RE-PRICING OF 12 MONTH MOORING PERMITS 2015 MOORINGS AREA REPORT FOR

Introduction This report provides the rationale for mooring price decisions for 2015. VAT is payable at the rate set by the government for the date when the permit is purchased. Profiles of privately operated sites in the area are appended. We researched and compared their prices with the Canal & River Trust rates to inform our judgements, but because this data is commercially sensitive it has not been included. Local market overview This area lies predominantly within the and West Midland’s conurbation. It forms a central hub of narrow canals giving access to the length and breadth of the country. There is easy access from the Midland Links Motorway network, as well as providing good rail, metro and bus connections. In addition to CRT long term moorings there are approximately 1700 boats registered on private moorings in the same area. Thus the total market comprises some 1900 occupied berths. The demand for residential and leisure moorings in the West Midlands remains healthy considering the current economic climate. Most private operators reported that they were at or near capacity with only a small number able to accommodate residential craft. With the majority of planned Marinas now operating all sites are affected by On-Line Moorings Reduction. The majority of sites remain near full with any visible space now awaiting permanent closure in line with the reduction agreed. Analysis of auctioned vacancies

Total Auctions (inc. Total Current Relists) Since April Successful Total No. of Site Name Capacity 2012 Auctions Bidders Cambrian Wharf 4 2 2 5 Cuckoo Wharf 3 3 1 4 Hockley Port 33 13 9 10 Plardiwick Wharf 7 1 1 3 Wheaton Aston 7 4 4 6 Shutt Green 12 4 2 2 Roundhill Wharf 5 3 1 1 Kinver Towpath Electric 22 2 2 4 Kinver Towpath Non-Elec 22 2 4 6 Stewponey Offside 8 2 2 4 Greensforge 11 9 3 3 Gailey 10 8 6 6 Titford Pump House 6 7 0 0 Gas Street Basin (non-elec) 16 1 1 1 Sneyd Wharf (Electric) 2 5 2 4 Residential 16 24 11 20

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Private operator reference sites The following privately operated mooring sites are the most relevant to the Canal & River Trust directly managed sites for price comparison purposes.

SITE NAME WATERWAY SITE CAPACITY

Ashwood Marina S&W 140 Aldridge Marina BCN 16 Sherbourne Wharf BCN 75 Norton Cane Boat Builders BCN 12 Otherton Boat Haven BCN 115

Brief profiles of these privately operated sites are summarised in an appended table.

Challenges to Pricing Decisions We have made the pricing recommendations below based on a thorough review of auction results and local knowledge. It is our policy, set at Board level, to set prices which reflect market rates and to compete fairly with private operators. The Trust has neither powers nor duty to provide subsidised moorings. If you feel that the price decision made for your mooring site is unjustified having read this report, we ask that you write to the Head of Direct Managed Moorings explaining why you think it is the case. Please explain the reasoning for your challenge including evidence such as price and descriptions of nearby privately operated mooring sites. We will not amend the price without this evidence. We will consider your representation and respond in writing within two working weeks. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may request that the matter is dealt with through our formal complaints procedure.

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West Midlands 2015 jw rev final.docx page 3 of 5 Pricing conclusions

The table below summarises our site-by-site conclusions across the area. Prices include VAT @ 20%. Price 2014 from Site Name Notes on pricing decision Price April 2015 Birmingham & Fazeley Canal

[R] Cambrian Wharf £93.28 £97.94 Popular residential site with little churn. [R] Cuckoo Wharf £1746.89 £1790.56 Popular residential site with little churn.

Birmingham Canal Navigations

[R] Hockley Port £131.64 £144.80 Popular residential site with little churn. Vacancies sell well at auction. Poor results with sales over the last 2 years. Price reduction applied to reflect this and Titford Pumphouse £1981.25 £1783.12 encourage sales

[R] Sneyd Wharf £1681.82 £1765.92 Popular residential site with little churn.

[R] Silver Street £1624.51 £1705.73 Popular residential site with little churn. This is a popular residential site but has had Mixed auction results. Most sales have been at [R] Engine Arm £2277.14 £2277.14 reserve. Price held.

[R] Ocker Hill (21m berth) £2643.55 £2709.64 Popular residential site with little churn. Only one vacancy in last year, sold above guide.

[R] Ocker Hill (15m berth) £1890.60 £1937.87 Popular residential site with little churn Only one vacancy in last year, sold above guide.

Shropshire Union Canal

Plardiwick Wharf £77.49 £85.25 Popular site with little churn.

Wheaton Aston Offside £75.97 £79.77 Popular site with little churn. Above Wheaton Aston £73.92 £77.62 Popular site with little churn

West Midlands 2015 jw rev final.docx page 4 of 5 Price 2014 from Site Name Notes on pricing decision Price April 2015 Shutt Green, Brewood £74.48 £74.48 Depth issues at site. Price held.

Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal

Round Hill Wharf £106.78 £106.78 Depth issues at site. Price held.

Kinver Lock (no electric) £98.18 £100.63 Popular site with little churn.

[R] Kinver Towpath (electric) £108.57 £111.28 Popular residential site with little churn.

Stewponey Lock £96.77 £101.61 Popular site with little churn.

Greensforge £93.28 £95.61 Depth issues at site. Price held

Gailey Wharf £79.33 £81.32 Popular site with little churn.

Worcester & Birmingham Canal

[R] Gas St (non-electric) £97.57 £97.57 Residential site. Currently issues at site re maintenance. Price held [R] Gas St (electric) £107.76 £107.76 Residential site. Currently issues at site re maintenance. Price held

Jenny Whitehall Head of Direct Managed Moorings

West Midlands 2015 jw rev final.docx page 5 of 5 APPENDIX Mooring site comparisons

Site Name Setting Mooring Amenity Facilities Quiet City Centre location with excellent Electricity & water stanchions per berth - transport links - immediate access to major Residential consent - canal loop with secure Sherbourne Wharf toilets - elsan & rubbish disposal - showers - canal route links - 5 mins walk from shops, moorings pump out - launderette - cranage – chandlery banks & restaurants Leisure - Marina & Online offside moorings - Marina & online offside moorings - nearest Electric & water hook-up - mobile pump-out - Otherton Boat Haven access along poorly maintained vehicular village & transport links - 2 miles by road elsan & rubbish disposal. track. Rural - peaceful setting - no public transport Residential consent & leisure offline canal arm Water supplied - elsan & rubbish disposal - locally - 4 miles from major town centre and Ashwood Marina with vehicular track encompassing the site - showers - part electric hook up - diesel & gas public transport stations - 5 mins from main car parking. supplies - cranage - hard standing trunk road. Industrial - within West Midlands conurbation Water supplied - elsan & rubbish disposal - Norton Cane Boat area - Within 5 miles from of large town centre Offside - residential consent & leisure - within showers - part electric hook up - diesel & gas Builders - on canal arm within 20 mins cruise of main complex of boat repair operations supplies - cranage - hard standing navigation - next to major trunk road Urban - adjacent to local industry - one mile from main town centre - excellent access for Residential consent - offside & small basin - Water & electric stanchions - toilets - elsan & Aldridge Marina public transport and road networks - on secure. rubbish disposal – pump-out. navigation that connects to main network Countrywide Cruisers Rural - located next to village – direct access Leisure – offside next to main office & Water – Refuse & elsan disposal – slipway – (Brewood) from lane buildings boat repairs

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