Issue - meetings

The Director Planning, Transportation and Economic Development submits an report to update the Scrutiny Commission Members on progress made across each area of the Gateway Retail Area Improvement Scheme.

Andrew Smith, Director Planning, Transport and Economic Development presented a report to update on progress made across each area of the Gateway Retail Improvement Scheme.

The scheme, which formed part of the Economic Action Plan, was a series of interventions to help support trading areas identified as struggling during difficult trading conditions£680,000 of City Capital Programme funding has been allocated over the period to 2015, and the following six priorities were outlined:

·         Environmental improvements

·         Marketing

·         Signage and barriers

·         Access and infrastructure

·         Business support

·         Area development

The report identified progress made to date and thinking on new ideas. A funding summary was provided, and an officer reported that 24 shop fronts were completed, and a further 33 were subject to discussion.

The City Mayor said the take-up of the scheme had exceeded expectations, which had in the past been slow when smaller schemes were undertaken. He said one advantage of the scheme was the engagement owners and the support of traders from those areas, who had taken ownership of the scheme.

In response to a Commission Member, Andrew said Belgrave Gate could also benefit from other related improvements , such as the development of the new Haymarket bus station. He also noted that a ‘Cycle City Ambition’ grant bid had also been submitted to Department for Transport to create a cycle route from the city centre to Belgrave Road via Belgrave Gate.

Andrew said that land and premises fronting the A50 at Frog Island were largely owned by the Private Sector, but the Council were using its planning and building control powers to get owners to tidy up buildings and sites. Grant funding had been invested in the Sanvey Gate highway improvements, and the Council was working with owners of sites at the top of Highcross Street to encourage office development. This follows a more flexible approach to finding suitable office development sites in the city centre and car parking provision. The City Mayor said some of the the unused land in the Woodgate and Frog Island area was now held by the Homes and Communities Agency as a result of the Government’s decision to abolish the Regional Development Agency. He called on Members to support him in his plea to Government to transfer the land to the Council’s control, as he was concerned for the regeneration of the area. The Chair agreed there should be a review of the development of Frog Island and the development of Waterside.

The City Mayor and Officers informed the meeting that the programme was targeted at selected areas/routes, so efforts could have more impact. Andrew said there was no target as to the number of units (occupied or unoccupied) that would be supported as the scheme was flexible and could range from whole shopfronts to simple signage schemes.. He said there was a very good planning policy design guide for shop fronts, that was initially developed for Belgrave Road but that could be used across the whole of the city. Andrew said grants  ...  view the full minutes text for item 105