SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL Development, Environment and Leisure Directorate REPORT TO CABINET DATE 12 December 2007 REPORT OF Executive Director of Development Environment and ITEM Leisure SUBJECT Wicker Riverside Action Plan SUMMARY To seek authority for the City Council to approve and adopt the Wicker Riverside Action Plan. RECOMMENDATIONS Approves the contents of the Action Plan document as a background document to inform the emerging Sheffield Development Framework Approves the Action Plan as a material consideration in determining planning applications Authorises the Director of Development to investigate the potential for funding bids identified in section 4. RELEVANT SCRUTINY BOARD IF DECISION CALLED IN DEL Scrutiny Board FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Yes PARAGRAPHS 6.0 CLEARED BY: Paul Schofield EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT CARRIED OUT yes NO PARAGRAPHS: 5.0 CLEARED BY - S Millington BACKGROUND PAPERS No CONTACT POINT FOR ACCESS Jan Stratford TEL NO: 2734473 AREA(S) AFFECTED Wicker Riverside CATEGORY OF REPORT OPEN CLOSED Paragraphs(s) Statutory and Council Policy Checklist Category of Report OPEN Financial Implications YES Approved by: Paul Schofield Equal Opportunities Implications Yes Area Panel(s) Affected City Centre Environmental Sustainability Yes Community Safety Implications Yes Human Rights Implications NO Relevant Scrutiny Board if decision called in NO Press Release NO REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES REPORT TO CABINET 12 December 2007 1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT 1.1 To seek approval for the Wicker Riverside Action Plan which will form a framework for the regeneration of the area over the next 10 years and will be a material consideration in determining planning applications. 1.3 The report also gives members a summary of the priority transformational projects for the Area, included in the Action Plan, which will help kickstart regeneration. 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 The proposal for an Action Plan for the Wicker Riverside Area was first presented to Cabinet at its meeting of 12 May 2004. This Action Plan forms part of a suite of area-based plans which cover the City Centre and the Lower Don Valley and brings together information from local consultation and latest policy in the emerging Sheffield Development Framework (SDF) and the City Centre Masterplan Review. 2.2 The Action Plan is consistent with the emerging Sheffield Development Framework and adds detail to the policies proposed. The revised City Centre Master Plan, progress of which is currently ongoing, will fully support the Action Plan’s objectives. 2.3 This report summarizes the major comments received during the public consultations on the draft action plan (the most recent held on 15 May 2007 at the SADACCA Centre) and seeks Cabinet endorsement of the City Council’s response to these comments. 2.4 The results of the latest public consultation, along with a plan, are attached at Appendix A for Members’ information. The Draft Action Plan document is available in the Members’ library. An electronic copy is available from Jan Stratford in the City Development Division. 3.0 BACKGROUND 3.1 During the 18th, 19th and for part of the 20th Centuries the Wicker Riverside area, shown edged red on the attached plan, was a dense network of streets and lanes serving the City’s silversmiths, steel manufacturers and other industries gathered there. The area was served by the Bridgehouses Station and Goods Yard and Victoria Station, which were principal stations during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. 3.2 With the changing nature and modernisation of manufacturing industry in the City, the area has declined over the years – empty industrial sheds and neglected buildings sit alongside neglected patches of land and rundown public realm. The area also suffers from severance from the City Centre due to heavy traffic and has been through a period of stagnation due in part to the uncertainty arising from previous proposals for the Inner Relief Road. The River Don, which borders the area, is an underused asset. 3.3 Wicker continues to be characterised by its role as a major gateway to the City, forming an axis between Burngreave, the Lower Don Valley and the City Centre. Members will already be aware of the Burngreave New Deal for Communities initiative which will bring substantial regeneration and investment to the Burngreave area. Wicker has a predominant mix of food and drink uses along its length and the area is also home to a number of specialist retailers, small businesses and community groups, most notably SADACCA and SYAC. 3.4 The construction of the Inner Relief Road, due for completion this year, presents an opportunity for the Wicker Riverside area to reinvent itself. The IRR will relieve the majority of through traffic that currently passes along Wicker and Nursery Street, reducing traffic flows and pollution, creating opportunities for development and environmental improvements within the Wicker area. In the short term the removal of through traffic could pose a threat to some of the existing businesses and the Action Plan seeks to address this through proposals to stimulate new investment. 3.5 It is now an opportune time for the Wicker Riverside Action Plan to be published as the area is beginning to undergo transformation with considerable developer interest. Development schemes at Blonk Street are leading the way with good quality, contemporary architecture with a mix of uses, which makes the most of the riverside setting. The Action Plan proposes the creation of a new landscaped open space at Nursery Street and improvements to Wicker with new paving, trees and street furniture. 3.6 Full information regarding proposals and ideas for the future of the Wicker Riverside area can be found in the Draft Action Plan. 4.0 SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS 4.1 The transformational projects which will, collectively, kick-start the regeneration of the Wicker Riverside area over the 5 years from 2007/8 are listed below. Appendix B shows a plan of the Wicker Riverside area and the major development sites. 4.2 Wicker Smithfields Streetscape The IRR scheme will deliver the first stage of traffic improvements to Wicker and the new bus gate. These will be augmented through proposals in the Wicker- Smithfields project, now fully funded up to £2.85m by Yorkshire Forward Sub Regional Investment Plan (SRIP) and due to start in November 2007, to widen footpaths, create consistent treatment of the streetscape and introduce street trees and high quality street lighting. It is also proposed to build a new pedestrian bridge over the River Don at the Northbank development to link Victoria Quays and Smithfields with the Wicker Riverside area. 4.3 Wicker Facelift Scheme Many premises on Wicker are in disrepair or display poor quality shop fronts or signage. Implementing a pilot facelift scheme would complement proposals for streetscape enhancements on Wicker and provide local, existing SMEs with the opportunity for improvement. It is proposed to bid for Yorkshire Forward SRIP or other funding to establish a three year pilot programme targeting 20 properties and providing grant support of up to 75% of capital costs to a ceiling of £10,000 per unit, subject to obtaining funding, possibly from a number of funding/development agencies. The programme should include landmark buildings in the area. Officers are now starting to progress this project, through initial discussions with Yorkshire Forward, the Local Economy Board (LEGI), landlords and businesses. 4.4 Wicker Arches Railway arches are an important form of affordable workspace in many UK cities and there have been a number of successful regeneration schemes. The listed Wicker Arches are an important visual gateway to the City Centre and the Action Plan recommends their restoration and refurbishment to provide a mix of small business and/or studio space, specialist retail and/or cafes/bars. Part-closure of Walker Street would enable the café activity to spill out onto the street. Officers are now progressing this project, through discussions with English Heritage and Network Rail regarding renovation of the Arches, and through liaison with the Wicker Arches businesses. Funding would be through SRIP, the Local Economy Board (LEGI), heritage bodies and the private sector. 4.5 Nursery Street Riverside The IRR will significantly reduce through traffic on Nursery Street and, with Spitalfields/ Stanley Street eventually becoming the primary access route from the IRR to Wicker, there will be the opportunity to create a high quality waterfront area along Nursery Street, connected visually and physically to Riverside Exchange and the south side of the Don. A bid for Yorkshire Forward SRIP to fund a feasibility/flood protection study is currently with Yorkshire Forward. The waterfront area would consist of an area of informal green space and hard landscaping on the riverside and improvements to the public realm. A major objective of the work would be to incorporate measures to help reduce flooding risk as well as providing better access to the riverside for fishing and watersports. 5.0 EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES 5.1 An ‘Equalities Impact Assessment’ has been carried out. This shows positive outcomes and raises a number of points regarding general accessibility of the area. The latter are being addressed through an Action Plan drawn up with officers from across the authority. A copy is available on request. 6.0 FINANCIAL AND PROPERTY IMPLICATIONS 6.1 The proposals outlined in Section 4 of the report are substantial capital projects which will each be the subject of individual reports to Cabinet. The financial implications of this report relate solely to the cost of production and distribution by web and paper copy of the document which is estimated to be a maximum of £1,000, to be funded from the City Development Division’s budget. 6.2 The Council has various property interests within the area of the Action Plan which can be used to drive the regeneration of the area.