BEDWORTH TOWN CENTRE VISIONING November 2019 Executive Summary IDP were commissioned by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council in partnership with Warwickshire County Council to prepare a high level visioning document for Bedworth Town Centre. Following analysis of the study area, seven opportunity locations and sites were identified and preliminary proposals prepared. Capacity analysis concluded that a total of 35,167 sqm Gross External Area of new development could be proposed, covering retail, leisure, commercial, residential (in the form of apartments and mews houses) and a hotel or leisure facility along with improvements to the public realm. The resulting affect of these interventions would be a revitalisation of Bedworth Town Centre, increasing footfall and attracting new investment. Cover Image: Artists impression of All Saints Square, the heart of Bedworth Town Centre. Illustrative only - subject to planning and relevant Council policies. 2 weareidp.com Bedworth Visioning Contents First Issued: August 2019 This Issue: November 2019 Document Reference: C4275 Revision: F 01 Introduction 04 Potential Key Sites 1.1 Analysis of Study Area 4.1 Types of Interventions 1.2 Visioning 4.2 Proposed Development 4.3 Site A 4.4 Site B 02 Background 4.5 Site C 4.6 Site D 2.1 Location and Transport 4.7 Site E 2.2 History 4.8 Site F 2.3 Demographics 4.9 Site G 2.4 Local Plan 2.5 Notable Buildings 05 The Vision 03 Study Area Appraisal 5.1 Transforming All Saints Square 3.1 Existing Environment 3.2 Itemised Analysis 06 Capacity Summary 3.3 Aspirations 3.4 Opportunities 6.1 Assessment Factors 07 Conclusion Bedworth Visioning Bedworth 3 weareidp.com S N S U R R U NP M A E NP ATH M ATH SUM Former public toilet block, recently demolished, with Town Centre Boundary planning for 2 small houses. Tescos Iceland Almhouses Church Market * Liberal WCC Club Pub Kings House Aldi Home Bargains * * Strategic Housing All Saints Telephone Site Church * Exchange Fire Station Civic Centre Police Station Library Bedworth Cemetery Miners Welfare Park * areas for discussion 4 weareidp.com Introduction 01 Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough 1.1 Analysis of Study Area 1.2 Visioning Council in partnership with This document sets out analysis of the These aspirations have been visualised by the Warwickshire County Council have existing town centre area, considering positive identification of potential key opportunity commissioned IDP to prepare a and negative factors that are contributing to locations and development sites within the high level visioning document for Bedworth’s current environment. Through this centre. With the improvement, development Bedworth Town Centre. analysis, a series of aspirations for Bedworth’s and redevelopment of these locations and future town centre have been identified. sites comes the emergence of the new vision for Bedworth. The study area has been identified as the area within Bedworth Town Centre boundary which is indicated in blue on the illustration opposite. A strong and deliverable vision for the future of Bedworth Town Centre with a clear action plan. 5 weareidp.com Background 02 Bedworth town centre was 2.1 Location and Transport 2.2 History redesigned in the 1970’s. It is now Bedworth is within the borough of Nuneaton Originally a small market town with Saxon a traffic-free zone, with a mix and Bedworth. It lies 101 miles northwest of origins, Bedworth developed into an industrial of national chain stores such as London and 19 miles east of Birmingham. It town in the 18th and 19th centuries, due Boots, Peacocks as well as charity is situated between Coventry, 6 miles to the largely to coal mining and the overspill of shops and banks. There is Costa South and Nuneaton 3.5 miles to the north. ribbon weaving and textile industries from Coffee together with large Tesco’s Bedworth has six main suburban districts, nearby Coventry. The opening of the Coventry namely Collycroft, Mount Pleasant, Bedworth canal in 1769 and later, the railway in 1850, and Aldi stores. Heath, Coalpit Field, Goodyers End and Exhall. enhanced the towns growth. Bedworth was Bedworth has good transport links being for many years primarily a coal mining town, Bedworth has a permanent immediately north of the M6 motorway at but the last colliery closed in 1994. In the covered market, trading Tuesdays, junction 3. The A444 also provides fast access middle of the 19th Century, the large number Fridays and Saturdays selling to Nuneaton and the Ricoh Arena, the Arena of public houses, and thirsty miners lead to clothes, books, angling equipment, Retail Park and northern / central Coventry. the town being called ‘Black Bedworth’. Due Bedworth railway station situated in the town to its good transport links, and proximity to antiques and collectables, along centre is on the Coventry to Nuneaton railway major cities such as Coventry, Birmingham with fruit and veg. line and was reopened in 1988 after the original and Leicester, Bedworth is now growing as a station at the same site was closed in 1965. dormitory town. There are bus services to Coventry, Nuneaton and other local centres. 6 weareidp.com Background continued 02 2.3 Demographics 2.4 Local Plan 2.5 Notable Buildings In the census of 2011 the town of Bedworth is designated as a Town Centre Along with All Saints Church which lies in Bedworth had a population of 30,438 with in both the Adopted Local Plan (2006) and the heart of Bedworth, the most notable approximately 61%* aged between 16 and 64. the Borough Plan. Nuneaton is classified as buildings in Bedworth are the Nicholas Around 75%* of which are in economically a ‘Principle Town’ and Bedworth as ‘Town Chamberlaine Almshouses on All Saints active (employed and unemployed) with Centre’ and the hierarchy is reflected in Policy Square, which are built in Tudor style and around 25%* economically inactive including TC3 of the Borough Plan. For Bedworth, dated from 1840, having been funded by a students, retired, home makers and people appropriate uses are retail (A1 - A5), office, legacy from the local benefactor Nicholas looking after family. leisure, entertainment, residential and Chamberlaine (1635 - 1715) through his will. restaurants / eating establishments. The The main entertainment venue is Bedworth requirements in terms of office, retail and is Bedworth Civic Hall which plays host to a * Percentage data has been taken from the cafes, restaurants and bars are set out in diverse range of activities including concerts Labour Market Profile for Nuneaton and policy TC1 of the Borough Plan. by international artistes and orchestras. Bedworth - Office for National Statistics. Bedworth Town Centre: Floor space range requirements in sqm. Offices 1,000 - 2,000sqm, Comparison 1,570 - 1,925 sqm, Convenience 460 - 540 sqm, Cafes Bars and Restaurants 324 - 393 sqm 7 weareidp.com S N S U R R U NP M A E Leicester Road Approach Road Leicester NP ATH M ATH SUM Town Centre Boundary Conservation Area Outside Conservation Area within Town Centre Tescos Chapel Street Approach Potential Development Sites P Listed Buildings Green Spaces Community Assets Iceland Parking Arrival Ring Road / Bypass by Bus Vehicular Approaches Almhouses Public Transport Church Pedestrian Routes Newtown Road Approach Market * Liberal WCC Club Pub Kings House Aldi Home Bargains * Strategic Housing All Saints * Telephone King Street Approach Arrival Site Church Exchange by Train P Fire Station Civic Centre P P Police Station Library P Bedworth Cemetery Miners Welfare Park Coventry Road Approach * areas for discussion P Summary of town centre analysis. 8 weareidp.com Study Area Appraisal 03 An analysis of the study area has taken place looking at existing built form, use and character. 3.1 Existing Environment Bedworth has many assets, the historic Church of All Saints, the Almshouses and the Civic Hall along with high quality green spaces with the Miners Welfare Park and grounds All Saints Square All Saints Church associated with and around the Church. However there are currently a noticeable number of vacant premises within the centre of the town. The redevelopment that took place in the 1970’s creates a environment that could benefit from improvement. Most of the pedestrian areas are block paving which would benefit from softening with the introduction of landscaping. The Civic Hall Almshouses 9 weareidp.com 3.2 Itemised Analysis Conservation Area: Areas outside the Conservation Area: Areas of Opportunity: S N S U R R S N S N U N A E S R R S R R N P M U U A P ATH M U NP M A E U NP M E ATH SUM NP ATH M NP ATH M ATH SUM ATH SUM Town Centre Boundary Town Centre Boundary Town Centre Boundary Conservation Area Conservation Area Conservation Area Outside Conservation Area Outside Conservation Area within Town Centre within Town Centre Tescos Tescos Tescos Potential Development Sites Iceland Iceland Iceland Almhouses Almhouses Almhouses Church Church Church Market Market Market WCC * Liberal WCC WCC Club Pub Kings * Liberal * Liberal House Club Pub Kings Club Pub Kings Home House House Aldi Home Home Bargains Aldi Aldi * Bargains * Bargains * * * * Strategic All Saints Telephone Strategic Strategic Housing All Saints Telephone Housing All Saints Telephone Site Church * Exchange Housing * Site Church * Exchange Site Church Exchange Fire Station Fire Station Fire Station Civic Centre Civic Civic Centre Centre Police Police Police Station Library Station Library Station Library Bedworth Bedworth Bedworth Cemetery Cemetery Cemetery Miners Miners Miners Welfare Welfare Welfare Park Park Park * areas for discussion * areas for discussion * areas for discussion Bedworth Conservation Area is shown here Areas outside the conservation area but Highlighted in the blue diagonal hatch outlined in orange. It includes elements within within the Town Centre boundary are shown are areas that fall with in the Town Centre the Town Centre boundary - The Market Hall, here in an orange solid hatch.