Consultation Results
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Consultation Results April 2015 Sunderland and South Tyneside International Advanced Manufacturing Park The International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) is a joint City Deal venture between Sunderland and South Tyneside Councils. The corresponding International Advanced Manufacturing Park Area Action Plan (AAP) will form a statutory part of the respective Local Plans for Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside Council. Public consultation on a range of initial key issues, options and alternatives for the proposed International Advanced Manufacturing Park took place between 23 February - 27 March 2015. An explanatory “Let us have your views” leaflet and consultation questionnaire were made available in council offices and libraries across Sunderland and South Tyneside, with a press release article published in local newspapers (Newcastle Chronicle and Sunderland Echo) and in the two council’s respective residents’ newsletters. All consultation information, together with an electronic version of the questionnaire, was also published on Sunderland and South Tyneside Councils’ respective websites www.MAKEitSunderland.com and www.southtyneside.info/iamp. Public consultation drop-in events were held at: Tuesday 10 March 10:00am - 3:30pm Washington Library, Independence Square, Washington 4:30pm - 6:00pm Washington Business Centre, Turbine Way, Sunderland Thursday 19 March 10:00am - 3:30pm Bunny Hill Centre, Hylton Lane, Sunderland Monday 23 March 1:00pm - 4:30pm Jarrow Library, Cambrian Street, Jarrow Thursday 26 March 1:00pm - 4:30pm Boldon Village Hall, Boldon Colliery 5:00pm - 6:00pm Quadrus Centre, Boldon Business Park, Boldon Colliery These were attended by some 35 people, including local residents, landowners, business interests and developers/agents. Questionnaire responses were received from 81 people, the vast majority received from local residents (written comments are set out at Appendices A-C). Three other written responses were also received (see Appendix D). Supplementary and equality data from the questionnaire respondents are analysed at Appendix E. 2 Question 1: How big should the International Advanced Manufacturing Park be? An independent Market Demand Assessment of the scope for growth in different key employment sectors in the North East over the next 20-25 years was carried out in Spring/Summer 2013. The research recommended that the primary opportunities for significant growth potential are in the automotive and advanced manufacturing sectors (assembly and alternative fuel technologies such as electric vehicles), as well as the offshore and renewable energy sectors, supported by logistics provision related to the automotive sector. The research identified three alternative growth scenarios: ‘pessimistic’ - assumed a long period of on-going recession for the North East combined with structural changes in the international automotive industry that would result in the relocation of some production away from the region, with limited additional large-scale employment land required to support economic growth; ‘moderate’ - identified scope for significant growth requiring an international advanced manufacturing park of around 140- 150 hectares in size, supporting the automotive and other advanced manufacturing sectors, renewable and offshore energy industries, plus distribution and logistics related to the automotive sector; ‘very optimistic’ - a large-scale growth scenario requiring an international advanced manufacturing park of around 300 hectares in size, focused on the automotive sector, other advanced manufacturing, renewable and offshore energy technologies, with related distribution and logistics. The analysis concluded that the moderate growth scenario was the most likely and that if additional land was not provided then new investment and job growth would be lost from the region. This analysis informed the original joint City Deal bid for an international advanced manufacturing park in the region of 100 hectares, providing around 5,200 jobs, but with the possibility to allow scope for potential longer-term expansion up to around 150 hectares (ie. the ‘moderate’ growth scenario). Under this approach, while the international advanced manufacturing park would provide for some of the areas large-scale strategic employment requirements in these key growth sectors, additional local general employment land requirements for a wider variety of small and medium-sized business sector opportunities will also need to be provided for and allocated in the councils’ respective Local Plans. Q1a – Do you support the business case for the international advanced manufacturing park in terms of the need for jobs and, in particular, the potential for growth in the automotive and advanced manufacturing sectors in the region? No response, 2, 2% No, 17, 21% Yes, 62, 77% Q1b – Which of the following three economic growth options should be provided for by the international advanced manufacturing park? No Q1a = ‘Yes’ response, Very Pessimistic, 1, Optimistic, 19, 1% 1, 1% Pessimistic, 31% Very 12, 15% Optimistic, 21, 26% Moderate / City Deal, 42, 68% Q1a = ‘No’ No response, Very 1, 6% Optimistic, 0, Moderate / 0% City Deal, Moderate / 47, 58% City Deal, 5, Pessimistic, 29% 11, 65% 42 people provided written reasons and comments in relation to their preferred choice (see Appendix A). 3 Question 2: Where should the International Advanced Manufacturing Park be located? A Planning Assessment of alternative locations for the identified economic growth requirements across the North East region has also been carried out. This has assessed the potential capacity and suitability of other major employment sites and Enterprise Zones across the region, as well as the local supply and potential opportunities in Sunderland and South Tyneside. Locations in the wider region included: Map of Alternative Locations considered in the Local Area Northumberland Northumberland Coastal Enterprise Centre (103ha) West Hartford (55ha) Tyneside Newcastle Great Park (80ha) Newburn Riverside (92ha) Baltic Business Park (20ha) Durham Hawthorn Business Park (22ha) Tursdale (120ha) Net Park (25ha) Wynyard (205ha) Amazon Park (52ha) South of Seaham (68ha) Heighington Lane West (70ha) Faverdale (120ha) The evaluation of a range of key criteria (transport, size, suitability, location, adjacency, ecology and planning issues) suggested that the most appropriate location for providing for the identified sectoral growth needs and opportunities, particularly in the automotive and related supply-chain sector, was in the broad area where Sunderland, South Tyneside and Gateshead meet. This area has strong physical and commercial connectivity benefits given its close proximity to the Nissan plant, the A19 and A194 trunk roads, and the Port of Tyne and Port of Sunderland. It is also a reasonably accessible location to the population of the wider region. Q2 – Do you agree that the Sunderland-South Tyneside area is the most appropriate location for the identified employment land requirements to support economic growth in the automotive and advanced manufacturing sectors? No, 18, 23% Yes, 62, 77% 21 people provided written reasons and comments in relation to the location of the proposed IAMP (see Appendix B). 4 Question 3: Where should the International Advanced Manufacturing Park be sited within this Sunderland-South Tyneside area? Focusing on the identified Sunderland-South Tyneside primary area of search, options have been considered for land to the north of the Nissan plant, south of the A184, west of the A19 and east of the A194 and the former Leamside railway line. This analysis involved the consideration of physical and environmental factors, including the need to retain separation between settlements, to identify potential locations for an international advanced manufacturing park of around 100-150ha in size. There are 3 possible approaches to the location of international advanced manufacturing park as shown on the following 3 plans along with an overview of the main planning considerations affecting each option: Site A: 100-150ha site east of the former Wardley Colliery Disposal Point and Spoil Tip Significant traffic increase on the A184 and at the A184/A194(M) junction which is unlikely to be supported by the Highways Agency Potential for a strategic access to the A194(M) although very weak access to the area around the Nissan plant and the Enterprise Zone Does not address the commercial market demand for land around and adjacent to the Nissan plant and the Enterprise Zone Does not support the growth of the automotive and advanced manufacturing cluster around the Nissan plant Does create the potential for railfreight and/or Metro connectivity, although long-term plans for the Leamside line are uncertain Requires an extensive reclamation of the spoil heaps on the site - the cost, viability and timing of which are unknown Settlement separation function of the Green Belt can be maintained but creates a large “island” in the Green Belt No undue disturbance to residential amenity Yes, 25, 45% No, 31, 55% 5 Site B: 100-150ha site on land to the immediate north of the Nissan plant Close proximity to Nissan and the Sunderland Enterprise Zone which is of strong interest to the commercial sector Part of the site already included within the draft Sunderland Local Plan Core Strategy Good highway connectivity to the A19(T) via the A1290 Downhill Lane junction and to the A1231 Washington highway Government’s Autumn Statement announced funding for improvements