Project Mandate The mandate is the FIRST thing to do. It should be completed before ANY activity of any sort takes place. This is because the mandate is the document that triggers the permission for the project to go ahead. No work should start on a project without an approved mandate. Project Title Project Sponsor The Knowledge Gateway Edward Highfield Corporate Programme Board Project Manager Mick Empsall Date Mandate approved by sponsor Project number Date accepted by Programme Board This will be completed by the relevant This will be completed by the relevant Programme Office (PO) if and when the Programme Office (PO) if and when the mandate is accepted. mandate is accepted. Project Objectives & Summary Describe here what you think the project might be. What will the project deliver, or what changes will it bring about? Information may be limited but do what you can at this stage. There will be lots of opportunities later to refine and change your thinking as you develop the business case. The important thing is to include what you can. 1. To create a high quality gateway within the Sheffield Hallam University/Cultural Industries Quarter linking the railway station southwards to the Porter Brook development site and the University Technical College via SHU Campus, and northwards linking the Nelson Mandela development site through to Fitzalan Square via Pond Street. There are three sets of development opportunities at Fitzalan Square – the former Post Office building, Esperanto Place and the Mecca Bingo building. 2. The key change that the project will deliver will be to make the whole corridor/area more attractive and safer for pedestrians. 3. At Fitzalan Square, it will deliver on the ground: the removal of the eastern arm of the bus lane; removal of the taxi rank; 3,500 sq metres of improved public realm 4. It will deliver reduced carriageway widths throughout to encourage reduced traffic speeds, creating more than 3900 sq m of new high quality paving and new street furniture 5. Which all taken together, should lead to 100% increase in footfall and improve links between various SHU facilities, the University Technical College, Fitzalan Square and the City Centre. 1 Knowledge Gateway Project Mandate 27 1 15 - approved 4 2 15 26 Jan 2015 In summary this project will exploit the cultural and other assets within the area such as the Site Gallery, Persistence Works and The Workstation; the Grade II Listed former Post Office building as well SHU Central Campus by providing increased connectivity, thus attracting more people to the area. It will make this “quarter” a destination in its own right complementing both the investment by SHU, by the City Council and by other public and private finance. Most importantly, it will act as a catalyst to encourage the development of several vacant sites in this area - see attached plan - to bring about new jobs and increased GVA, exploiting fully the untapped economic opportunities offered by this area. It is proposed to split the project into three key elements for ease of management and delivery: • Fitzalan Square/Esperanto Place • Flat Street, Pond Street /Pond Hill • Paternoster Row Gateway 1 approval will trigger further more detailed discussions with SHU, Amey, major developers/investors, the PTE and others to: • establish major stakeholder engagement/work streams, • key challenges and risk, • likely costs and sources of funding, • a programme of works, including phasing as part of developing a full business case for both internal and SCRIF approval. The main pedestrian route in this project crosses the Gold Route and passes very close to the Station, emphasising its strong links to the ‘Station Access’ Project. This aims to improve all forms of access to and from the Station and is the subject of a separate mandate and business case - Sheffield Station Access Summary of outputs expected from this project Direct (to be confirmed) • Length of highway improved: 1100m in total • Area of public space improved: 5000sq m (I – Fitzalan Square and Hubs Square) Indirect 1. Vacant floorspace brought into use: (part of site 7 - Former Post Office – site area 2600sq m) New developments in the immediate locality 2. Residential: 279 bed-spaces new build in 52 flats for student space (part of site 7 - Former Post Office – site area 1700sq m) 270 flats (part of site 9 - Esperanto Place – site area 2000sq m) and potential for: 100 flats (part of site 11 – Sidney Street Porter Brook – site area 1000sq m) 2 Knowledge Gateway Project Mandate 27 1 15 - approved 4 2 15 26 Jan 2015 3. Office: 14,300sq m of office space (site 21 – Pond Hill Digital Campus) and potential for: 25,000sq m of office space (site 12 – Sheaf Square – site area 5560sq m) 500sq m of office space (part of site 10 - Showroom extension) 3000 sq m of mixed development including offices (site 11 – Sidney Street Porter Brook – site area 3850sq m) 4. Other: 2600sq m educational and 1400sq m retail (part of site 7 - Former Post Office) 500sq m entertainment uses (part of site 10 – Showroom/Workstation extension) 1740sq m retail (part of site 9 - Esperanto Place) 2600 sq m educational (site 8 – Sheaf Street, NMB) Outcomes Based on experience, following other works to the public realm, such as the Gold Route and the new developments taking place in the vicinity, initial estimates are that there will be a significant increase in people using the routes between Fitzalan Square and Paternoster Row and this could be in the region of double the current levels. To verify this a survey will be undertaken as part of the design process. Work is currently underway, as part of the scope of phase 1 of this project, to identify the number of new jobs and the economic impact (GVA) brought about by the public realm work and the new developments triggered off by this work. Project Background This section should answer these questions: . What benefit will the Council get from this project? . How does it align with our strategic objectives? . Why does the council need to do it? The main benefit for the Council is that this project will provide an improved setting to encourage new development/investment which in turn will improve vitality and boost economic growth through increased footfall, new jobs, housing and result in increased business rates. It will also help to maximise the economic potential and opportunities offered by Sheffield Hallam University and the CIQ. It should help bring about new development opportunities into the adjoining and under-developed sites and areas along its length. This is in line with many of the Council’s priorities in the Corporate Plan but in particular ‘A Strong and Competitive Economy’ and a ‘Vibrant City’. This project should result in a step change in the perception of this area so that it consolidates its existing educational and cultural role; encourages new investments and jobs; and acts as a catalyst for new regeneration opportunities within the area further to the south up to the inner ring road, currently seen as backwaters with many empty and or underused, semi derelict buildings and sites. It will also make the area feel and be safer. 3 Knowledge Gateway Project Mandate 27 1 15 - approved 4 2 15 26 Jan 2015 Project Timescales On the assumption that the mandate is approved, briefly describe the overall project timescales from now, through all the project phases (Start up, Planning, Delivery Preparation, Delivery and Closure) until the project’s end. Your knowledge may be based on assumptions at this stage, but there will be lots of opportunities later to refine and change your thinking as you develop the business case. This project is part of the City’s “City Centre SCRIF Bid”. It is one of the four clusters of projects that the City has submitted (and received outline approval for). This cluster is mainly programmed for delivery in the latter part of the SCRIF programme, by March 2017. However, SHU have a programme for the redevelopment of the Former Post Office site (no 7) which aims to open by end of 2015. Therefore, if possible, the Fitzalan Square phase will be brought forward with completion by March 2016, which is the earliest that is currently deemed possible. This would help both consolidate a key element of this project and help one of our key partners achieve its objectives. The other main component of this project is Paternoster Row/Pond Street which is linked to the Nelson Mandela site which is currently being marketed by Housing and Communities Agency (HCA). The Knowledge Gateway project should improve the chances of securing a quality development on this prominent gateway location. But in order to secure maximum impact, at least the design should be substantially complete by mid-late 2015. Thereafter, the actual public realm works can be subject to the construction programme for the Nelson Mandela site. However, depending on the successful marketing and nature of proposed use (and subject to planning permission), a detailed traffic assessment will be required which in turn will impact on the final public realm scheme. There are various permutations/scenarios but it is important that the City Council is in a position to influence rather than simply respond to emerging proposals. For this reason it is critical that it has clarity on its key priorities (for the site and the wider area), hence the need to firm up the overarching project mandate to guide both project development and provide a policy steer. For now the delivery of this project on the ground (at least the Pond St and perhaps Paternoster Row elements) is less critical time-wise, other than that it should be completed before the SCRIF programme ends in 2018.