Agenda item

The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills introduced the report and explained that the Shrub Hill Quarter was a development project of significant scale and opportunity. The site had been bought, a steering group formed made up of representatives from the County Council, City Council and the LEP and a vision for the site created. The project would allow Shrub Hill Station, designed by Brunel and having significant architectural merit, to be linked to the rest of the city. The City Council had won £10 million of funding which it had committed to the refurbishment of the area and bids were also being put in for funding to refurbish the station and engine shed.

The initial stage of the project would be to develop the Isaac Maddox triangle and a report would return to Cabinet after market testing had taken place. It was estimated that it would take 20 years for the full realisation of the project. The project offered huge opportunities but was diverse and complex with issues such as listed buildings to consider, however, the area could become a real asset to Worcestershire.

This project supported one of the key areas of the Corporate Plan – Open for Business and it was confirmed that one of the original reasons the Council became involved in the project was for all the transport opportunities which could be gained such as active travel and increased modal choice. It was hoped that the canal network could be included, perhaps opening up the canal side to greater biodiversity as well as the potential for a heritage project to be considered with the history of the Brunel line and engine shed.

In response to a written query which had been received from a Member outside the Cabinet, the Chairman explained that the project had been started after a report to Cabinet regarding the land acquisition and the project was included on the Scrutiny work programme. Strong governance was important to the project and the Leader and Cabinet Member were on the steering group. Expertise would also be brought in where necessary.

Members from outside the Cabinet supported the development of that area of Worcester as it was a gateway into the city from the station. It was hoped that as it was a long-term project, that efforts would be made to improve the less attractive buildings next to the station and future proof the project as much as possible by making the buildings carbon neutral. It was pointed out that some of the buildings were privately owned but within the project it was hoped that buildings could be improved rather than removed.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

a)        noted

          i.        progress since the last report on the acquisition and ongoing management of Shrub Hill Industrial Estate (SHIE) pursuant to the Gamechanger 2 initiative;

        ii.        progress with master planning and preparation of a development vision of a Gamechanger 2 Site; 

      iii.        the support given to Worcester City Council on their Towns Fund Business Case proposal; 

      iv.        the award of a Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) grant and the obligations of that funding; and

        v.        the preparation of a Levelling Up Fund bid for the adjacent transport node, Shrub Hill Station.

b)        authorised the Strategic Director for Economy Infrastructure and Skills and subject to the express approval of the CMR for Economy Infrastructure and Skills

         i.         to let contracts to undertake works on Unit 16 of the SHIE in accordance with the BLRF grant and following due process of vacation of the site;

        ii.         to engage consultant/s to advise on the services that are required as set out in the report, funded from the Strategic Infrastructure reserve; 

      iii.         to undertake a market engagement exercise to understand the options for the packaging and phasing of works in order to optimise the conditions attached to any grants and to maximise any income; and

      iv.         receives a further report, following the undertaking of the market testing, on the proposals for development of SHIE.