STATIONS AS PLACES Opportunity Prospectus An integrated vision and delivery masterplan for Wellington Station WELLINGTON STATION November 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 Wellington 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 the station and highlights some of the opportunities for commercial development, partnership working, inward investment and community regeneration. We have included a profile of Wellington station in this document and looked at different types of activity neighbouring the station, from development in the town centre area, to local businesses providing facilities to the travelling public and local authorities using existing assets in different ways. Wellington is a small town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin, approximately 5 miles to the north west of Telford. Situated on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton railway line, the station acts as a link for commuters and leisure trips. The station facilities are adequate, but they could be improved considering recent growth in passenger numbers, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. This Prospectus identifies opportunities for improvements at the station and to further strengthen the role of the station in the community and local economy. Coronavirus (Covid-19) Reviving our Railway The Covid-19 pandemic has caused massive economic and social disruption. Rail operation across the country was placed into an Emergency Management Agreement with the Department for Transport, which has now moved into An Emergency Recovery Management Agreement. We were proud to keep our railways running during the pandemic to serve key workers and allow them to travel safely. We are now in a phase of reviving our railways and the communities they serve. There are big new challenges for our Stations as Places Programme: • Passenger numbers will take time to recover. • The way in which station buildings are used has changed. • City, town and local centres will have to reinvent themselves as retailers withdraw and office buildings are less full. • Ways of funding new investment will need to be transform. Stations as Places will be forward looking and opportunistic. ‘The moment is now’ for stations to harness community spirit, pursue more entrepreneurial ways of using station buildings and support the revitalisation of high streets and local centres. Contents Chapter Page Why ‘Stations as Places’ for Wellington Station? 2 Bringing our partners together 3 About Wellington Station 4 - 8 The Headline Opportunities – The Station 9 The Headline Opportunities – The Surrounding Area 10 The Headline Opportunities – Community 11 Opportunity Plan 12 The Headline Opportunities – The Surrounding Area 13 Understanding the Potential for Growth 14 - 15 The Aspiration 16 Development Opportunities 17 Opportunities for Investment 18 Action Plan 19 Who to contact and how to get involved 20 1 Why ‘Stations as Places’ for Wellington Station? THE VISION Who are the West Midlands Station Alliance? The WMSA is a formal alliancing arrangement between industry partners with a common vision and forward plan, including infrastructure owner Network Rail, station facilities owner Chiltern Railways, operator West Midlands Trains (WMT) and 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. Why has Wellington Station been selected? Wellington railway station, located on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton line, provides an important connection for commuters into Telford, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street, as well as providing services to the north west and Wales. Passenger numbers are growing, as is the local population, due to local housing development and there are pressures on car parking at the station. As passenger numbers are growing, now is a prime time for Wellington to invest in the station to deliver improvements which would benefit regular users, the local community and businesses in the town. This Prospectus provides an opportunity to engage with the stakeholders of Wellington station to capture the opportunities and commitment to delivering improvements at the station. The drivers for developing this location Passenger numbers at Wellington increased by 78% between 2008 and 2018. The station car park is full early in the morning on weekdays. It is therefore essential that passengers are encouraged to access the station using more sustainable modes. Increasing footfall around the station presents an opportunity for local businesses to benefit. There is an existing strong community spirit through the Friends of Wellington Station group which will be further nurtured through this Prospectus action plan. Community groups are also proud of the gateway which the station provides for walking and rambling, not least access to the Wrekin, and so the action plan will include leisure-based initiatives. 2 Bringing our Partners together Our stakeholders really matter to us. Stakeholder feedback is key to creating a prospectus that resonates with different audiences and ensures consensus on the future of the station and surrounding area. We want to ensure that what we collect and receive is representative and inclusive. Our approach to capturing local insights in Wellington covers the following four dimensions: LOCAL PERSPECTIVE SOCIAL VALUE Railways stations should reflect and cater for the Transforming a railway station from a ‘passenger local community to which it serves thoroughfare’ into a genuine community asset will To help shape the future of the station to meet the needs have a positive impact on the local community of the local community, involving them in the planning Residents and businesses are more likely to take process is critical. Community involvement helps to ownership of their local station if it is a pleasant and safe make a station a more attractive and valuable community place to be, meets their needs and represents local asset. Stations as Places aims to establish strong links people and heritage. A railway station as a valued between the station management and businesses, the community hub can offer a real contribution to improving community and other local stakeholders, ensuring that social inclusion and mental wellbeing; from promoting the voice of the community is heard. inclusivity through access improvements or simply making waiting as a part of a morning commute more pleasant. LEGACY COMMUNITY An important objective of Stations as Places is to A railway station is often a great asset to a provide a long-term legacy by establishing integration community, but a community can also be a great and community involvement at the heart of the station. asset to a railway station This will involve the community taking a level of ownership There is room to grow community involvement and of the stations and passing this onto the future generations enthusiasm for the station. A station which is integrated to keep each station a valuable part of the local with the local community shows that people care and that community. Of course, Network Rail, West Midlands they have something to be proud of, improving social Trains and the Local Government will also have an inclusion and mental wellbeing whilst making the station important role in the legacy of the station and that is why a more pleasant place to be. The Friends of Wellington partnership working between the community and these Station group will continue to be nurtured as a organisations is so important. community asset. 3 ABOUT WELLINGTON STATION Key Facts The station is situated in the centre of Wellington, located on Station Road. Wellington is a small market town, located approximately 5 miles north west of central Telford. Station Typology Wellington is a local gateway station, serving the town and surrounding area. The passenger catchment area of the station is potentially widened by railheading from the Oakengates side of Wellington to take advantage of the car parking at Wellington Station and the more frequent rail service than at Oakengates station. The station is served by West Midlands Trains and Transport for Wales. Avanti West Coast provides one direct service to London Euston per day. The station lies on the former Great Western Railway's London Paddington to Birkenhead via Birmingham Snow Hill line and has two platforms. Originally, during the peak