'Top 6' Major Projects for the Council
North Solihull Regeneration
Background and Longer Term Vision
The scheme was initially established as a 15-year comprehensive regeneration programme to reverse the social and economic decline of North Solihull and to narrow the gap of inequality. A public/private sector partnership was established to prepare a strategic framework for the area and then deliver a comprehensive programme investing £1.8 billion in the following strands:
| More than 8,000 (4,000 net) new homes | A tenure mix of 56% private, 40% social and 4% shared ownership |
| 10 New, state-of-the-art primary schools | Delivering a step change in educational attainment |
| New health care facilities | Mixture of GP and health care facilities |
| Local environment and transport improvements | A positive change to almost 40,000 people's lives |
| Employment and training opportunities | In the construction of the area, allowing small businesses to access supply chains, to provide contractual clauses offering jobs and apprenticeships |
Other regeneration activities including; the Building Schools for the Future Programme, the Woodlands college campus and town centre Phase 1, complemented the work of the Partnership.
In 2008/09 a review of the Strategic Framework was carried out followed by two reviews of the five-year business plan to take account of changed circumstances, particularly the economic downturn. The original funding model combined with the current reductions in public sector grant funding meant that the original pace and scale of change could no longer be delivered.
Funding, therefore, remains a challenging issue for the programme, with the Council and partners working to maximise resources and secure external funding to maintain momentum in the programme and bring forward key developments such as Smith's Wood and Craig Croft Village Centres. To respond to this climate, the planned programme of activity has been extended for a further five years, and the pace and scale of activity has been reduced.
The comprehensive regeneration of North Solihull remains a Council step change priority. The following strategic objectives set out the key statements of intent for the next 3-5 years, followed by the goals, tactics and impacts which are our more immediate tasks. These attempt to focus our efforts where we can achieve the greatest impact.
Our Long Term Objectives
- Vibrant village and town centres created at Smith's Wood and Craig Croft by 2016 and develop a strategy for Kingshurst Village Centre, with further investment in Chelmsley Wood Town Centre.
- A model of integrated facilities and services for each village centre established, including delivery of the primary schools programme.
- Increased economic activity and participation and reduced rate of worklessness in top 10% super output areas.
- High quality lifetime neighbourhoods created with a greater mix of affordable housing choice and tenure.
Short Term Goals
Our goals for the next 12 months include the completion of the first phase of Smith's Wood and preparation for Phase 2. We will progress our scoping and planning work for the new village centre at Craig Croft and have an investment strategy in place for Chelmsley Wood town centre.We hope initial works will have commenced to build the new Bishop Wilson School and to have agreed the plan for which schools will be rebuilt, setting out location sites for new development. Another goal is to present the preferred development option to other public sector organisations and the third sector and agreed the extent of their involvement.
Job creation, upskilling and supporting an entrepreneurial culture are other key aims for this year, securing job opportunities available to North Solihull residents through contracts for the village centres, schools and housing with the intention of reducing high levels of unemployment in specific areas. Improvements in Transport and accessibility to jobs and services, the provision of new homes and a wider choice of tenures, with more homes suitable for older and disabled people are other medium term goals with standards for the design of homes and neighbourhoods to be applied to all developments, maintaining the quality and improving the energy efficiency of all homes.
Our Tactics
We have identified a number of actions which will allow us to achieve these goals, which are also short term and must be achievable within the 12 month timescale. Examples include the completion of walking and cycling access routes into Smth's Wood development with its new retail and office space, developing a database of local people working in construction and giving them the support that they need to access the opportunities, as well as negotiating the provision of health related services, assisted living homes and housing next to the new Smith's Wood Community School. Planning permission has been secured for the infrastructure, with work starting on site in 2013.
The Chelmsley Wood Town Centre master plan is expected to be produced by the end of 2012. Work on the new Bishop Wilson School started on site in autumn 2012 with an expected opening date of autumn 2013 and there will be a partnership agreement for the remainder of the primary schools in place by the end 2012. Key to success will be the legacy programme - communicating the plans to local groups and residents, identifying services for integration, securing new inward investment in village centres and securing new businesses and commercial space.
Measuring Success
The comprehensive nature of the regeneration programme means that our measures of success will vary from specific output type indicators such as numbers of new homes delivered and job opportunities created to more outcome based measures such as the extent of community involvement or service integration achieved.
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