The Porthcawl Maritime Centre Project – ‘Harbourside’
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The Porthcawl Maritime Centre Project – ‘Harbourside’ Feasibility Study by Wider Impact Consultancy Feasibility Study, The Porthcawl Maritime Centre – ‘Harbourside’ The Porthcawl Maritime Centre Project – ‘Harbourside’ Feasibility Study by Wider Impact Consultancy Report Commissioned by Porthcawl Harbourside CIC Funded by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations (BAVO) Delivered by Wider Impact Consultancy www.widerimpact.com Wider Impact Consultancy, January 2014 Feasibility Study, The Porthcawl Maritime Centre – ‘Harbourside’ Contents Sections Description Page 1.0 Executive Summary 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Background 1 1.3 Conclusions 2 2.0 Introduction 5 2.1 Introduction 5 2.2 Consultation 5 2.3 Findings 6 2.4 Questionnaires 6 2.5 Consultation 6 3.0 Harbourside – ‘The Proposal’ 7 3.1 Introduction 7 3.2 Mission Statement 7 3.3 Harbourside 7 3.4 Aims and Objectives 8 3.5 Making an Impact 8 3.6 Facilities and Activities 9 3.7 Coastal Centre University Collaboration 11 3.8 Other Stakeholders 12 3.9 Governance 13 3.10 Social Profit 13 3.11 Company Objects 13 3.12 Costs 13 3.13 Building Design, Environmental Standards (BREEAM Ratings) 14 3.14 Income 18 3.15 Financial Summary 19 3.16 Project Funding 19 3.17 Community Shares and Private Investment 19 3.18 Retail and Public Services Tenants 19 Wider Impact Consultancy, January 2014 i Feasibility Study, The Porthcawl Maritime Centre – ‘Harbourside’ 3.19 Employment Opportunities 20 3.20 Community Benefits 20 3.21 State Aid 21 4.0 National, Welsh Government Context 22 4.1 Introduction 22 4.2 Current Area Based Programmes 22 4.3 Vibrant and Visible Places: New Regeneration Framework 22 4.4 Key Principles 24 4.5 Investment / Funding Opportunities 26 4.6 Priorities for Directing Targeted Funding 26 4.7 Funding Allocations 26 4.8 Key Performance Indicators 27 4.9 Additional Funding Available at Local Level 28 4.10 Partnership for Growth – The Welsh Government’s Strategy for 28 2013 – 2020 4.11 The Importance of Tourism for Wales 28 4.12 Strategic Vision, Goals and Ambitions 29 4.13 Strategy Focus 30 4.14 Place Building 30 4.15 Destination Management 30 4.16 Niche Markets (Catching the Wave) 31 4.17 Emerging Programmes 32 4.18 Section Summary 33 5.0 Bridgend County Borough 35 5.1 Introduction 35 5.2 Population 35 5.3 Deprivation 35 5.4 Economic Activity 35 5.5 Health 37 5.6 Tourism 37 5.7 Competing Destinations 38 5.8 Accessibility 38 Wider Impact Consultancy, January 2014 ii Feasibility Study, The Porthcawl Maritime Centre – ‘Harbourside’ 5.9 Strategies 39 5.10 Bridgend Local Development Plan 39 5.11 Porthcawl 39 5.12 New Homes 41 5.13 Renewable Energy 41 5.14 Tourism 41 5.15 Creating Safe, Healthy & Inclusive Communities 42 5.16 Bridgend Management Plan 42 5.17 Aims and Priorities 43 5.18 Key Actions 44 5.19 Outcomes 44 5.20 Outputs Target 44 5.21 Key Actions 44 5.22 Bridgend County Council Destination Plan 44 5.23 Priority 45 5.24 Objectives and Actions 45 5.25 Section Summary 46 6.0 About Porthcawl 47 6.1 Introduction 47 6.2 History and Heritage 47 6.3 Current Population 48 6.4 Ethnicity 48 6.5 Deprivation Indices 49 6.6 Economic Activity 49 6.7 Employment Support Opportunities 50 6.8 Education 51 6.9 Health 51 6.10 Crime 52 6.11 Local Attractions 52 6.12 Events and Festivals 53 6.13 Sport 53 6.14 Hotels and Accommodation 53 6.15 Visitor Number and Expenditure 54 Wider Impact Consultancy, January 2014 iii Feasibility Study, The Porthcawl Maritime Centre – ‘Harbourside’ 6.16 Seven Bays Project 54 6.17 Vision 54 6.18 Aims of the Planning Guidance 55 6.19 Variations to 2004 Porthcawl Development Framework 55 6.20 Guidance Objectives 55 6.21 Key Themes 56 6.22 Physical Environment – Built Environment 56 6.23 Sustainability and Energy Efficiency 56 6.24 Design Principles 57 6.25 Section Summary 58 7.0 Community Consultation 61 7.1 Introduction 61 7.2 Community Consultation (Wider Impact) 61 7.3 Community Questionnaire 61 7.4 Community Questionnaire Findings 61 7.5 Socio Economic Groupings of Respondents 62 7.6 Responses by Age 63 7.7 Views About Porthcawl 63 7.8 Views About the Harbourside Development 64 7.9 Consultation with Local Young People 64 7.10 Wider Community Consultation / Showcase Events 66 7.11 Porthcawl Harbour Community CIC Consultation 67 7.12 CND Planning (Porthcawl Development Framework, 2004) 67 7.13 Section Summary 68 8.0 Case Studies 70 8.1 Introduction 70 8.2 Galeri, Creative and Education Centre Caernarfon 70 8.3 Staffing 71 8.4 Key Facts 72 8.5 Milford Haven Marina 73 8.6 Section Summary 75 Wider Impact Consultancy, January 2014 iv Feasibility Study, The Porthcawl Maritime Centre – ‘Harbourside’ 9.0 Specialist Advisors 76 9.1 Introduction 76 9.2 Findings 76 9.3 Section Summary 78 10.0 Summary of Findings 79 10.1 Risk Analysis 79 10.2 Option Appraisal 79 10.3 Jennings Building 79 10.4 The Way Forward 80 Appendix A Porthcawl Harbourside CIV Director’s Biographies 81 Appendix B Appropriateness of Articles of Association / Support for the 85 Proposed Package of Services Appendix C Harbourside Building Design and Environmental Statement 89 Appendix D Risk Assessment / SWOT Analysis 105 Appendix E Harbourside Option Appraisal 107 Appendix F Community Questionnaire 109 Wider Impact Consultancy, January 2014 v Feasibility Study, The Porthcawl Maritime Centre – ‘Harbourside’ 1.0 Executive Summary 1.1 Introduction Wider Impact Consultancy has been commissioned by the Porthcawl Harbourside CIC to carry out an independent feasibility study into an ambitious proposal by the organisation to develop and deliver a leisure and maritime facility within the Porthcawl Harbour Quarter – to be known as ‘Harbourside’. Aims of the commission have included establishing if there is a community and social need for Harbourside. Opportunity has also been taken to explore key issues linked to governance, which has included establishing if there is a business case to ensure its viability and sustainability. 1.2 Background Building on an original objective to enable a sustainable base / headquarters for the Porthcawl Sea Cadets and the Welsh Surfing Federation, a group of Porthcawl based community minded business people have come together to create the new not for profit, community interest company: the Porthcawl Harbourside CIC. Aims and objectives of the company include developing and delivering an ambitious, exciting, innovative and high quality, multi-use ‘flag ship’ building, which will deliver a kick-start and step- change in Porthcawl’s infrastructure regeneration as a major South Wales seaside town destination. Outcomes will include attracting thousands of visitors and tourists from the County of Bridgend, Wales, and the United Kingdom, with resultant new jobs and progress towards much needed economic stability. Wider Impact Consultancy, January 2014 1 Feasibility Study, The Porthcawl Maritime Centre – ‘Harbourside’ 1.3 Conclusions The vision of the Porthcawl Harbourside CIC is clear: Vision Building on Porthcawl’s rich maritime heritage, to establish an exciting, innovative, high quality and economically sustainable multi-use destination. It is envisaged that the building will be ‘an all year round’ family centred Maritime ‘flagship’ which will deliver cultural, educational, business, employment and health and wellbeing benefits to residents, tourists and visitors. Harbourside will be a high quality signature destination, which will deliver a wide range of activities and facilities for local people, visitors and tourists. Designed to high specification, Harbourside will make a positive impact to the refurbished marina, enhancing the visual impact and emphasising the area as a Quality destination in Wales. Wider impacts will include supporting the much needed wider regeneration of the Harbour Quarter, Porthcawl and the region as a whole. With an emphasis on maritime related sport, fitness, leisure, community learning, local heritage, the arts and employment and steered by a highly experienced, multi-skilled and enthusiastic group of entrepreneurs and industry experts [The Board], Harbourside will be ecologically, environmentally and has the potential to be economically sustainable, providing a prestigious headquarters for a number of local, regional and national groups and organisations, which will include the Porthcawl Sea Cadets and the Welsh Surfing Federation. Additional benefits will include the provision of business, office and conference facilities together with high quality business incubator facilities for creative entrepreneurs. It is highly significant that Harbourside will support and deliver in the region of 145 new jobs (direct and indirect), wider employment opportunities and will play a key and strategic role in supporting the economic sustainability of Porthcawl and surrounding areas. Wider Impact Consultancy, January 2014 2 Feasibility Study, The Porthcawl Maritime Centre – ‘Harbourside’ Harbourside will provide a much needed community facility that is fully accessible. It will provide uses for community, sporting and leisure for the enjoyment and benefit of all. Key to the success of Harbourside is an inspirational and innovative proposal that supports national, regional and local regeneration strategies and initiatives, with outcomes linked to public, private and third sectors working together to strategically tackle key issues such as, levels of economic activity, jobs and employment prospects, healthier communities, sustaining the natural environment, and the preservation of an historic and successful [Welsh] coastal community. It can be clearly demonstrated that there is a need for this Project. This has been clearly established through the well structured and organised consultation process carried out by the Harbourside board. More recent community consultation carried out by Wider Impact, which has included over 500 individual responses, has delivered clear messages: Whilst there is a great deal of local and national affection for Porthcawl, which is supported by sustained and growing numbers of tourists, visitors and resultant economic outcomes, facilities on the whole are dated, uninteresting and in need of significant investment.