High Streets Heritage Action Zone INITIAL PROPOSAL PART 1: GENERAL DETAILS 1.1. LEAD APPLICANT DETAILS a) Dorset Council b) Hugh de Iongh c) Community led Development Officer, Economic Development d) South Walks House, South Walks Road, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1UZ e) 07786 125038 f) [email protected] 1.2. SCHEME DETAILS a) Blandford Forum, Dorset b) Blandford Forum Conservation Area c) Historic England South West Regional Office d) Dorset Council e) Blandford Forum Town Centre SECTION 2: ESSENTIAL CRITERIA ESSENTIAL CRITERIA QUESTION APPLICANT TO CONFIRM 2.1 High Streets HAZs must be in a Have you included conservation area evidence to show that your YES, APPENDIX 1 Proposed High Streets HAZ is in a conservation area? 2.2 High Street HAZs must be delivered Have you included through a partnership, and include evidence of commitment YES, the Local Authority as a partner (The from partners to your LOCAL AUTHORITY IS local authority does not need to be proposed High Streets LEAD PARTNER, AND the lead partner, but there needs to HAZ (e.g. signed letters of APPROVED BY EXEC be evidence of their commitment to support from senior DIRECTOR FOR PLACE the initiative). representatives)? AND CABINET PORTFOLIO HOLDER 2.3 High Street HAZs must be delivered Have you included with demonstrable support of the evidence of support from YES, APPENDIX 5 local community the local community for your proposed High Streets HAZ (e.g. assessment of community support, letters of support from community bodies)? 2.4 High Streets HAZs must be capable Have you included YES of delivery (scheme completion) in evidence that your four years (April 2020-March 2024). proposed High Streets HAZ is deliverable within a four- year period (e.g. a high level programme)? SECTION 3: SUPPORTING INFORMATION A. THE PLACE 3.1 PLEASE BRIEFLY DESCRIBE YOUR PROPOSED HIGH STREETS HAZ AREA AS IT IS (750 WORDS) Heritage ‘The centre of Blandford forms one of the most satisfying Georgian ensembles anywhere in England; not only was it rebuilt in a single campaign, but there is a distinct architectural flavour about the whole, the basic uniformity of design and materials being relieved just enough by spirited individual touches.’ (1) There can be no stronger endorsement of the heritage significance of the town centre than this from the nationwide Pevsner Architectural Guides. As historic background, the town centre was rebuilt after the majority of the town centre was destroyed by a fire in 1731, which gives the cohesive architectural style. Heritage At Risk Blandford Forum town centre contains 138 listed buildings (inc 8 Grade 1 ), and is within a Conservation Area (Appendix 1). However, this town centre Conservation Area is on the Historic England Heritage At Risk Register, considered as Condition ‘very bad’, Vulnerability ‘low’ and Trend ‘deteriorating’, and with 6 buildings on the Buildings At Risk Register (2). Furthermore, a comprehensive survey by the Blandford Historic Buildings Trust in 2018 (Appendix 2) identified 14 buildings in the town centre in a deteriorating condition and needing significant work. A Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan is being prepared for the town centre area, with local input, but is still at a draft stage. The Town For the purposes of this EoI we are using the Town Centre boundary (Appendix 3) as set out in the Blandford+ Neighbourhood Plan 2, 2017. The town centre comprises the main Market Place, with a number of streets which run into and out of the Market Place, (East Street, The Plocks, Sheep Market Hill, Salisbury Street), reflecting the original medieval town layout. Although the town centre presents a fine visual classical façade, and there has been focused work on a few key buildings (see Qu 3.11), many of the buildings need proper stewardship to stop ongoing deterioration, with significant works needed to the buildings identified in the Blandford Historic Buildings Trust survey, and minor works to many other buildings. The town centre also has a high number of independent businesses, but a number of the shop fronts themselves detract from the overall ensemble, being of poor quality and not reflecting common design and colour principles. In the Market Place itself, there is currently a Square, framed by buildings of outstanding architectural merit which surround a short-term car park with 16 spaces. Whilst of use for ‘pop-in shopping’, the parking detracts from the façade, and also uses space which could be better used as public space. The paving in the town centre is also problematic, with the paving material used from a previous scheme having become slippery, and problems with Utility contractors using tarmac to replace areas dug up. Town centre economy Blandford Forum, population 11,000, is the principal service town in North Dorset, with a wide catchment area. There are 186 retail businesses in the town centre, comprising a range of retail offer similar to the national average, but including a high number of independents, seen as a strength. There is a vacancy rate of 6.5% units/ 10.8% floorspace (3). There are markets on Thursdays and Saturdays (a Charter Market, dating back 800 years). There are two supermarkets on the edge of the town centre, and two out of town supermarkets. There is considerable traffic through the town centre, despite the bypass. Social aspects In social terms, Blandford Old Town Ward (the town centre) is disadvantaged, being the most deprived ward, under the IMD, in the old North Dorset area. Unemployment is statistically low, but so is the average wage with many on zero hours contracts and part-time work. The Blandford Food Bank supports people from the town centre. Why investment is needed now The HSHAZ programme has come at a very opportune time. This proposal is locally led, with support from Dorset Council. Blandford Town Team, Blandford+ Neighbourhood Plan Group and Blandford Forum Town Council have been working together to develop proposals with the primary aim of improving the central part of Blandford and particularly the Market Square, a long term aspiration. There is other ongoing heritage conservation work on specific buildings (see Qu 3.11) but this funding provides the opportunity to take a comprehensive approach. Notes: 1) The Buildings of England, Dorset, Michael Hill, John Newman & Nikolaus Pevsner, 2018 edition. 2) BAR Register https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/planning-buildings-land/planning/planning- constraints/listed-buildings/pdfs/nddc-buildings-at-risk-register-part-one-a-r.pdf 3) Joint Retail, Commercial and Leisure Study 2018, Carter Jonas https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/planning-buildings-land/planning-policy/north-dorset/local- plan-review/pdfs/north-dorset-local-plan-review/evidence-base/final-report-20.03.18-v2.pdf 3.2 PLEASE BRIEFLY DESCRIBE, WITH EVIDENCE, THE UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF THE HIGH STREET/TOWN CENTRE (750 WORDS) Economic The town centre should be the ‘go to’ place for residents; however the Carter Jonas survey 2018 (1) showed that although residents visit the town centre because it is close to home, many indicated there was nothing in particular they liked about the town centre. The development of two out-of-town supermarkets and online shopping mean that fewer people use the town centre, in line with national trends. In the 2014 Town Team survey (Appendix 4), residents reported a high level of dissatisfaction with the variety of shops in the town. It is also apparent from conversations that many travel to nearby Wimborne, which has a much more attractive town centre. So the first objective is to encourage existing residents to use the town centre more. Secondly, there are some significant developments planned on the outskirts of Blandford, and the town centre needs to be ready to attract the new residents. Thirdly, as the town centre improves, it will be able to bring in more people from its wide rural catchment area. Finally, the historic town centre should become a destination for tourists who appreciate Georgian architecture, a small but knowledgeable market. For example, there is a local project developing a tourism app explaining local history and architecture, with Blandford as one destination. o achieve this, the town centre needs to provide a more positive ‘experience’; developing an area of public space, by pedestrianising the Market Square parking area, would provide an attractive venue for better and more varied markets, including locally produced and sustainable food and other products, and for other events and activities. This will help the many retailers, including a significant number of independents, to benefit from the increasing footfall, and become more resilient. Social There is no real public space in the town centre apart from the pavements. The creation of a proper public space has the potential to create more of a gathering area, making it easier for people to mix and meet, both informally, and as part of cultural and other activities. This can both strengthen community activity, and help reduce social isolation. The provision of more seats in the town centre, as recommended by the Carter Jonas report (1) can also help reduce social isolation, particularly as the Old Town ward has a high level of deprivation. Many of the shops have poor disability access, and the pavements are increasingly difficult to navigate with broken slabs and tarmac. The project has the potential to make the town more accessible, both through grants for retailers re accessibility, and improving the pavements. Cultural There has been considerable work to revive both the markets and cultural and social activity with events at the Corn Exchange (the town’s historic town hall - which is in the process of refurbishment and remodelling). A group of organisations (Town Museum, Corn Exchange, St Peter’s Church) have organised joint events in the past, but a lack of public open space has been a constraint.