Agenda item

The attached presentation will be given to the Panel at the meeting.

The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, Councillor Ben Stevens introduced this item to the Panel. He spoke of how the Masterplan was to act as a document that integrates a vast majority of the Council’s current strategies to tackle aspects such as homes, employment and wildlife.

The Regeneration Team Manager then gave a presentation to the Panel, a copy of which can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book, a summary is set out below.

The Opportunity

•  “Bringing Bath’s Riverside to Life”

•  98 hectares of land, c36 hectares of developable brownfield land

•  Potential for 9000 new jobs and 3400 new homes, to deliver Core Strategy targets

•  Concentrating on key growth sectors: creative industries, professional financial and business services, information technology and software development

•  Key  sites together can increase GVA, average incomes and levels of employment in the Bath economy by around 12%

Achievements to date

•  Delivering Quality Outputs:

•  Bath Riverside

•  300 new Homes (150 Affordable Homes) since 2011

•  +£2m New Homes Bonus

•  +£1m S106 monies

•  Bath Quays Waterside

•  Strong Partnership with Environment Agency formed

•  Connecting Bath to its Waterside – good public support

•  Protecting existing properties at risk + enabling development

•  Innovation Quay and EDF Business Case

•  LEP Programme Entry

What is the Masterplan enabling

•  Positive Engagement with partners & beyond:

•  LEP, HCA, EA

•  Landowners

•  Developers

•  Property Agents and Occupiers

•  Realising funding e.g. DECC (HNDU)

•  Sustainable Energy – ‘renewable’ sources. E.g. River Avon & hot springs

•  Co-ordinated Strategy & robust Policy Base:

•  Core Strategy and Placemaking Plan

•  Economic Strategy

•  Transport Strategy – ‘Getting Around Bath’

•  Green Infrastructure Strategy and Community Plan

•  River Strategy

•  Leisure Strategy

Relationship to Planning Policy

•  Provide an exciting and enduring vision

•  Guide redevelopment of Council owned land

•  Clear direction of travel for funders, partners, developers and investors

•  Is not a statutory planning document

•  Forms part of the evidence base for the Placemaking Plan

•  Placemaking Plan will undergo public consultation, ensuring robust, evidence based policy framework for Development Management decisions.

Core Values

•  Quality – of life, of place, of developers, of occupiers

•  Enterprise – fostering knowledge, inventiveness and creativity

•  Design – inspirational public realm, connectivity of streets, spaces and bridges, integration of form and streetscape, respect for the character of “Bathness”

•  Heritage – architectural, urban design and landscape excellence in a World Heritage setting

•  Green – green building, green infrastructure, walking and cycling, biodiversity and ecology

•  Water – at the heart of Bath’s identity, River Avon, spa water, Kennet and Avon Canal

•  Health and Wellbeing – promoting leisure, the outdoors, socialising and promenading

•  The Big Idea: Rediscovering and reconnecting the River, to bring Bath Riverside to Life!

Next Steps

•  Cabinet 12 November 2014

•  Co-ordinated Strategy:

•  Economic Strategy – key driver

•  Core Strategy and Placemaking Plan

•  Transport Strategy

•  River Strategy

•  Enterprise Area Masterplan – delivery mechanism

•  Co-ordinated Delivery:

•  Bath Riverside

•  Bath Quays Waterside

•  Innovation Quay

•  Transport Strategy “Getting Around Bath”

Councillor Lisa Brett asked if there was an evidence of need for businesses wanting to come and work in Bath.

The Regeneration Team Manager replied that they had been contacted by numerous companies over recent years enquiring about available office space. He added that the accommodation needs to be of a certain standard though and the current available properties are not appropriate. He said that the sites of the Quays and Manvers Street were the most wanted.

Councillor Lisa Brett asked what the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) view on the project was.

The Regeneration Team Manager replied that the LEP and HCA (Homes & Community Agency) were happy that all plans were being worked on together. He added that officers meet with the LEP regularly and had worked on the Strategic Economic Plan together.

Councillor Lisa Brett asked how funding for the project would be enabled.

The Regeneration Team Manager replied that funding would be unlocked via the LEP.

Councillor Lisa Brett asked if the Masterplan would have a positive effect on the traffic flow of the City.

The Regeneration Team Manager replied that the Transport Strategy was key to this problem, with elements such as Park & Ride Expansion, Rail Electrification and Priority Bus Routes the main factors.

Councillor Les Kew commented that he wished to see any development at Manvers Street designed as a whole and not piecemeal.

Councillor Ben Stevens replied that he agreed with Councillor Kew’s comments, but due to the multiple land owners of the site it might not be possible to build out the whole development all at once.

The Chair asked how much say the Council would have regarding developments.

The Divisional Director for Community Regeneration replied that the Masterplan seeks to have a view on individual sites whilst having other areas in mind.

Councillor Roger Symonds asked if elements of the Masterplan would change once the Bath Transport Strategy is in place.

The Regeneration Team Manager replied that the Masterplan may need a refresh in around a year, but that the Bath Transport Strategy had been worked on alongside the Masterplan.

Councillor Roger Symonds asked if the use of buses, walking and cycling would be promoted within the Masterplan in an attempt to improve air quality.

Councillor Ben Stevens replied that those modes of travel were to be encouraged.

Councillor Roger Symonds asked if any update could be given on the Craneworks project and the future of the Sainsbury’s site at Green Park.

Councillor Ben Stevens replied that he considered the Craneworks project to be a fabulous idea and had met with them to discuss it. He added that they had been encouraged to discuss the project further with BMT as they have their plans for the area as well. He said that the Sainsbury’s site was difficult and hard to deliver upon due to land ownership.

Councillor Gerry Curran commented that the Masterplan was a very exciting project, but that he shared the concerns of Councillor Kew regarding Manvers Street and that he wanted the development there to be employment led. He added that the underground car park should be maintained and possibly expanded.

He said that he felt that the City needs a central coach park and should the current one be relocated he would like the Council to purchase another site, possibly the Beazer building on the Lower Bristol Road.

Councillor Ben Stevens replied that it is a great opportunity to develop Manvers Street and discussions were required with Royal Mail. He added that they would look to retain the parking where they could.

Councillor David Martin asked how quality of building design would be maintained.

Councillor Ben Stevens replied that the recent Unesco document emphasised the need for this and so it would be raised very early on with developers.

Councillor David Martin asked how employment would be encouraged through the Masterplan.

Councillor Ben Stevens replied that an environment would be created for businesses to thrive, particularly the creative industries.

Councillor David Martin asked how Bath would compete with Bristol to secure businesses.

Councillor Ben Stevens replied that Bath had its own unique offer and he was aware that many companies would like to have a base in the City. He added that Bath and Bristol were partners in the LEP and should be able to work alongside each other. He said that the local creative and digital cluster was the third biggest in the country behind London & Manchester.

The Regeneration Team Manager added that the quality of design was to be seen in the buildings of the Holburne Museum and the Spa.

Councillor David Martin asked if sustainable energy and low carbon buildings would feature in development discussions.

The Regeneration Team Manager replied that sustainability had played a part in the new Council offices in Keynsham and that we would look to control that again on our own sites.

The Planning Policy Team Leader re-iterated that the Masterplan will not carry significant weight in the process of determining planning applications. The Placemaking Plan will, as it goes through the preparation process, have increasing weight. The Placemaking Plan will address in greater detail issues around the quality of development within the Enterprise Area. In addition, the Placemaking Plan provides the opportunity to re-visit renewable energy/sustainable construction policies following recent Ministerial Statements that post-date the Core Strategy Examination Inspector’s Report.

The Chair thanked everyone for their contributions to the discussion.