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Annual Report

April 2009 - March 2010

CHAIRMAN’S REVIEW 

Despite the economic recession 2009/10 proved to be one of the URC’s most successful years so far with a range of flagship projects opening at Gloucester Quays, several ‘mothballed’ housing projects re-commencing on site and major public sector funding attracted for key economic projects linking city centre retailing and for the first phase of the Blackfriars Priory development, incorporating an exemplar Language Immersion Centre.  Total private investment in the URC area during the projects lifetime has now topped £378m, helping to deliver 959 new jobs, 448 new homes, 26.83 ha of reclaimed land and 76,727 sqm of commercial/retail floorspace.
 
Although we are the only heritage URC we are acutely aware of our responsibilities to the people of Gloucester as well as to the built environment.  It is therefore particularly heartening to see the level of support we received for the annual Future of the City event, which was judged a great success and to the recent community engagement event for Greyfriars.  This represented the URC’s most ambitious and extensive consultation exercise so far, lasting 12 weeks and comprising a series of development scenarios and layout options.  This has provided valuable feedback to the developers, Linden Homes,  which is now being assimilated into the design process.  Good progress was also made on finalising Masterplans for Blackfriars and the Railway Triangle.  Although the EU compliant process to appoint a developer for Kings Quarter was delayed, the City Council remain optimistic that they will be in a position to announce the name of their new partner in early summer 2010.

Membership of the URC Board and its Executive Team has remained largely unchanged in 2009/10.  This has provided continuity and a collective commitment to meet the challenges that lie ahead.  There is now no doubt that investor confidence is returning to the city and we are slowly pulling out of recession.  The greatest challenge during 2010/11 lies with the public sector, where intense pressures on limited resources will require the URC to establish new development and financial models to “sweat” the assets and to unlock new funds for regeneration.

Finally, I am pleased to report that the regeneration ‘partnership’ remains strong and the URC has worked closely with the Homes and Communities Agency, South West Regional Development Agency and both County and City Councils to ‘chart’ a route through the current difficulties.

“The City Council remains a firm supporter of the URC’s programme.  In particular, we have been leading on the Kings Quarter scheme, which covers the area around Kings Square and the bus station.  No development will be more important than this in catapulting Gloucester up the retail rankings.  We have been going through the process of appointing a developer partner and hope to have one in place soon”.
Councillor Paul James, Leader, Gloucester City Council

“We are leading on the Gloucester linkages scheme which will play a vital role in connecting the city centre with the historic Docks and new Quays shopping centre. This is a major project which will open up the city centre and encourage people to visit our fantastic city. The County Council has also shown its continued commitment to the regeneration of Gloucester by taking forward the exciting language immersion centre project in Blackfriars under difficult economic circumstances.  I look forward to this and other projects developing over the next 12 months.”
 Councillor Mark Hawthorne, Cabinet Member for Gloucestershire County Council

The URC is clearly not immune to the impact of the recession and the mounting pressures on public sector resources.  Our focus during the next 12 months will therefore remain on maintaining momentum, particularly on our flagship projects in the Docks, Greyfriars, Kings Quarter and Blackfriars.


Greg Smith, Chairman, Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company


CHIEF EXECUTIVES REVIEW

The URC’s main task in 2009/10 was to ensure that the momentum of regeneration in Gloucester continued despite the current economic difficulties.  Early uncertainty over capital funding from the South West Regional Development Agency was overcome and the combination of various flagship projects completing during the year and funding being secured for new exciting initiatives such as the Blackfriars development meant that 2009/10 proved overall to be an extremely successful year.  Output performance generally was good although there still remains a significant backlog of housing projects to deliver which could put at jeopardy the company’s ability to complete 3000 new homes by 2016 as required by the Government.  Highlights and achievements during the year include:

Highlights and Achievements

In 2009/10 over £84m of private investment was attracted into the URC area helping to deliver 597 new jobs, 121 new homes, 5.4ha of reclaimed land and 35,950sqm of commercial/retail floorspace. 

The first edition of “Gloucester 7”-a 48 page high quality regeneration magazine was launched in July 2009.

The Future of the City Event which took place at Blackfriars Priory between 29th April and 2nd May 2009 attracted 2,200 members of the public, including students, community groups and local employers to view the URC plans and to meet key development partners.

The Heritage Impact Monitoring Group was established on the 29th June 2009 to monitor the performance of the country’s only heritage URC as recommended by the independent audit undertaken by Alan Baxter and Associates in November 2008.

SWRDA released £10m of regeneration funds to the GHURC on 8th June 2009 for 2009/10 and 2010/11 financial years – one of the highest awards in the South West region.  Their spend target for 2009/10 was successfully achieved (£5.5m)

Gloucester Docks
On the 16th October 2009 the Government’s Department of Business Innovation and Skills confirmed £7.4m of funding through the South West RDA for Economic Linkages between the Gloucester Quays Designer Outlet Centre and the historic parts of the city centre.

The URC sponsored Tall Ships Festival, organised by Marketing Gloucester Ltd, attracted 75,000 visitors to the city over three days, coupled with the opening of the Quays Designer Outlet Centre on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

Negotiations continued during 2009/10 with the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group over their proposed new head quarter’s office development of 7,250 sqm in Gloucester Docks.  If the project proceeds it will help to secure the future of 700 jobs in the city centre and allow further space for expansion.

On 23rd November the South West RDA awarded the Route 1 Docks Economic Linkages contract to Britannia Construction – this is scheduled for completion during summer 2010.  The Southgate Street contract was awarded by the County Council to Balfour Beatty and started on site on 24th February 2010.

In January 2010 Ginkgo was appointed by the URC to manage a major public art programme for Gloucester Docks and Kimbrose Square. 

By the end of March 2010 artists had been commissioned for the Docks – Wolfgang Buttress and Katayoun Dowlatshahi and for Kimbrose Square – Tom Price.  These major art works will be completed before Christmas 2010.

Gloucester Quays
Bakers Quay phase 1 comprising the Malt House extension and Maltsters cottages was presented to the GHURC Board on 25th June and 29th September 2009.  A Planning application was submitted on 5th October 2009 and consent was granted in February 2010.

Phase 1 of the Designer Outlet Centre opened on 21st May 2009 with 40 units trading, representing 76% of total floor space.  The new Travel Lodge opened on 2nd June 2009. 

Sainsbury’s flagship retail superstore opened on 17th June 2009, their most energy efficient store in their property portfolio.

Gloucester Works held a major information and recruitment event at Gloucester Rugby Club between 2nd and 3rd April to promote the new job opportunities being created at Gloucester Quays.  Over 400 vacancies were announced with 58% filled through the Gloucester Works programme. 

By January 2010, 70 units at the Gloucester Quays Designer Outlet Centre were occupied with 60 designer brands.

Greater Blackfriars
The Greater Blackfriars Masterplan was approved on 14th October 2009 following “full” endorsement by CABE.

Planning consent was granted in May 2009 to convert the Blackfriars North Range into a new concert hall for Gloucester.

The County Council was awarded a £5m grant from the Department for Children Schools and Families towards the cost of establishing an exemplar Language Immersion Centre in Gloucester.  After intense lobbying from the URC, Blackfriars was identified as the preferred location on 26th October 2009 and a further  £4m has since been secured from the South West RDA, English Heritage and the County Council to facilitate the comprehensive regeneration of the Priory Quarter (phase 1).

Greyfriars
The concept designs/layouts prepared by Linden Homes for the Greyfriars/Gloscat site were launched in September as part of a 12 week community consultation event.  Over 400 responses were received and the designs are continuing to be refined with the view to a planning application being submitted in July 2010.

Kings Quarter
Gloucester City Council agreed a short list of developers for the Kings Quarter on 8th June 2009 and hope to announce their new developer partner in July 2010.

Railway Triangle
A draft Masterplan for the Greater Railway Triangle area, prepared by GVA Grimley and EDAW, was presented to the GHURC Board on the 25th June 2009.  Further surveys have been commissioned and negotiations are continuing with an adjacent landowner with regards to a possible relocation onto the site.

Canal Corridor
Persimmons started back on site in December 2008 at St Oswald’s Park and by 31st March 2010 a total of 90 residential units had been constructed. 

Within the Canal Corridor good progress was made by Bloor Homes on continuing their residential development at Monk Meadow Quay and by the end of the year 100 units had been completed.

Demolition and site clearance works at the former Contract Chemicals site on Bristol Road were completed in September 2009, preparing the area for a major residential redevelopment

Other Projects & Initiatives
Gloucester’s Changing Landscape – a major bus and poster campaign, was launched in January 2010.

The midterm informal review of Company Operations by Company Directors was completed in December 2009 and various measures were introduced to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness. 

The URC Community Regeneration Protocol was reviewed and expanded in January 2010 with an increased emphasis on alleviating crime, employment, health and skills inequalities in the URC area.

The Urban Youth Forum was re-launched in November 2009.

And finally, on the 23rd October 2009, Her Majesty the Queen visited Gloucester Docks and Quays to view the city’s renaissance.

Chris Oldershaw, Chief Executive, Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company

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