these points would be: Phase A will comprise: § The western area Phase B will comprise § The whole of the central area § Arundel Circus § The Castle Gardens § The works to Bargate Street (or in Phase 3) § The southern extension to Western Esplanade south from the City Plaza Phase C will comprise; § The eastern area. POLICY FRAMEWORK IMPLICATIONS 17. The West Quay Phase 3 development site is a key part of the development and planning policy framework for the city centre that had its roots in the City Strategy. The consultation draft Community Strategy refers to the site in the Medium Term Actions within the Prosperity and Cultural sections. It is one of the six Keynote Projects within the City Centre Urban Design Strategy. The statutory Local Plan and the Local Plan Review (Policy MSA6) both identify this site for major mixed-use development focussed around new public spaces. The recent Retail Assessment of the Local Plan Review excluded this site for a major food store, as there was no city centre need and it would detract from proven need in the district centres, and did not identify an immediate need for more retail warehousing within the city centre. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS 18. The Council is empowered to promote the development of the site by virtue of the Local Government Acts 1972 and 2000. VERSION NUMBER: 2 DATE LAST AMENDED: 01/08/03 G:\Democratic_Support_2003-2004\Meetings\Executive Decision- Making\Cabinet\Decision Making Meetings\Reports\11th August 2003\Consultation\22 - WestQuay Phase 3 masterplan.dot 5 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 19. The funding for this project has been provided for within the committed section of the Leader's Portfolio Capital Programme, the amounts and phasing of which were agreed at the time of the selection of the preferred developers on 3 October 2002 and by Cabinet on 14 October 2002, and included in the most recent

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