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Subject: |
Greater Brighton Investment Programme – Progress Update |
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Date of Meeting: |
1 February 2022 |
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Report of: |
Chair, Greater Brighton Officer Programme Board |
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Contact Officer: |
Name: |
Nick Hibberd |
Tel: |
01273 293756 |
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Email: |
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LA(s) affected: |
All |
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FOR GENERAL RELEASE
1. PURPOSE OF REPORT AND POLICY CONTEXT
1.1 The purpose of the Investment Plan Update is to provide the Greater Brighton Economic Board (“the Board”) with an update on progress on the Greater Brighton Investment Programme (“the Investment Programme”) since the Board’s last meeting on 19 October 2021.
1.2 Updates are included on the Local Growth Fund (LGF) allocations made as part of the Growth Deal Rounds 1, 2 and 3. The period covered by this report is 1 October 2021 to 31 December 2021.
1.3 This cover report provides some context on the LGF Funding Rounds and narrative updates on the Investment Programme projects. Further details on the individual projects can be found in the Investment Programme Update report at Appendix 1.
2. RECOMMENDATIONS:
2.1 That the Board note the report and the Investment Programme Update at Appendix 1.
3. CONTEXT/BACKGROUND INFORMATION
LGF Growth Deal Rounds 1 & 2
3.1 A total of approximately £90m was allocated to projects across the City Region from LGF Growth Deal rounds 1 & 2. These projects will deliver a total investment of approximately £376m into the City Region, unlocking an estimated 14,000 jobs, 8,200 homes and 450,000m2 of employment floor-space. Current active projects are listed below with a summary of progress since the last update.
3.1.1 New England House Growth Centre (Brighton) - £4.9m
Design team still on hold to allow for completion of all necessary survey work. Fire compartmentation survey commenced in mid-December. Design process will recommence once this has been completed.
3.1.2 Digital Catapult & 5G Testbed (Brighton) - £1.8m
Digital Catapult Brighton’s activity in the last period continued to focus on the 5G Festival - a DCMS-supported programme to develop emerging technologies to support the production, distribution and consumption of music in new ways. An expansive technical test of a performance was undertaken in December synchronously in Brighton and London. The “Alternative Stages” strand of 5G Festival hosted a series of events and workshops with those working in the regional music industry.
Work continues on the technical development of various aspects of this project including distributed live and as-live music concerts, virtual versions of venues (with Green Door Store added in the last period), and enhanced fan experiences.
During the last period, work was undertaken procuring technical equipment to upgrade the 5G testbed to align with BHCC’s Research & Innovation Fibre Ring activity.
3.1.3 Circus Street Innovation Centre & Regeneration (Brighton) - £2.7m
Practical completion was achieved on both the office block and The Dance Space (the final 2 buildings to be completed) as well as onsite and the majority of offsite public realm works (including all public art elements). South East Dance took on the lease of The Dance Space on 16 December.
3.1.4 Plus X (Brighton) - £7.7m
3.1.5 Valley Gardens – Phase 3 (Brighton) - £8.0m
Following the third public consultation exercise for Valley Gardens Phase 3 which completed in late 2020, and further stakeholder engagement the final General Highway Arrangement was completed in December 2021. This final design will be presented to ETS Committee and P&R Committee in January 2022. Cost estimates have increased due to rising construction costs and additional stakeholder infrastructure included in the plan, such as those required for sustainable events. The construction contract procurement to commence in spring 2022 and be completed by early summer 2022.
3.1.6 Adur Tidal Walls & Western Harbour Arm Flood Defences (Shoreham-By-Sea) – £10.5m
Demolition contract was appointed.
Demolition of redundant Yacht Club October/November 2021.
3.1.7 A2300 Corridor Improvements (Burgess Hill) - £17.0m
See 3.2.5 below
LGF Growth Deal Round 3
3.2 In February 2017 Coast to Capital announced that it has secured £66m through Round 3 of the Growth Deal. All six projects put forward by the Board were allocated funding - totalling £48.77m. The project updates are as follows:
Worthing Central Phase 1 (Worthing) - £5.6m
3.2.1 Teville Gate:
Site was acquired by Worthing Borough Council for redevelopment in August 2021. Development Strategy and approach involving joint investment with London & Continental Railways was confirmed in December 2021.
Meanwhile use occupier was confirmed in December 2021.
3.2.2 Union Place:
S106 agreement was drafted and formal planning permission issued.
Phase 1 was put to market for development partner with deadline of 23rd September. Bids were considered and detailed due diligence and negotiation undertaken.
3.2.3 Decoy Farm (Worthing) - £4.8m
The full design team has been appointed including commercial advice, surveying team, architectural team and wider suite of advisers.
3.2.4 New Monks Farm & Airport (Shoreham-By-Sea) - £5.7m
There is no further update for this period. Previous report is as follows:
· Housing and infrastructure development has continued at pace with a number of units completed and occupied on the site.
· Work is due to commence on the A27 roundabout in autumn 2021 for completion in late 2022.
· Ikea announced that they will not continue with their proposed new store and that they will market the site for a suitable development in September 2021
3.2.5 Growth Location (Burgess Hill) - £14.9m
Town Centre Regeneration: Completion of the S106 agreement and planning permission for the redevelopment of the Martlets Shopping Centre was issued on the 2nd July 2021.
Northern Arc: Work is continuing on site with housebuilder Countryside Properties. Work is complete on the Western Link Road Roundabout with full use expected following the completion of the A2300 dualling. Homes England progressing the feasibility for the first primary school on the site. Pre-application discussions have commenced for secondary school on site. Planning application has now been received for the pedestrian and cycle bridge that will link Freeks Farm with the eastern neighbourhood centre.
A feasibility study is being progressed for the Centre for Community Sports which is to be delivered on the site.
Place and Connectivity: Work continues delivery of the first of the phase 1 schemes including public art and other public realm improvements to the underpass at Wivelsfield Railway station. Detailed design work continues for highway improvements at Burgess Hill and Wivelsfield Stations, public realm improvements for Church Walk / Church Road, and access & connectivity improvements for Victoria Business Park. Delivery continues on Green Link (80% complete, 5.8km/7km) and Green Circle routes (90% complete, 4km/4.35km).
A2300 corridor improvements: Construction began in spring 2020 and is progressing to programme with both carriageways anticipated to be completed by the end of Q4 2021/22.
Employment space, The Hub: The second phase of development (a 5,000m2 warehouse for Roche Diagnostics) was completed in early February 2021. Outline planning permission for the remaining 40,000m2 has been approved, and issued.
Digital Infrastructure: Works to implement the Digital Infrastructure across and around Burgess Hill, including a southern link to Brighton and a northern link via Horsham to Crawley, are well progressed. The Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) project has now been delivered totalling 15km of dark fibre and the Burgess Hill Fibre Exchange. Customer enquiries being received and are responded to through the CNI co-operative partners; first customer connection expected January 2022.
One public estate (OPE) 7: The Brow - redevelopment of an extended Brow site in Burgess Hill will provide enhanced accommodation for the emergency and primary care services and to create space for 440 new homes (led by WSCC). Consultants Faithful and Gould have completed a draft viability study which is currently being reviewed to agree next steps.
Land adjacent to Burgess Hill station - Officers are working with key stakeholders including Network Rail and The Arch Company (the principal landowner at the site). Review of feasibility and appraisal work is underway.
Goddards Green Waste Water Treatment Works: Phase 1 of the project has been completed delivering most of the odour reduction benefits. All the £4m LGF-funding has been spent, alongside the £6.54m HIF grant. The remainder of the project will be funded by private Southern Water investment (£13.6m).
3.2.6 Black Rock /Waterfront (Brighton) - £12.1m
Dukes Mound works and new public realm complete February 2022. Sea wall works package awarded progressing well and completes March 2022.
A short film about the project has been produced Black Rock rejuvenation (brighton-hove.gov.uk)
Engagement with stakeholders continues and direct communications via Blackrockcommunity.com website is ongoing.
The local wildlife site has now been relocated and vegetated shingle is growing well in the new location. The 2nd and 3rd phases have also completed with successful planting of the seedlings in their new location taking place in December 2021. Two further short films describe this part of the project on the BHCC website The relocation and expansion of Black Rock's Local Wildlife Site - YouTube.
LGF Growth Deal Unallocated Funds Rounds 1 & 2 – December 2016 Call
3.3 In December 2016 Coast to Capital announced that it had approximately £46.65m of unallocated funds available to support capital growth projects. The Greater Brighton Economic Board put forward eight bids, five of which received funding totalling approximately £9.9m. The project updates are as follows:
3.3.1 Adur Civic Centre (Shoreham-By-Sea) - £1.8m
Phase 2: Public consultation on proposed development by Hyde Housing took place on 20/02/2020 and detailed design work was undertaken throughout 2021.
Planning application submitted autumn 2021.
3.3.2 Springman House (Lewes) – £2.0m
There has been no further update since the last meeting and the last position is as follows:
Following the purchase of the site by Lewes District Council, plans were drawn up with the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Sussex Police and the South East Coast Ambulance Service. NSQL, the majority landowner at the NSQ site, has now sold its land to the developer – Human Nature. In December 2020, the Council’s Cabinet agreed heads of terms for the sale of its own land to this same developer in order that it can comprehensively redevelop the site. Human Nature has confirmed that it will submit a new planning application for the NSQ and the Council is now liaising with the developer to understand its plans and timescales for the site, including the fire station.
3.3.3 Railway Quay (Newhaven) - £1.5m
Flood
defence works on site are now completed and negotiations are underway with
existing tenant re: relocation. LDC has secured £1.3m from the Getting Building
Fund to convert the former UTC building into a maritime and sustainable
technology hub, offering education / training space and commercial facilities
for SME’s. This has been augmented by a commitment of £500k from LDC towards
the estimated £1.8m project costs. Lease negotiations with DfE are being
finalised and hopeful of taking possession in early 2022. A final layout plan
is being prepared and it is planned to undertake an Expression of Interest
process to elicit appropriate commercial partners for the project.
Phase 1 of Railway Quay is now complete, funded through the Towns Fund and CiL
to deliver The Sidings - offering new visitor, community and sustainability
facilities, including a café and a base for the local gig rowing club, as well
as an active travel hub. Funding has been secured from DfT towards a trial of
e-cargo bikes to be based at the site with orders now having been placed.
3.3.4 Heritage Centre Stage – Corn Exchange & Studio Theatre (Brighton) - £3.0m
The Council’s appointed Management Contractor, Westridge Construction Limited, has completed all roofing works and structural remedial works to the 200-year-old Corn Exchange timber frame to secure the building envelope. The Studio theatre fibrous plaster ceiling and copper roof require replacement as they have reached the end of their useful lives and have been brought into scope with these works on-going. Finishing and completion works are progressing with the installation of the Corn Exchange oak wall boarding completed and the timber floor to be fitted in January 2022. Covid-19 and possibly Brexit appear to be impacting availability of materials with longer delivery times that have caused delays including to the replacement copper roof. This remains an on-going risk. On site measures including physical distancing, track and trace venue check-in, increased cleaning regime and visitors asked to wear facemasks are continuing. Practical Completion is now anticipated in August 2022.
4. ANALYSIS & CONSIDERATION OF ANY ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
4.1 None required.
5. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & CONSULTATION
5.1 None required.
6. CONCLUSION
6.1 The Board is asked to note the contents of this report.
7. FINANCIAL & OTHER IMPLICATIONS:
Financial Implications:
7.1 There are no direct financial implications associated with this report regarding the progress made in the third quarter of this financial year on approved schemes within the Greater Brighton Investment Programme. Schemes already included within the Greater Brighton Investment Programme have approved business cases in place with funding options identified and these have been reported to their respective bodies. The progress of each scheme is detailed within the Investment plan Update Report in appendix 1. Future or revised business plans will be reported accordingly within the timescales of the project timetables.
Finance Officer Consulted: Rob Allen, Principal Accountant
Date: 19/01/22
Legal Implications:
None.
Lawyer Consulted: Joanne Dunyaglo, Senior Property Lawyer
Date: 20/01/22
Equalities Implications:
7.2 None arising from this report. Equalities issues will be addressed on a project-by-project basis.
Sustainability Implications:
7.3 None arising from this report. Sustainability issues will be addressed on a project-by-project basis.
Any Other Significant Implications:
7.4 None.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Appendices:
Greater Brighton Investment Update Report February 2022
Background Documents:
None