STATIONS AS PLACES Opportunity Prospectus Integration, Community and Delivery: a Masterplan for Albrighton Station ALBRIGHTON STATION APRIL 2020 FOREWORD Introducing the concept of Stations as Places The Stations as Places programme aims to promote local railway stations as community ‘hubs’ rather than simply access points onto the rail network. The vision is to develop local railway stations as an asset highly valued within the community, contributing to economic growth and acting as a hub for creativity, heritage and social amenity. The Vision “We will develop stations as quality gateways between communities and the railway, supporting the changing needs of our passengers, residents and visitors. Stations in the West Midlands will be community assets, supporting the wellbeing and development of the areas they serve through involving local community and business.” West Midlands Station Alliance (WMSA) Mission Statement What does the prospectus do for Albrighton Station? There is an important role for the railways to play in both the economic and social regeneration of the local areas which our stations serve. This Opportunity Prospectus sets out the economic, social and geographic landscape of the area around our station and highlights some of the opportunities for commercial development, partnership working, inward investment and community regeneration. We have included a profile of Albrighton station in this document and looked at different types of activity neighbouring the station, from local businesses providing facilities to the travelling public, local authorities using existing assets in different ways, businesses looking for investment opportunities and the impact of new development in the surrounding area. Contents Chapter Page Chapter Page Why ‘Stations as Places’? 2 Community Insight 12 Bringing our Partners together 3 Delivery Strategy 13 About the Station 4 Opportunities for Investment 14 Get in touch and keep up to date What Do We Know? 6 Action Plan and Targets 15 You can email [email protected] and 16 Survey Results 7 Who to contact and how to get involved one of the team will get back to you! Services and Trains 8 Station Layout 9 You can also follow progress on Stations The Headline Opportunities 10 as Places at: www.wmre.org.uk/stationsalliance Opportunity Plan 11 1 Why ‘Stations as Places’ for Albrighton? Who are the West Midlands Station Alliance? WMSA is a formal alliancing arrangement between industry partners with a common vision and What do we Know forward plan, including infrastructure owner Network Rail, station facilities owner West Midlands Trains (WMT) and local government West Midlands Rail Executive. The role of the WMSA is to facilitate Stations as Places by bringing together various stakeholders to work together in partnership; ensuring that the Stations as Places vision and local aspirations are shared between the stakeholders, the infrastructure owner - the station facilities owner - and the Local Government. community ENGAGEMENT Why Albrighton Station has been selected? Albrighton is an important station for commuters going into the West Midlands and visitors going to the town. The station has an important role to play in the village through providing connectivity building a to job opportunities in the West Midlands metropolitan area. There are two peak trains per hour VISION between Albrighton and Birmingham New Street. The local community in Albrighton is very strong with a successful Parish Council. The drivers for developing this location Stations as Places Albrighton station is used by over 100 million passengers annually and provides an sustainable PROSPECTUS transport opportunity and an alternative to the M54. The two platform station has one accessible platform 1 is an accessible platform with the second platform shortly to become accessible. The research we have conducted shows that a lot of people that live in the area are elderly so accessibility is very important. Monitoring Progress & Continuing Engagement The Prospectus This Prospectus sets out the headline opportunities for Albrighton Station; including car parking management, community integration, improvements to the passenger environment and promoting the area around the station. The flow chart on the right shows how we are delivering Stations as Places in Albrighton. 2 Bringing our Partners together Our stakeholders really matter to us. Whether it’s a major developer building new homes in reach of the station or an individual customer that needs to be able to make an easy journey to a hospital appointment using a combination of train and bus, the Stations as Places team wants to hear views from stakeholders and customers. Our inclusive consultation approach ensures we cover the 4 dimensions of: COMMUNITY LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A railway station is often a great asset to a community, but a community Some railway stations are ideally suited for some areas and not at all for can also be a great asset to a railway station. others. Albrighton Station is already clearly a valuable community asset which To help shape the future of Albrighton station, the needs and requirements needs to be cared for now and in the future, however, there is room for of the local community, involving the community in the planning process is growing the community’s involvement in the station. We have worked critical. The travel survey can establish how and when people travel to and closely with Albrighton Parish Council as part of the survey consultation from the station, but community involvement helps to make a station a more we conducted. We want to continue to work with the Parish Council to attractive and valuable community asset. Stations as Places aims to establish consider how they can help ensure the station serves the community. strong links between the station management and businesses, the community We would also like to explore using the disused station building as a and other local stakeholders; ensuring that the voice of the community is community facility. heard. SOCIAL VALUE LEGACY Transforming a railway station from a ‘passenger thoroughfare’ into An important objective of Stations as Places it to provide a long-term a genuine community asset will have a positive impact on the local legacy by establishing integration and community involvement as the community. heart of Albrighton Station. Residents and businesses are more likely to take ownership of their local This will involve the community taking a level of ownership of the station station if it is a pleasant and safe place to be, meets their needs and and passing this onto the future generations to keep each station a valuable represents local people and heritage. A railway station can be a valued part of the local community. Of course, Network Rail, West Midlands Trains community hub and offer a real contribution to improving social inclusion and the Local Government will also have an important role in the legacy of and mental well-being; from promoting inclusivity through membership of a the station and that is why partnership working between the community and ‘friends of’ group or simply making waiting as a part of a morning commute these organisations is so important. more pleasant. Most importantly, an integrated station shows that people care and that they have something to be proud of. 3 About the station KEY FACTS The station opened in 1849, at the time it was located on the London Paddington to Birkenhead via Birmingham Snow Hill line. It is now part of the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton line. The station is only a four minute drive from junction 3 of the M54, meaning you can quickly get from the station onto the strategic road network. STATION ACCESS There is only one entrance to the station, via station road. The customers arriving at the station are required to walk through the car An image of a DMU at the station. An image of the A41 (Albrighton- park which is on an incline. The station is a 10 minute walk from the Photo taken on 03/09/1983 By-Pass) running adjacent to the town centre, the walk to the town centre is safe through a residential Copyright Geoff Dowling; all rights station, a quck and direct route area which is well lit and with safe footpaths. However, there is a reserve. towards Wolverhampton in one distint lack of wayfinding between the station and the town. direction and towards the M54 in the other. FACILITIES OVERVIEW STATION TYPOLOGY Albrighton Station Local Gateway – serves the town and local centres A waiting shelter on each platform - Access to Albrighton local centre Help points (providing information about the train - Access to residential areas in Albrighton and Donington service and the local area) - Access to Donington and Albrighton Nature Reserve Customer information screens on each platform - Gateway to the village and provides access to other regional centres for local residents A ticket vending machine Car park No staffed ticket office 4 ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ About¬ the station ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ LEASE¬ PLAN ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ © Crown copyright and datab ase rights 2017* ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ Ordnance Survey 01000406 92. ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¯ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ R¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ E ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ 100.0m ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬ ¬