Targeted Regeneration Investment
programme
2018 - 2021
Please ensure you refer to the TRI programme project application guidance document when completing this application form. Section 1 – Applicant and Project Summary
Region: Mid Wales Lead Local Authority (LA) Powys County Council and grant recipient: If joint LA application other LA partners: n/a Project Title: Riverside Enterprise Hub
Has the project received TRI Development Funding? Please tick (✓) as appropriate
Yes ✓ No If yes then please do not include the previously supported Development Costs in this application
Match funding Any other WG TRI Grant Request Total Project cost Non WG funding (£) % (Minimum 30%)
£1,683,641 £733,641 £950,000 56%
Proposed Start Date: Anticipated practical August 2019 January 2021 completion:
Please provide a 250 word summary of the project proposal. Open Newtown, who will be a partner in the project led by Powys County Council, is the trading name for Going Green for a Living Community Land Trust Ltd. Having recently taken on a 99-year lease, for a 130+ acre Community Asset Transfer, a 5 year development has commenced aiming to allow open access to the green spaces in the town, while creating enterprising opportunities to give it long term sustainability.
The Riverside Enterprise Hub project is part of a concerted effort to develop enterprise opportunities based on the natural resources of Newtown.
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The current building, an old radio station, on the site is dilapidated and underutilize. This project would see the current building demolished and its prominent site redeveloped as a destination venue and enterprise hub. It will focus on unlocking a local food economy, create a destination play park and act as a catalyst for the events potential of the town.
During the development phase (funding by the TRI Programme) the Architect designed an attractive two-story passivhaus building, which will attract economic spend, providing the potential for café/retail space, meeting/performance space and tourist information provision as well as an opportunity for canoe and cycle hire.
Located on the edge of the main car park in the town, it is conveniently situated between the towns green spaces and the town centre, attracting visitors parking in the car park and the town’s residential area.
Doc 3a - TRI Strategic Application Form v1.0 June 2018 2 Section 2 – Lead Contact Details:
Title: Mrs Full Name: Jenni Thomas Position: Regeneration Manager Name of Organisation: Powys County Council Address: County Hall, Spa Road East
Town/County: Llandrindod Wells Powys Post Code: LD1 5LG Telephone: 01597 827672 Mobile: 07810 156001 Email address: [email protected]
Section 3 – Joint Delivery Partner(s)
3.1 Please outline below the details of any joint Key Delivery partners to the project e.g. Private or Third Sector partners.
Title: Mr Full Name: Adam Kennerley Position: Director Name of Organisation: Going Green for a Living Community Land Trust Ltd (trading as Open Newtown) Type of Organisation: Company Limited by Guarantee Address: Top Floor, 9 Broad Street Town/County: Newtown, Powys Post Code: SY16 2LU Mobile: 07791122491 Telephone: 0168610777 Email address: [email protected]
Title: Mr Full Name: Lee Davies Position: Amenities Manager Name of Organisation: Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn Town Council Type of Organisation: Town Council (LA) Address: The Cross, Broad Street Town/County: Newtown, Powys Post Code: SY16 2BB Mobile: 07875 124555 Telephone: 01686 625544 Email address: [email protected]
Note: please insert additional contact sections here if required.
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Section 4 – Project Description
4.1 Please describe your proposed project (attach plans and photographs where applicable)
Powys County Council will lead the Riverside Enterprise Hub project in partnership with Open Newtown and the Town Council.
The development site is strategically located in the heart of town, the current building has, for some time been highlighted as a great location for an enterprise venue linking visitors to the town and open space offerings. PCC recently classified the existing Radio Maldwyn Building as a non-strategic property and made it available for transfer to the community.
The new Riverside Enterprise Hub, situated on the bank of river Severn, is within walking distance of all major local facilities and landmarks including Oriel Davies Gallery, County Council Offices, bus station and retail centre, as well as the open spaces currently under development, as part of a Lottery grant. See appendix 5 for location plan.
Its prominent location on the edge of the main car park in the town is ideal to encourage visitors to stay and explore Newtown’s green spaces and retail offer. It also offers a family friendly facility providing the town with access to the riverside, and a tourist information hub to inform people arriving in the car park of what Newtown has to offer.
The Riverside Enterprise Hub is part of other projects in the areas to enhance Newtown as a visitor destination and improve the wellbeing of residents:
£1.5 million Lottery and Town Council investment in to unlocking the potential of 130 acres of open spaces for the economy including an activity hub for sports and recreation, bike tracks, walking trails, kayaking, sports facilities and events; An “Enabling Natural Resources and Well-Being” (ENRaW) a Welsh Government funded investment of £950,000 to deliver and evidence the well-being benefits in association with the health board; Supporting the feasibility work of a Business Improvement District to boost the economic performance across the town.
The cost of the project will cover:
1. Planning and tendering stage 2. Demolishing the dilapidated old Radio Hafren Building; 3. Project management cost to building the new building 4. Cost of construction to build the new passivhaus two storey building 5. Improving the access from the hub to the existing model railway 6. Creating outside seating adjacent to secure playground facilities
The spend will create:
1. An area inviting to visitors and residents 2. A new building offering economic benefits to the town and a visitor offering, including potentially: a. Local food outlet café / retail space; b. Tourist information working closely with the Town Council, who currently house the Town’s Tourist Information Centre and are struggling to staff this facility. c. Cycle and canoe hire; Doc 3a - TRI Strategic Application Form v1.0 June 2018 4 d. Meet and greet spaces; e. Meeting / events spaces.
3. Using the prime location to create a gateway connecting the town’s retail centre to the green spaces and its services such a activities, food production and events spaces. 4. Add to the green spaces a destination play park, upgrade the existing model railway access and open up Dolerw Park for picnicking; 5. Build a Passivhaus designed two story iconic building providing: a. Local food outlet café / retail space; i. With outside seating adjacent secure playground; b. Cycle and canoe hire; c. Meet and greet spaces; d. Meeting / events spaces. 6. Work with partners to enhance the physical connections between the Riverside Enterprise Hub and retail town centre.
Please see attached: Appendix 4 – Planning Permission plans Appendix 5 – Site Location Appendix 6 – Photographs
Smart targets include:
1. 10 gross jobs created 2. 2 new enterprises accommodated 3. 1 non-residential premises created
See appendix 1 for full details of outputs.
Key milestones will including: 1. Submitting the planning application 2. Receiving the outcome on the TRI application 3. Developing the tender brief 4. If/when funding is approved to have planning approval and send tender documents out for contractors 5. Recruit Contractor
Funding was secured as part of the TRI development phase in February 2019, this funding was to contract an architect to look at the feasibility and cost of this scheme producing:
Business Strategy produced by Open Newtown and shared with stakeholders; Detailed Business Plan; Consultation exercise with the community Architects report of the proposed Riverside Enterprise Hub – Architype; o Associated plans, photographs and elevations – Architype; Landscape design (Riverside Enterprise Hub) – Lingard Farrow Styles; ‘Connections’ map – Lingard Farrow Styles. Identifying all Associated reports necessary for planning such as access statement, ecology etc.
The total Development project costs were £32k with a contribution of £10k from the TRI Programme development fund.
Doc 3a - TRI Strategic Application Form v1.0 June 2018 5 4.2 If a project relates to land and/or buildings please set out the ownership/tenure details - current and proposed. If acquisition is required please include timescales.
The Riverside Enterprise Hub will be situated on two parcels of land owned by Powys County Council and being asset transferred to the Town Council and then sub-leased to Open Newtown on a 99 year lease. 1. The current Radio Hafren building itself, whose plot will underlie the eastern part of the new Riverside Enterprise Hub development. o Freehold owner = Powys County Council; o Current Heads of Terms agreed 16th May 2019, in anticipation of a 99 year head lease (to be signed August 2019) = N<C; o Current Heads of Terms agreed 27th May 2019, in anticipation of a 99 year sub lease (signed August 2019) = Open Newtown.
2. Already transferred is the 140 acres of open spaces, which includes the parkland that surrounds the Old Radio Hafren building. Some of this land forms the new destination play park and some will be taken up with the western edge of the new Riverside Enterprise Hub; o Freehold owner = Powys County Council; o Tenant on a 99 year lease = N<C; o Sub-tenant on an equivalent 99 year lease = Open Newtown. o Leases for this element were signed January 2019
Open Newtown will be the tenant and active manager – as a community land trust – of the land and proposed Riverside Enterprise Hub, with the land and building held on a 99 year sub lease from the Town Council with the support of the freeholder Powys County Council.
NB the existing Old Radio Hafren building has a footprint of 64m2 (single story) and the proposed Riverside Enterprise Hub will have a footprint of 277m2 (and will be two story building).
There are no covenants attached to the Leases
Section 5 - Benefits & Impacts
5.1 What are the short & long term impacts and benefits associated with the project, please make reference to the Well Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, Taking Wales Forward 2016-21 and Prosperity For All – the National Strategy:
Our ambition is to enhance the economy of Newtown as a resilient and sustainable economy, providing opportunities for everyone. As we are utlisiing public funds, we link this economic ambition with seeking to achieve social and environmental wellbeing.
Benefits Short –term Long-term Social We create opportunities We build the confidence and for the community to competence of the come together and share communities of Newtown to – through play & be active parties in its
Doc 3a - TRI Strategic Application Form v1.0 June 2018 6 activities, enjoying good economic development by local food, in the open air; supporting new social Riverside Enterprise Hub enterprises; is home to the ‘Where the With the Riverside Enterprise Severn Smiles’ ENRaW Hub at the heart of a resilient project, piloting work in community we will have long- Wales on social term effects around education, prescribing for healthy health, well-being etc. lifestyles. Economic We create immediate job Riverside Enterprise Hub will and training opportunities; be placed at the heart of a We add a destination future BID programme, venue to Newtown connecting town retail with boosting economic industrial businesses and activity to the whole town; supporting skills and training We catalyse the events, providing a coherent voice sporting and food based with a plan for economic economic opportunities growth; the towns green spaces As a Tourist Information hold. service – and as destination in We continue to push its own right – this project forward a B.I.D. helps unlock the towns tourism potential (with a new Tourism Strategy produced).. Environmental We build a class leading The Riverside Enterprise Hub sustainable building as a will be at the heart of an demonstration for Wales; annual Riverside Festival The Riverside Enterprise already being planned, Hub directly enhances the sponsored by business and 140 acres of public open connecting people to their space, introducing people river; to their environment. The momentum in Riverside Enterprise Hub is behind an Upper Severn Catchment Management project that will involve farmers and communities in delivering sustainable management of the natural resources.
5.2 Please complete Annex 1 to this form to provide details of the project’s proposed outputs/outcomes (please refer to the Outputs Definitions when completing the Annex)
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Section 6 – Strategic and Regional Context
6.1 Please tell us how your project proposal will support economic regeneration and contributes to the aims and objectives of the Regional Plan for Regeneration for your region.
The Growing Mid Wales Framework for Action defines a number of key priorities, namely:
1. Diversifying the economic base 2. Supporting and strengthening existing businesses 3. Creating new quality job opportunities 4. Developing workforce skills 5. Improving communications, accessibility and infrastructure
We will measure success by achievement of the Performance Indicators, each of which will deliver against the Priorities identified in the Mid Wales Regional Plan for Targeted Regeneration.
Mid WalesTRIp Priorities Performance Indicators Priority 1: Diversifying the economic TRI 06: Investment induced base TRI 07: Enterprises accommodated TRI 08: Hectares of Land developed Priority 2: Supporting and strengthening TRI 10: Number of non-residential premises existing businesses created or refurbished TRI19: NO. of SMEs based in Wales successful in securing contracts/sub contracts
Priority 3: Creating new quality job TRI 01: Cross jobs created opportunities TRI 19 Number of SMEs based in Wales successful in securing contracts/sub Priority 4: Developing workforce skills contracts. TRI 20: Value of contract/sub-contracted awarded to SMEs based in Wales £
Mid Wales Regional Plan for Targeted Regeneration
The Mid Wales Region has a challenging geography that covers 39% of the land mass of Wales and as such, there is a need to focus regeneration in a number of towns in order to have a larger impact on the Region. The overarching aim of our regeneration approach in Mid Wales is “to create a region of thriving and sustainable Market Towns”.
The GMW Framework for Action has as its overarching vision: “To grow productivity, innovation and jobs across Mid Wales.”
This vision will inform all investment decisions in the Region and this project directly supports this vision.
This project aligns with the 5 priorities of the Growing Mid Wales Framework for Action. These Priorities will be achieved by concentrating regeneration activity on 3 key themes and priorities for action, namely: Doc 3a - TRI Strategic Application Form v1.0 June 2018 8
1. PLACE – redeveloping a Town Centre premises 2. COMMUNITY - Community services and service integration 3. ECONOMY - Rural entrepreneurship
By enhancing this riverside complex and bringing underused premises back into business use, this project directly addresses these priorities.
Local Wellbeing Objectives The regional Wellbeing Plans have a focus on strengthening communities and the local economy. This project will help to deliver against the local wellbeing objectives by supporting business growth and employment in local communities.
There are four local objectives in Powys’ Local Wellbeing Plan. Those which fit most closely with this project are: People in Powys will experience a stable and thriving economy People in Powys will enjoy a sustainable and productive environment
Alongside the development of the Riverside Enterprise Hub, Open Newtown has also been awarded funding to undertake a wellbeing project, working closely with several partners including the PTHB. The aim of the project (“Where the Severn Smiles”) is to create a happier and healthier community, by providing a series of well-crafted and coordinated elements (such as workshop sessions), each contributing to a model for social prescribing that enable the open spaces to be valued for the well-being they provide.
6.2 Please provide evidence of the need for the project.
Evidence of need comes from a variety of sources: 1. Community (Town) Plan in 2015 identified green spaces as a priority, alongside jobs and training opportunities for the young – copy of this is available on https://www.newtown.org.uk/pages/view/newtown-community-action-plan 2. Following the Community Plan being published and endorsed by the Town Council in 2016, there has been a consortium of 50 organisations refining this need and shaping the business strategy for utilising the towns green spaces; subsequently this need has been rewarded with a £1.1 million award from the Lottery based around an enterprise focused asset transfer; 3. The business case for the Riverside Enterprise Hub has been submitted to both Town Council (Full Council) in November 2018 and Powys County Council (Strategic Asset Board) and endorsed by both in April 2019, reflecting the need for this venture; 4. Recent consultations – undertaken as part of the TRI Programme Development Phase – provides up to date evidence of need for this Riverside Enterprise project – see appendix 5c for further detail on the consultation 5. Environmentally the Environment Act identifies the need for achieving net gain in our biodiversity in Wales. Riverside Enterprise Hub project acts as a catalyst to meet this need here in Newtown and across the Upper Severn Catchment, as the hub will help to manage the land which in turn will produce more biodiversity. 6. Health and well-being is becoming an acute problem with its needs enshrined in the Well-being and Future Generations Act; Riverside Enterprise Hub is the host venue for the ENRaW social prescribing enterprise. – The hub will become a point of contact and booking centre for the ENRaw project
Doc 3a - TRI Strategic Application Form v1.0 June 2018 9 Likely impact if project does not go ahead
If we secure the TRI funding then Open Newtown has a real potential to build not only the Riverside Venue (guaranteed) but also continue the search for the investment to build the activity enterprise hub; two venues dedicated to unlocking the enterprise potential of green and blue assets within the heart of the town.
If we fail to secure TR funding Open Newtown cannot afford to build the regenerative Riverside enterprise venue, replacing the dilapidated old Radio Hafren building. Without this building we lose: 1. An enterprise venue in its own right (and the jobs and income it would bring); 2. The iconic new building that opens up the river and connects the town to its green spaces; 3. The injection of transformation momentum to the economy of Newtown; 4. We do build a play park BUT it is disconnected and its economic potential 0 as a destination playpark – is much diminished; 5. We lose the venue from which we build the Well-being Service and in turn we lose the opportunity to integrate well-being and the health economic value of green spaces in to the new Powys Teaching Health Board health and well-being centre planned for Newtown (just 100m away)
We do retain the potential to build the Activity Enterprise Hub but this carries none of the benefits outlined above.
6.3 Options Appraisal - What options have been considered for addressing the identified need, how did you evaluate those options and arrive at the preferred option?
Options analysis in choosing the best location
The original response to the needs identified was to enable the community to take control of the towns green spaces. The support of the Lottery funding, by develop the natural assets for the economic benefit of the town (by creating events activity, and sporting potentials) as well as the well-being, was to provide this possibility to residents and visitors alike.
With this original plan underway the question of how the opportunities were optimised became more prominent as the practical needs became clearer i.e. the need for:
1. Space in which to establish canoe and cycle hire opportunities, and from where walks and adventures could begin; 2. Space to promote local food production and sales, able to connect people to affordable food; 3. Space to support events and outdoor activities. 4. Space to provide information to visitors coming in to the town – about the wider town and about the wider Mid Wales experience - to benefit from the facilities available within the town and green spaces.
There is a range of locations across town that can fulfil some of these ambitions but none that allow all to be progressed in an affordable and optimal manner. So for example the following (amongst others) have been considered:
1. Working with existing leisure facilities e.g. Freedom Leisure and the Golf / Rugby / Cricket sports venue; 2. Market hall and the commercial kitchen space / Community Garden at Pen Dinas for food prep and sales; Doc 3a - TRI Strategic Application Form v1.0 June 2018 10 3. Scouts hut as a canoe venue, football club as an activity venue.
All can play a role but none unlock the potential of Newtown and its residents as a force for economic growth based on the natural assets it possesses. Non are directly accessible to meet the needs. Equally the match funding available from Open Newtown could only be spent on premises within the green spaces.
With the evidence of need for specific building spaces that couldn’t be met from existing property the only remaining options was to build dedicated space.
The dilapidated Old Radio Hafren building on the main car park has, for some time, been considered a great location and with PCC recently classifying it as a non-strategic property is has become available for transfer to the community. Being on the green spaces it is eligible for Open Newtown to commit funds to also.
The conclusion drawn is that given the clearly identified needs – for establishing a destination venue, for unlocking local food potential and for tourist information provision - the availability of the premier location and the match funding already, this is clearly the best option,
Cost-Benefit analysis of the chosen location. Having selected the Old Radio Hafren building as the ideal location the following factors have been considered when looking at the cost benefits:
1. Match funding already in place - making it a ‘good to go’ project; 2. Now fully designed and costed and submitted to planning – making it more advanced than all other locations; 3. It is the venue in which the majority of the needs can be met, if designed appropriately (which it has been). Specifically: a. Destination venue in its own right – destination for : i. Play and adventure for all the family; ii. Well-being and health provision, within the open spaces; iii. Taste of local food in support of the farming economy; iv. Events. b. Gateway venue – and gateway Tourist Information provision – to: i. Support enhanced access to the retail centre; ii. Encourage stop and stay for the benefit of the wider Mid Wales tourist economy. 4. Leaves open the potential for developing the second – activity and production orientated – Activity Enterprise Hub 5. Uses public TRI funds for a range of public benefits including a. Providing an income to Open Newtown for managing the 140 acres of green space and river which is a major asset for the town; b. Becoming the heart of well-being provision for the Mid Wales (Upper Severn) region.
Based on all of the above – and the costs of providing each of these individually – it felt clear that Riverside offered a unique opportunity to provide a cost effective solution to all of the above.
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Section 7 – Delivery
7.1 Project Governance and Project Management Please provide a description of the proposed governance and project management for the project.
Open Newtown was formed in 2017, a social enterprise based around creating social and environmental enterprises based upon using local blue and green assets. Although relatively new, the staff of Open Newtown have a wealth of project management experience; reflected in the fact that this will be our third £1million project established within just an 18 month period (originally green spaces asset transfer attached to Lottery Funding and the social prescribing enterprise development project)
To reflect this expansion, the Board is reforming to enable three dedicated Working Groups to take on the management of each of the three projects; Riverside Enterprise Hub being one such project that will gain two dedicated Directors plus oversight of the Financial Director (which is supported by an in house Finance Manager at Open Newtown).
See Appendix 10 for further information on Open Newtown’s Staff Structure
To deliver the project, Open Newtown will be taking on a dedicated Project Manager able to focus on the deliverables whilst liaising with the Manager of our Green Spaces project (who is acting as ‘client’).
Administration of the Riverside Enterprise Hub by Powys County Council
Powys County Council will manage the administration of this project in terms of the TRI programme obligations. The Head of Regeneration in Powys County Council will act as Senior Responsible Owner for the project and it will be managed by the Regeneration Team.
Financial Management Procedures
The rules governing the Council’s Financial Management procedures are contained within the Council’s Constitution (Financial Procedure Regulations). These regulations are expanded by a series of Accounting Instructions. Accounting Instruction 16 specifically deals with procedures affecting external grants to the Council – in particular reporting structures, authority to enter into agreements and levels of delegation.
Within this structure the Council’s Capital Programme is approved by Cabinet and then monitoring on progress and spend is undertaken on individual schemes in the form of monthly Performance and Financial Management (P&FM) meeting where the responsible Head of Service reports to the responsible Director. Each P&FM is then reported to the Head of Finance who provides an update to Cabinet on the overall programmes.
All programme expenditure will be reconciled from the general ledger on a monthly basis. Claims will be completed on a quarterly basis. Expenditure and output performance will be monitored on a monthly basis. All purchase orders to commit project budget will be authorised and managed and an audit trail of all expenditure and programme documentation will be kept.
Delivery of the project will be subject to rigorous monitoring procedures. These will identify any issues arising at an early stage, which will allow any proposed amendments to the project to be discussed and agreed with partners and WG in sufficient time to not affect the delivery of the overall programme. Doc 3a - TRI Strategic Application Form v1.0 June 2018 12
7.2 Timeline for delivery with key milestones Please set out your project programme which includes key milestones and dates for delivery.
Key Milestones:
1. June 2019 - Submitting the planning application – complete; 2. July 2019 - Receiving the outcome on the TRI application – application submitted; 3. August 2019 - Secure lease (Heads of Terms already approved by Powys County Council, Town Council and Open Newtown); 4. August 2019 - Developing the tender brief and securing main contractor; 5. September 2019 - Planning permission secured; 6. November 2019 - Break ground, embark on groundworks, complete groundworks; 7. Winter 2019 / 20 - Install playpark – open playpark for spring 2020; 8. January 2020 - Commence main build, completing Christmas 2020; 9. Easter 2021 - Fully Open
See Appendix 7 for full milestone
7.3 Due diligence of partner organisations Please confirm that due diligence of all non LA partners has been undertaken and is satisfactory.
All none LA partners will be subject to DD screening, to include company history, financial stability and references.
All partners employed to carry out specific tasks related to the building will be members of a recognised body, for example the RIBA, and will adhere to that body’s code of conduct.
7.4 Risk Management Please identify the key risks below and complete the Risk Register included at Annex 2. (This will need to be periodically updated during the delivery of the project).
See Appendix 2 for full risk assessment
Risk Countermeasure If asset transfer for the premises fails to be Project Managers and PCC are working approved, then this will result in the loss of closely to ensure this process proceeds TRI Programme funding without delay – The terms of reference for the leases have been agreed and no risks highlighted. As a result of the partner not securing The development fund has supported much planning approval for delivery of the project, of the pre-planning information, which has to
Doc 3a - TRI Strategic Application Form v1.0 June 2018 13 there is a risk that the project is not be prepared, including consultation, compliant. drawings, and other external reports. Consultation with planning officers has been undertaken to mitigate the chance of rejection. If match-funding is not secured this could Funding is secured as match in the form of result in the project not continuing. Town Council support and Lottery funding If the cost of construction rises by the time The short delivery timeframe of this project an application is approved there may be mitigates the chances of construction cost insufficient funds to progress with project. increases. As a result of the project works over-running Open Newtown will have a Project Manager the agreed timescale, there is a risk that the closely managing delivery of the scheme, project cannot complete before the funding and this will be monitored by PCC. The cut-off date. successful contractor will be given clear guidelines for the start and finish dates of the scheme.
7.5 Statutory Consents, Standards and Regulation Requirements Please provide information on how you will comply with the relevant legislation e.g. equality, environmental, planning and also achieve standards appropriate to your project e.g.DQR, BREEAM.
About the building The approach to sustainability in this project is to apply an ‘Eco -minimalism’ which focuses on ‘getting the priorities right’. We are implementing a coherent holistic strategy, which makes the form and materials of the building do the majority of the work of moderating the internal climate and only applying technology when needed. By reducing the application of Building Management Systems (BMS) and providing the user with greater localised control the environment is sustained at a comfortable level using only the necessary energy.
It is sensible that an organisation like the Open Newtown realise a very low energy building rather than go on for years spending capital on rising fuel costs. For this reason we are proposing to build to the internationally recognised PHI Low Energy Building standard. Besides a high level of energy efficiency, Low Energy buildings offer an optimum standard of thermal comfort and a high degree of user satisfaction as well as protection against condensation related damage. These buildings minimise the performance gap.
Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery will ensure fresh air is supplied to the building occupants at all times. This will be supplemented by simple openable windows and secure louvered vents to all occupied spaces.
The building has been designed to achieve good levels of daylighting and useful solar gains, minimising the need for artificial lighting and space heating. A roof mounted photovoltaic array will generate electricity, which will be used in the building and can be combined with a battery storage.
By designing out unnecessary complexity and keeping detailing simple and elegant, it is possible to produce Low Energy Building standard at no extra capital cost. This realises running costs savings from day one.
Doc 3a - TRI Strategic Application Form v1.0 June 2018 14 About Planning Permissions
Although a statutory pre planning application process in not required, during the delivery phase of this scheme, working with the architects, a detailed set of consultation events have taken place. The necessary reports have been identified and a full set of ecological assessments have been carried out on the current building and a final ecology report will be submitted with the planning application. Tree assessments have also been carried out in preparation for the submission of the planning application.
Appraisal on the planning process can be found in Appendix 4
Full planning application can be found on the Powys Planning Portal
All plans and diagrams supplied as Appendices 4b i, ii, iii & iv
Please provide in the table below information relating to applications for consents and their current status. Please attach copies of statutory consents secured. Type of Approval Approving Body Current Status (include Required relevant dates) Planning Permission Powys County Council Submitted 28th June 2019
Section 8 – Project Costs and Funding package
8.1 Project Expenditure and Proposed Funding Package Please complete Annex 3a and 3b to this form to provide details of the project costs and proposed funding breakdown. Appendix 3 (in the Supplementary Appendices document) gives a summary of the capital costs behind the application Appendix 3c is the Full Cost Plan report from our consultants and this is appended separately.
Section 9 – Compliance
9.1 Procurement Please provide details to confirm that the project has/or will be procured in accordance with local authority standing orders.
Open Newtown can confirm that it has been, and will continue to, procure in line with the procurement rules of Powys County Council
Powys County Council’s procurement thresholds, namely: - £0 - £4,999 = one written quote
- £5K - £50K three written quotes
Doc 3a - TRI Strategic Application Form v1.0 June 2018 15 - over £50K require tendering
Powys County Council’s procurement team services will be utlilised during each procurement process to ensure compliance.
Purchases will be based on the best value for money considering the quality of the service, goods or works proposed or on the lowest price.
9.2 State Aid Is the project state aid compliant? Please confirm which cover is applicable e.g. GBER, de Minimus, etc.
The general block exemption regulation (GBER) provides state aid cover for categories of aid, which are exempt from the European Commission’s (EC) formal notification process. This project will be covered by the Welsh Local Government Capital Investment Aid & Employment Aid Scheme, State aid reference no: SA.49737, the Welsh Local Government Property Development Grant Scheme State aid reference no: SA.49738, and the Welsh Government Support for Sports, Multifunctional and Local Infrastructure Project Scheme State aid reference no: SA.49739.
Section 10 –Sustainability
10.1 Long term viability and Economic Sustainability Please detail your plans for the sustainability of the project and any assets. This should include details on how the project delivery body proposes to continue the activity beyond the lifetime of the project. Please provide a business plan, three year profit and loss forecast and three year cash flow forecast.
Long term viability
The new building itself will be built to last and built to keep operational costs low. A new build property built with Passivhaus in mind it will achieve Low Energy Standard; keeping energy costs low for its lifetime.
The building needs to be robust, durable and strong, it needs to have a low maintenance and be easily repairable. Ideally it should be made of benign materials - low embodied energy, non-polluting, preferably of sustainably produced renewable (e.g. FSC home-grown timber) or from common mineral sources, preferably locally sourced. External envelope will be highly insulating, airtight construction, but ‘vapour open’ for safety and health reasons. The following construction methods are proposed:
1. Ground floor: insulated concrete slab with high percentage of GGBS (Ground- granulated blast-furnace slag ) in lieu of cement 2. Main frame: efficient single span steel frame to provide flexible internal arrangement 3. External walls: high performance timber frame (larsen truss) walls fully filled with recycled cellulose insulation. Bike and kayak hire will be a robust long format brick construction 4. Roofs: high performance timber I-beams fully filled with recycled cellulose insulation 5. First floor: timber I-beams spanning between steel frame 6. High performance triple glazed windows and doors Doc 3a - TRI Strategic Application Form v1.0 June 2018 16 The Riverside Enterprise Hub includes a destination play park and tourist information providing one aspect of its long-term viability is that it proves a valuable part of the town’s economy. Able to retain economic spend within the town and to attract new visitor spend to the town it will be critical role in enhancing the economic growth of Newtown.
Economic Sustainability
Riverside Enterprise Hub will benefit directly from the capital investments being made through Open Newtown elsewhere on the open spaces. For example an £80,000 mountain bike trail, £30,000 worth of canoe access points, a £950,000 well-being project running alongside Powys Teaching health Boards plans for a well-being centre and £123,000 of new destination play park being financed through the Town Council. Together with softer investments around local food production and outdoor activities the Riverside Enterprise Hub is able to capitalise on this.
Its café / retail facilities can augment provision already in the Town and the business plan shows a healthy income that can sustain the building beyond this funding stage. The additional income from events spaces and canoe hire point make this a viable business in its own right; one that is based on delivering wider economic growth to the town.
Profit from the operation of the Riverside Enterprise Hub will be dedicated to maintaining and developing the towns 140 acres of open spaces, something that was under threat from previous austerity measure but which can now be maintained by the people of Newtown themselves.
See Appendix 8a and 8b for the Business Plan
Doc 3a - TRI Strategic Application Form v1.0 June 2018 17 Section 11 – Supplementary Documents The following documents must be attached to the application: Please tick (✓) to confirm the Annex documents are attached 1. Site and location plan (Section 4.1) Appendices 4b & 5 2. Photographs (if applicable) (Section 4.1) Appendix 6 3. Evidence of need (Section 6.2) Appendix 9 4. Cost Benefit Analysis (Section 6.3) Within Application 5. Development Appraisal (where applicable) (Section 1) N/A 6. All Statutory Consents Secured (Section 7.5) Appendix 4 7. Procurement Documents (Section 9.1) N/A 8. Business Plan (Section 10.1) to include profit & loss Appendix 8 and cash flow forecasts Annex 1 Project Outputs YES Annex 2 Risk Register YES Annex 3a Project Expenditure and Proposed Funding Package YES and 3b Please list any other supplementary documents you are including in support of your application and indicate which section of the application they support. Architects report (Architype) (incl M&E, Planning Appendix 4a permission) Landscape Design Appendix 4biv Building Plans and elevations Appendix 4bi,ii & iii Timeline - Gantt chart Appendix 7 Formal Cost Plan Appendix 3c Images Appendix 6 Masterplan connecting Riverside to Retail Appendix 5c Governance diagrams Appendix 10
Privacy Notice – Welsh Government Grants
The Welsh Government provides a wide range of grant schemes to help deliver our policies and create a fairer, more prosperous Wales.
The Welsh Government will be data controller for any personal data you provide in relation to your grant application or request for grant funding. The information will be processed as part of our public task (i.e. exercising our official authority to undertake the core role and functions of the Welsh Government) and will help us assess your eligibility for funding.
Before we provide grant funding to you, we undertake checks for the purposes of preventing fraud and money laundering, and to verify your identity. These checks require us to process personal data about you to third party fraud prevention agencies.
If we, or a fraud prevention agency, determine that you pose a fraud or money laundering risk, we may refuse to provide the grant funding you applied for, or we may stop providing existing grant funding to you.
A record of any fraud or money laundering risk will be retained by the fraud prevention agencies, and may result in others refusing to provide services, financing or employment to you.
Doc 3a - TRI Strategic Application Form v1.0 June 2018 18 We will keep personal information contained in files in line with our retention policy. If successful in your application then your personal data will be kept for 7 years after the date when you, as grant recipient, are free from all conditions relating to the grant awarded and all payment have been made. However, if the funding is awarded under General Block Exemption or De Minimis, your personal data will be kept for 10 years from the conclusion of any aid award. If you are unsuccessful your details will be kept for one year after the date you provided them.
Under the data protection legislation, you have the right: to access the personal data the Welsh Government holds on you; require us to rectify inaccuracies in that data to (in certain circumstances) object to or restrict processing for (in certain circumstances) your data to be ‘erased’ to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) who is the independent regulator for data protection
For further details about the information the Welsh Government holds and its use, or if you want to exercise your rights under the GDPR, please see contact details below:
Data Protection Officer, Welsh Government, Cathay’s Park, CARDIFF, CF10 3NQ Email Address: [email protected]
The contact details for the Information Commissioner’s Office are: Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF Telephone: 01625 545 745 or 0303 123 1113 Website: www.ico.gov.uk
Section 12 - Signature & Date Declaration This must be signed by the Section 151 Officer on behalf of the lead local authority.
I confirm that the information detailed in this application form, including annexes and appendices, is to the best of my knowledge and belief, accurate in all respects. I confirm this project has been endorsed by the Regional Partnership.
Name (Print) Jane Thomas……………………………………………………
Signature …………………………………………
Position in Organisation Head of Finance (Section 151 Officer)……………………………
Date 9th July, 2019…………………………………………………
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