STATIONS AS PLACES Opportunity Prospectus Integration, Community and Delivery: a Masterplan for Water Orton WATER ORTON STATION JUNE 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 Water Orton? 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 Water Orton 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. This is a living document, the goals and objectives set out in here will change over time. Contents Chapter Page Chapter Page Why ‘Stations as Places’? 2 Listening to our Community 17 Bringing our Partners together 3 Making the Station a better place 18 About the Station 4 Development strategy 19 What Do We Know? 6 Opportunities for Investment 20 You can email [email protected] and one of the team will get back to you! Survey Results 7 Action Plan and Targets 21 Services and Trains 9 Who to contact and how to get involved 22 You can also follow progress on Stations The Headline Opportunities 10 as Places at: Local Growth – Planning 13 www.wmre.org.uk/stationsalliance Community Insight 14 The Aspiration 15 Get in touch and keep up to date 1 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. 2 Why ‘Stations as Places’ for Water Orton? 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 (WMRE). 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 community Local Government. ENGAGEMENT Why Water Orton has been selected? Water Orton is an important station for commuters into Birmingham City Centre and accessing the East Midlands. The station has an important role to play in the economic growth of North building a Warwickshire through opening the area to job opportunities in the West Midlands metropolitan VISION area and the East Midlands. The rail service to Water Orton is currently infrequent and the timetable has periods where trains call at the station almost back to back, but then the community are left with a multiple hour wait until the next train. The drivers for developing this location Stations as Places PROSPECTUS Water Orton station is used by over 57,000 passengers annually and is noticeably busier at peak commuting times. There is a community around Water Orton that is keen to see the station facilities developed in the future. Monitoring Progress & Continuing Engagement The Prospectus This Prospectus sets out the headline opportunities for Water Orton, including managing car access, 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 at Water Orton. 3 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. Water Orton Station is already clearly a valuable community asset which To help shape the future of Water Orton 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. There are a range of critical. Community involvement helps to make a station a more attractive and businesses in the local area whose staff benefit from the station and we valuable community asset. Stations as Places aims to establish strong links would like to explore how these businesses can become more involved in between the station management and businesses, the community and other the development of the station. local stakeholders; ensuring that the voice of the community is heard. SOCIAL VALUE LEGACY Transforming a railway station from a ‘passenger thoroughfare’ into a An important objective of Stations as Places it to provide a long-term genuine community asset will have a positive impact on the local legacy by establishing integration and community involvement as the community. heart of Water Orton 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. 4 About the Station KEY FACTS DID YOU KNOW? The station was first opened in 1842 by the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway. A freak tornado in Birmingham in 1996 damaged the wooden The station is near Birmingham, however just within the staircase. Rather than remove and Warwickshire County Council local authority area. The station is replace the staircase was repaired owned by Network Rail and managed by West Midlands Railway, causing the zig zag we see today. however the only train services that call at the station are Cross This is the only access to the Country services. platform. There is no easy access for persons with restricted mobility STATION ACCESS The view of Water Orton's and specific access needs. original station showing the This station is very much intended to be a local station for local staggered platforms either side residents. There is no 'official' station car park so customers who of the footbridge. Source: www. access the station usually walk through Water Orton to use the warwickshirerailways.com station. There is a car park adjacent to the station which is owned by North Warwickshire Borough Council. This car park currently has no parking restrictions and so there is evidence of commuters using this car park all day. STATION TYPOLOGY The walking routes around the station are safe and suitable for customers with reduced mobility. There are, however, examples of As part of the Stations as Places Programme we have given customers parking on the surrounding streets when the car park is stations different typologies. We have identified Water Orton as a full.