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Vibrant and Viable Places programme - Strategic Outline Programme (SOP) for DeesideSubmitted by Flintshire County Council on behalf of the Deeside Partnership | 25th November 2013

Deeside 2020

Vibrant and Viable Places – Deeside 2020

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Contents

1 | Introduction 3

2 | Purpose 5

3 | Strategic Case 5

3.1 | Overview 5

3.2 | Strategy and Programme Investment Aims 7

3.3 | Existing Arrangements 10

3.4 | Business Needs 11

3.5 | Potential scope and service requirements 14

3.6 | Benefits, Risks, Dependencies and Constraints 14

4 | Economic Case 16

4.1 | Critical success factors 16

4.2 | Options appraisal 17

4.3 | Preferred way forward 17

4.4 | Outputs and outcomes summary 29

4.5 | Stakeholders summary 31

5 | Commercial Case 33

5.1 | Commercial strategy 33

5.2 | Procurement strategy 33

5.3 | Community Benefits Statement 33

6 | Financial Case 34

6.1 | Indicative Costs 34

6.2 | Funding Arrangements 35

6.3 | Finance and deliverability assessment 35

7 | Management Case 38

7.1 | Programme management arrangements 38

7.2 | Programme milestones 40

7.3 | Programme assurance 41

7.4 | Monitoring and evaluation plan 42

7.5 | Stakeholder engagement 45


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Appendices

1 Programme metrics

2 Deeside Regeneration Area map

3 Area profile

4 Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation profile

5 Integrated Impact assessment tool results

6 Health Impact screening report

7 Options appraisal

8 Community benefits statement

9 Financial breakdown

10 Monitoring and evaluation plan

11 Stakeholder communication and engagement plan

12 Risk management plan

13 North Wales Advanced Manufacturing Skills and Technology Centre


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Deeside 2020

1 | Introduction

Deeside is recognised by both the Wales Spatial Plan and the North Wales Economic Ambition Board as the ‘engine’ of the regional economy. One of the most important manufacturing areas in the UK, it provides a large number of jobs for North Wales residents, both direct and indirect employment.

Deeside now presents a once in a generation opportunity to see transformational change. It can deliver up to 5,000 new jobs in the key manufacturing sector, together with up to 1,300 new homes at Northern Gateway. Deeside has the largest mixed use development site in Wales that is “shovel ready”, Deeside has the single largest major expansion of the manufacturing sector planned since the creation of Deeside Industrial Park.

The successful growth of Deeside is vital to the regional and national economy. Deeside and North East Wales have benefited from a record of growth in the manufacturing sector. The area is a location of choice for some of the UK’s most significant employers. Further growth will deliver real benefits for the whole of North Wales in the form of sustainable employment opportunities.

The emergence of new competitor areas in neighbouring North West England does mean that Deeside faces new threats to its position as the ‘engine’ of the North Wales economy.

Northern Gateway Masterplan


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The programme concentrates on strengthening the role of the town centre in providing homes, jobs and service hubs, revitalising the coastline of the Dee estuary and improving links between local communities and the employment areas of the Deeside Enterprise Zone. The proposed Vibrant and Viable Places programme complements the Flintshire East Communities First cluster programme in tackling economic and social deprivation.

A number of complementary, thematic programmes have been developed and the VVP programme will be at the centre of this wider package, comprising:

Housing Condition and Supply – catalyse the phased development of up to 1,300 new homes on a strategic site, improve existing homes and develop new private and affordable homes to meet the future housing needs of the area, improve image and encourage business competitiveness.

Jobs and Skills – accelerate the delivery of 5,000 jobs on a strategic site by pump-priming the development of the North Wales Advanced Manufacturing Skills and Technology Centre (NWAMSTC) attracting high quality investment. A package of support is in place to enable local people to access new employment. The NWAMSTC will also establish Deeside as a national centre for advanced manufacturing.

Integrated and Sustainable Transport – develop the integrated transport infrastructure required to enable modal shift to take place and provide opportunities for deprived communities to access employment opportunities on both sides of the River Dee.

Urban Regeneration – the town centre will be a modern, attractive and vibrant place. It will have opportunities for new commercial and residential investment, it will be broadband enabled, and all residents will consider it a good retail destination.

This programme goes beyond past approaches to regeneration to develop a ‘Whole Place’ approach with sustainable development as the central principle. By 2020, Deeside will be a benchmark against which other communities across Wales can measure their sustainability credentials. The programme capitalises economic opportunities whilst promoting community cohesion through a strong sense of place and minimising environmental impact. There are longstanding regeneration challenges of multiple deprivation, poor environment and poor image to be addressed, the priority is to harness the economic, social and environmental opportunities now presented to transform Deeside’s future.

Vacant supermarket Connah’s Quay


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2 | Purpose

This Strategic Outline Programme summarises the approach to the sustainable regeneration of Deeside to 2020 and beyond. It outlines the case for initial targeted investment for the period 2014-17 under four thematic programmes. These will complement existing programmes of work and capitalise upon and maximise the benefits from the areas unique economic opportunities.

3 | Strategic Case

3.1 | Overview

Deeside is the main driver for the North Wales economy; together with the adjoining areas of Sandycroft and Broughton, it provides a total of 20,000 jobs, the great majority of these in the manufacturing and advanced manufacturing sectors, with most taken by North Wales residents. The importance of Deeside as a regional centre for employment, as a regeneration priority and a strategic settlement was recognised in both the Wales Spatial Plan and the West Cheshire / North East Wales Spatial Strategy. The Deeside Regeneration Area (Appendix 2) was identified in March 2011 as a focus for regeneration investment by FCC. An area Census profile attached as Appendix 3 confirms the key issues confronting the area.

Major urban expansion now planned. A large, new mixed use development will connect existing employment areas on the north bank to the urban area on the south bank, the Northern Gateway development. This urban expansion, together with Deeside Enterprise Zone (DEZ) represents one of the most important economic opportunities in Wales. Public

Artist’s impression NWAMSTC


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sector intervention can accelerate delivery of this opportunity, maximise its impact and secure sustainable prosperity for much of the region.

Deeside has arguably the most significant opportunities in Wales. They include:

200 hectares available with outline consent to meet current and projected housing needs;

complementary funding already in place to support the programme;

close partnership between the public sector and the larger employers in Deeside;

the Deeside Enterprise Zone in place and has already delivered 1,000 new jobs;

the proposed NWAMSTC;

a programme to transform Deeside into a place where sustainable travel is the norm;

a strategic location on the national highway network;

a high quality natural environment nearby; and

an impressive track record of delivery with a governance structure in place, bringing together the public, private, community and voluntary sectors. The DEZ Board will also play a major role in bringing forward private sector involvement.

Deeside’s challenges include:

high concentrations of multiple deprivation; (Appendix 4)

high levels of unemployment, especially among young people;

a shortage of skilled engineers and technicians needed to replace an ageing workforce and to support business growth;

poor public transport connectivity and over-reliance on cars to access employment sites;

traffic congestion on the strategic highway network;

need for more cycling/walking routes linking local communities to employment

retail vacancies increasing and business confidence low;

insufficient diversity of housing – particularly affordable;

large areas of social housing and poor quality private sector housing;

tenure mix unbalanced;

poor physical environment in older parts of the settlement;

poor image due to poor physical environment and deprivation levels;

some of the poorest health in the County; and

the highest level of crime and anti-social behaviour in the County.


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3.2 | Strategy and Programme Investment Aims

The Deeside Partnership aims to achieve comprehensive integrated regeneration through a series of coordinated thematic programmes to address economic, social and environmental issues, to realise the area’s full economic potential and place it at the centre of investment on a county and regional scale.

The V&VP programme will play a key role in catalysing the transformation of Deeside and will form one part of a wider ‘Whole Place’ regeneration process. This will be driven by private sector investment and the co-ordination of public and third sector service delivery to establish a sustainable community. We will:

Promote Economic Success

sustain and grow the local economy in a County with the highest dependence upon manufacturing in the UK;

create a vibrant local economy that gives access to satisfying and rewarding work without damage to the environment;

value unpaid work as a key driver of community cohesion and as a means to develop employability skills;

encourage the creation of social businesses;

contribute to the achievement of the Flintshire Destination Management Plan;

encourage access to facilities, services, goods and other people in ways which make less use of the car and minimise impacts on the environment;

make opportunities for culture, leisure and recreation readily available to all; and

create a local Wi-Fi enabled community.

Meet Social Needs

create and enhance homes, places, spaces and buildings which work well, wear well and meet aspirations as well as needs;

make settlement 'human' in scale and form;

value and protect diversity and local distinctiveness and strengthen local community and cultural identity;

protect human health and amenity through safe, clean and pleasant environments;

emphasise actions for health improvement and protection;

Airbus A380


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ensure access to good food, water, housing and fuel at a reasonable cost;

meet local needs locally wherever possible;

maximise everyone's access to the skills and knowledge needed to play a full part in society and to fulfil their individual potential; and

empower all sections of the community to participate in decision-making and consider the social and community aspects of decisions.

Protect and Enhance the Environment

use energy, water and other natural resources efficiently and with care;

minimise waste, then re-use or recover it through recycling, composting or energy recovery and finally sustainably dispose of what is left;

limit pollution to levels which do not damage natural systems;

value and protect the diversity of nature; and

become an exemplar area in the use of green technology (including Combined Heat and Power)

In developing the Vibrant and Viable Places programme we have considered its potential impact on these emerging aims for Deeside, using an Integrated Impact Assessment tool (Appendix 5) in conjunction with key partners, the headline results from which are set out below:

assess the health and equalities impact of the programme on specific groups. The results of a rapid desktop Health Impact Screening exercise is attached at Appendix 6;

increase use of the local supply chain;

secure community cohesion between old and new communities;

design for the needs of different sections of the community;

increase opportunities for voluntary activity to enable people to gain employability skills and work experience;

draw out the opportunity provided by the programme to support the further development of the Welsh language; and

apply Safer by Design principles.

Cyclists in Flintshire


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Based on these high level assessments, it has been agreed that a programme of this scale will have significant impacts on the economic, social and environmental well-being of Deeside. A concurrent impact assessment approach for the whole programme will be developed and adopted to complement any statutory requirements linked to individual projects.

National contribution

The programme is closely aligned to the Programme for Government and in particular, the priorities:

Growth and Sustainable Jobs;

Tackling Poverty;

Safer Communities for All;

Environment and Sustainability;

Welsh Homes;

Education; and

Equality.

The programme also supports the key national regeneration and “Building Resilient Communities”, tackling poverty outcomes of securing Prosperous, Healthy and Learning Communities. The programme and the wider Deeside ‘Whole Place’ approach is consistent with the central organising principle of sustainable development set out in One Wales, One Planet.

Regional contribution

The programme helps to meet the objectives of the Mersey Dee Alliance West Cheshire and North East Wales Spatial Strategy and the North Wales Economic Ambition Board’s strategy. The proposal is supported by the Deeside Enterprise Zone Board, complements the DEZ Business Plan and is included within the North Wales Economic Ambition Board’s proposed priorities for ERDF 2014-2020. New employment and housing delivered as a result of the programme will reinforce the role of Deeside area as a sub regional employment hub while also providing opportunities for workers to live closer to their place of work thereby reducing the need to travel.

County contribution

The integrated impact assessment considered the contribution to the priorities of the emerging Flintshire Single Integrated Plan (Wellbeing Plan), the adopted Unitary Development Plan and the Flintshire Regeneration Strategy to: create high quality employment; regenerate town centres and housing; and tackle poverty and unemployment.

The emerging Local Development Plan for Flintshire and the vision for Deeside (developed in partnership with all parts of the local community) is the context for a leading approach to the development of sustainable communities in Wales.


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3.3 | Existing Arrangements

In order to consider the added value of the proposed programme and confirm its attributable outcomes we considered the current issues and any existing activity that is being undertaken in relation to the key themes.

Housing Condition/Supply

The heavy industrial past of Deeside has left an inheritance of an unbalanced housing stock, with an over-provision of Victorian terraced housing and social housing estates. There is a need to create a more balanced community in terms of tenure mix and types of dwelling. The quality of the existing housing stock in the area is poor in certain areas and a recent analysis of the private rented sector in Flintshire (June 2013) reinforced the lack of good quality, affordable accommodation in the Deeside area. An existing group repair scheme has been operating in some parts of the area but the opportunity to fully realise its objectives and extend to other areas of need has been compromised by reduction in available funding.

NRA funding is insufficient to tackle the extent of poor quality, thermally inefficient housing and to tackle long-standing vacant redevelopment sites.

Delivery of up to 1,300 houses will be dictated by the market We will ensure that this new residential area is fully integrated with existing communities. The mix of housing units and tenure in current plans do not meets the needs of the existing and projected population.

Flintshire County Council commissioned an update to its Local Housing Market Assessment (LHMA) in 2012. This identified that there was a need for a further 1,114 affordable units within the County, 430 in Deeside.

Sustainable Transport

The existing strategic and local highway network is congested, exacerbated by seasonal holiday traffic in and out of Wales.

The bus and rail service in and out of Deeside is limited, especially for commuters. This impacts on modal choice (for those with cars) and poses a problem for those without cars in accessing employment.

The cycling and walking routes already developed are extremely popular but lack of funding means that an Active Travel network is being developed slowly.

The Old Dairy, Connah’s Quay – potential for residential re-use.


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Skills/Jobs

There is a mismatch between the profile of skills of local people and the needs of employers;

Despite some of the UK’s most important companies being located here, Deeside enjoys a relatively low profile.

Communities First is working with partners in helping local people into jobs. This approach will be widened into Wrexham and Denbighshire as the creation of jobs in DEZ increases.

An integrated and responsive mechanism is needed to convert business enquiries into investment.

Urban Regeneration

Deeside offers a wide range of local amenities catering for daily needs located along the B5129 corridor. The corridor has become traffic-centric, cluttered and difficult for cyclists and pedestrians to navigate, discouraging sustainable travel choices and reducing the appeal of the town centre and river front.

Increasing retail vacancies, combined with the adverse impact of a large vacant site and a tired shopping precinct in need of investment will continue to undermine the vitality of the town and the businesses located there. More people are likely to spend their money and leisure time in other towns - including nearby ones in England.

The current Town Action Plan programme has been very successful in engaging stakeholders and developing long term masterplans but lacks the capital resources needed to bring significant improvement to the appearance of the corridor or to tackle vacant or unattractive sites.

Leakage from the local retail areas to other higher order centres in the region continues to be extremely high, threatening the viability of traditional High Streets.

3.4 | Business Needs

Key activities for the programme are set out below.

Housing Condition/Supply

The area has seen large numbers of new houses in recent years, meeting the needs of those who can afford to buy. The needs of those working but on lower incomes now need to be addressed.

Shotton Hgh Street


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Masterplan proposals have been published for major housing development at the Northern Gateway site in Deeside, which is within the boundary of the Deeside Enterprise Zone. In line with the Council’s UDP policy HSG 10; this will require the provision of up to 30% of the new development to be affordable housing, which gives the potential for up to 360 units.

There are also a number of other potential housing sites which are either in private ownership, or currently being assembled by the Council, together these will contribute a further 40 units of affordable housing The sites being assembled are low value and will require some form of support via an Registered Social Landlord (RSL).

In addition, the Council believes that tackling long term vacant properties can also contribute to the delivery of affordable housing. Over the last 10 years the Council has offered financial assistance to owners of empty properties to bring them back in to use. Expansion of this scheme forms part of the bid and will contribute a further 20 units of affordable accommodation above commercial premises.

Summary of needs:

Enhance the competitiveness of the DEZ by ensuring a suitable mix and quality of housing supply to meet demands.

Improving the supply and quality of homes will improve Deeside’s image and attractiveness as a place to live.

Improve quality of life and tackle poverty through home improvements.

Projects to improve home energy efficiency.

Skills/Jobs

The level of skills required by employers has markedly increased in recent years. The cluster of Advanced Manufacturing sector employers that has grown to provide over 10,000 jobs to local people in direct operations and supply chain employment, has particular recruitment and skills challenges that are affecting medium term investment decisions.

At the same time the locally available skill sets create a mismatch between local workforce demand and supply. To maximise the benefits of the anticipated jobs growth, Deeside will need to ensure that local people are equipped with the necessary skill sets and are aware of the job opportunities open to them.

Communities First and other partners are delivering a range of initiatives designed to match people with jobs. Delivery here will be increased in line with the creation of new employment opportunities.

Deeside Dragon’s Den


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The NWAMSTC is a platform underpinning the bid, one which can transform perceptions of the region as a major centre for advanced manufacturing, as well as promoting the sector as a career option of choice. Development is at the concept stage and the concept has been well-received by local stakeholders and potential university partners. An operating model and funding package is being developed.

Summary of needs:

Develop the NWAMSTC as a focus for meeting the skills and technology needs of advanced manufacturing in the region, linking employers with HE and FE;

Use the NWAMSTC as a focal point to attract higher quality investment into the area than would otherwise be possible;

Ensure that unemployed people will be better able to access employment opportunities and gain good quality careers, including through trainee placements and voluntary sector activity.

Maximise the potential created by the schools modernisation programme to raise educational attainment and skills.

Support to grow indigenous businesses and support emerging entrepreneurs, in both the commercial and social enterprise sectors.

Integrated/Sustainable Transport

An area-based integrated transport strategy is required to ensure the development of the whole area is secured without impacting negatively on quality of life and environmental sustainability. The strategy would secure improved linkages between opportunities on the north of the River Dee and the communities on the south bank of the River.

Summary of needs:

Develop an integrated transport network of sustainable and affordable public transport services and cycling and walking links.

Improve access between areas of need and areas of opportunity.

Reduce traffic congestion through improvements to the highway infrastructure and development and marketing of alternatives to the private car.

Transform Deeside as a place where sustainable travel is the norm by promoting Travel Planning and Active Travel as key activities which will also enable better use of the highway network through modal shift.

Urban Regeneration

Future community cohesion and overall sustainability will be reliant upon changing perceptions of existing communities and influencing the views of new residents. The visual amenity and quality of the local retail, leisure, community safety and environment offer is crucial to this.

Summary of needs:

Make retail areas attractive and convenient places for shopping and leisure.


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Improve the appearance of public and private realm to encourage investment, visitors and house buyers.

Encourage new land uses to increase vitality, especially town centre residential uses and new service provision.

Bring vacant shops back into active use and encourage new business formation.

Create a new green corridor based on the River Dee, linking the various new and proposed communities;

The proposed North Wales Waste treatment plant will provide opportunities for developing innovative use of energy, including combined heat and power provision, based on a green energy source.

3.5 | Potential scope and service requirements

The scope of the programme is to develop a series of projects supported through the V&VP programme that complement the wider programmes of investment through the private sector and public sector.

The deliverable for the programme is the necessary finance to enable the programme of projects outlined in this SOP to be delivered.

The programme will operate in the Deeside Regeneration Area outlined in Appendix 2 although benefits will accrue to the wider Deeside settlement, Flintshire as a whole and to the sub-region.

3.6 | Benefits, Risks, Dependencies and Constraints

Benefits

The main beneficiaries will be:

local communities seeking better housing, employment, skills and transport choices,

new and existing businesses attracted to invest in Deeside

the population of Deeside as a whole – as the area will be transformed into a place that offers a higher quality of life and a place where people can achieve fulfilment in their lives

partner organisations in terms of accelerated achievement of their key objectives as well as additional outcomes.

Shotton railway bridge


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Direct measurable benefits will include provision of new housing, people securing employment, gaining qualifications, increased use of public transport, footfall in the town centre and participation in cultural events.

Indirect benefits include a greater sense of community cohesion, self confidence, safety and enterprise amongst local people.

The estimated benefits arising from each element of the programme are set out and summarised in the economic case below.

Risks

The main risks connected with the proposed programme as established at this stage of the programme can be categorised in three main areas:

Risk Category Description

Business risks Resourcing and operating effective partnership programme management

Service risks Investment fails to result in benefits to local business and communities Permissions regarding planning approval for housing development/change of use Necessary milestones are achieved to ensure complementary programme implementation

External environment risks

Impact of partner involvement on their core business delivery Financial stability of proposed delivery partners

The main risks associated with each element of the programme are set out in Appendix 12.

Dependencies

New employment growth is dependent on the availability of a sufficient range of housing, skilled labour, good transport infrastructure and good quality local services. Successful, sustainable communities rely on the availability of good quality local employment opportunities. This is the core rationale for this programme and is heavily dependent on the successful implementation of the Deeside Enterprise Zone business plan.

A wide range of partners is required to bring the services that meet the healthcare, education and general living needs of the community, enabling new and existing communities to thrive.


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Constraints

The physical geography of the area with the River Dee running through the middle of Deeside is a major constraint restricting options for change. Limited capacity on Aston Hill (A494) has a serious impact on overall mobility in the sub region.

The wider pressures of funding austerity and welfare reform act as a significant constraint on the aspirations and motivation of local people; requiring a step change in local ambition to overcome.

4 | Economic Case

4.1 | Critical success factors

The critical success factors to guide implementation of the programme have been drawn from our main projected measures of progress and lessons learnt from previous regeneration programmes locally, nationally and internationally.

Measures

Mix of development appropriate to achieve LHMA objectives for area

Reduction in fuel poverty

The % increase in the number of linked bus and train journeys undertaken (Baseline to be established in 1st quarter)

The numbers of people from the Communities First cluster as a % of all targeted recruitment and training/social clause beneficiaries (Target 10%)

Vacancy rates in town centre (to move from the current 15% vacancy rate to below the national UK average of 14.1% Local Data Company)

Perception of area as a good place to live. (Baseline to be established in 1st quarter)

Lessons learnt from previous programmes

Programme development has been informed by past practice and lessons learnt both locally and nationally. Wherever possible, projects have been developed following established practice and learning from the positive and negative aspects of prior projects.

Key learning points include:

Test feasibility of ideas at an early stage in project development.

Network widely with other areas to gather best practice.

Develop an effective communication and engagement plan is in place to ensure effective communication between stakeholders and with the local community.


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Concentrate efforts into a small number of interventions to ensure resources are not spread too thinly.

Develop close links with the private sector and build partnerships to share risks and resources.

Sharing our experience with other communities facing similar challenges across Wales.

Create a robust outcome-based monitoring and evaluation framework as part of programme of design.

4.2 | Options appraisal

In considering the scope of the programme three options have been considered – results of this appraisal are attached at Appendix 7. The options considered and the preferred approach is set out below.

Do nothing – This option centres on assessing the impact of housing, transport and education infrastructure improvements, when implemented, on addressing investment aims and critical success factors without intervening in securing wider regeneration

Do minimum – This option proposes the limited implementation of linkages between new and existing development sites and the existing community and pilot “above shop”, property acquisition and skills training projects

Do major – This option proposes an accelerated strategic regeneration programme for the settlement tackling housing conditions, accelerated employment opportunities and addressing skills deficits, securing overall town centre viability, green infrastructure and integration of new and existing communities

Following a detailed review of project components in terms of risk of delivery and value for money in securing leverage and programme outputs and outcomes, the preferred way forward stops short of “Do Major”, opting for a phased approach to key projects, taking account of overall funding availability.

The rationale for targeting the Deeside community is clearly evidenced by key data outlining its comparative needs in relation to Flintshire and Wales as a whole. Risk of existing and potential market failure in the provision of housing and services in the target areas along with the wider regional benefits of the programme outweigh any possible risks of displacement arising from this investment.

4.3 | Preferred way forward

Set out below are the main proposed activities for the Deeside programme under each main theme.

Housing condition and supply Jobs and Skills - NWAMSTC, wider programme of job creation Connectivity - Transport projects Urban Regeneration


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Rationale

An option remains on the Northern Gateway site for the provision of affordable housing - determined in relation to the development and the sale of market housing on the site. However, this gives the Council limited control over delivery timescales.

The UDP Policy requires that the site must comprise a mix of affordable rent, shared equity and social rent. However, given the relatively high numbers of Council and RSL stock in the neighbouring Garden City, totalling 208 units of accommodation, the requirement would be weighted towards affordable rent and shared equity.

The Council acknowledges that in the current economic climate, with limited public funding and the market still in the early stages of recovery, this is challenging for the development - and exacerbated further by low property values that may affect developer confidence. The Council must therefore balance these developer concerns against the need to bring forward affordable housing, whilst still ensuring that developer obligations are met through the requirements of the planning system. Therefore, discussions have taken place with the two landowners involved to see whether an alternative agreement could be reached.

The proposal is that the Council would effectively value (in financial equivalent terms) the affordable housing contribution that the developer would be required to make. Once that equivalent value is established and agreed then the Council would seek to organise land on the development site, the value of which is equal to that of the affordable contribution. The benefit of this to the landowners is that they would be able to sell the remainder of the site to a developer, having already made adequate provision for affordable housing on the site.

The Council, as landowner, with a stake in the new development would then have control to ensure that the affordable housing is developed by the Council and/or its RSL partners. Current thinking is that the Council and an RSL would develop affordable units using private finance and Social Housing Grant, through one of a range of models it is evaluating to build new affordable housing. Subject to approval by Cabinet, the Council is looking to set up a wholly owned Company to hold the property assets it acquires / develops which would allow for the charging of affordable rents and introduction of shared equity products.

RSLs have already been developing proposals in Flintshire to deliver affordable housing with no public subsidy so long as the land value is sufficiently low value.

The bid seeks provision of £1.2m for infrastructure costs, to enable access and service arrangements for the designated site to be put in place.

Development of Northern Gateway affordable housing

Purpose | To ensure the delivery of affordable housing units in Deeside, as a contribution to meeting the assessed need across the County.

Project |

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Rationale

The Council is currently in the process of assembling a site in Connah’s Quay comprising 7 terraced properties and a former dairy. The site is on a key gateway in to Connah’s Quay and is a key strategic priority for the Council’s Renewal Area. Its current condition has a disproportionately negative effect on investment prospects for the area

The majority of the capital investment required for this site has already taken place, with 6 of the 7 terraced properties acquired and the one remaining in conveyance. Negotiations to acquire the former dairy site are ongoing and the section of the bid for acquiring redundant commercial buildings will be key to unlocking the affordable housing development of 20 units on this site. There will be a reduction to the amount of Social Housing Grant available to the preferred RSL to take account of this capital contribution through VVP.

A partner RSL is in the process of acquiring another challenging site in Shotton and has prepared plans for the development of a further 20 units of accommodation. These units will be made available at social rents and will comprise one and two bedroom accommodation to further support the need for smaller housing as a consequence of Welfare Reform.

Shotton & Connah’s Quay – Stalled Sites


Project |

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Rationale

As a consequence of the Welfare Reform benefit changes, the Council has a focus on the provision of smaller accommodation. The restriction of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) to single room rate for those under 35 and the reduction in housing benefit for social tenants under occupying their accommodation has created this priority. The profile of the Council’s stock across Deeside is such that there is a severe lack of one and two bedroom properties to meet need and an oversupply of larger properties.

Creating accommodation above shops in that area would help cater for some of the need and also help to support those businesses. The Vibrant and Viable funding will help supplement the additional empty property grants programme in the area, which currently offers up to £20,000 per unit of accommodation created on the condition of the Council receiving nomination rights and the rent levels being set at LHA rates for 5 years. Demand for this assistance is high and the Council has supported the conversion of two properties to 6 self contained units of accommodation in the current 2013/14 financial year.

Living above the shops (LOTS)


Project |

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Rationale

Targeted group repair

The confirmation of Enterprise Zone status for Deeside and the large housing development adjacent to the existing Garden City community will put in to stark contrast the quality of the current and new community. The Council feels that if it is to promote confidence in the area as a place for housing development it must improve the quality of housing and the local environment. Should this take place, it is likely that two separate communities will form between new and old with little opportunity for the existing Garden City settlement to benefit from the new development.

Much of Garden City comprises public houses that will be improved through WHQS but this will not address the relatively small number of private properties in the area. It also does not address the difference in environmental quality between the new and existing neighbourhood, where a clear difference will exist.

Energy Efficiency

Local data suggests that 900 properties across Deeside would benefit from energy efficiency measures and this would equate to an investment need of £7.2M, of which £4.3M would be funded through ECO in full, with the remainder requiring funding from the Council or another source. Funding for group repair through this bid would allow for the required match funding to be put in place and this work would be expanded to take in the existing Garden City community.

The Council has good intelligence in relation to its current proposed 900 property group repair programme and has surveyed 130 of the properties which will form the 2nd phase spanning 2013 – 2015. The Council has also commissioned the survey of up to 50 properties in Garden City to expand its knowledge of property condition in that area. This includes all external elements that would be considered as part of a traditional group repair scheme and energy measures that would be eligible for ECO funding.

Environmental improvement schemes Garden City

The Council is keen to ensure that there is cohesion between the existing Garden City community and the development on the site of Northern Gateway. The works in Garden City will include tree and hedgerow structural planting, site clearance and establishment of allotments, improved play facilities and hard landscaping.

Promoting Deeside as a place to live and work

Purpose | To support the existing physical fabric of Deeside and promote the region as a place to live and work

Project |

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Rationale

Significant improvements in local housing stock (market, intermediate and affordable) proposed in this programme and enabled by the NRA need to be accompanied by accelerated improvements in the existing social housing stock. The Council’s WHQS business plan seeks to reflect the wider Deeside opportunity by focusing on stock improvements in this part of the County during the defined V&VP investment programme period. This will enable a transformative change in the whole housing offer across the area resulting in significant benefits to local communities living conditions in terms of health, employment and energy affordability.

The V&VP funding will be focused on helping achieve a Flintshire “WHQS Plus” standard in Deeside enhancing the core requirements of the current standard to reflect local concerns and priorities. An example of this is the impact of welfare reform on the need for smaller properties is driving a reappraisal of the existing stock towards securing more units from existing schemes. The resulting main WHQS Plus activity is set out below:

Remodelling a sheltered housing complex in Connah’s Quay of 97 properties, which has historical difficult letting issues and require substantial re-modelling to maximise the letting potential and provide a more pleasant living area.

Enveloping to provide a higher standard finish than basic CESP / ECO is able to achieve, especially on historic properties where positive character features can be lost through the application of external wall insulation.

External works to make the estates more secure and aesthetically pleasing when travelling around the area.

Environmental works to bring the estates to a higher standard than WHQS, with estate wide designs incorporating off street parking arrangements.

It must be emphasised this work is additional to and does not substitute in any way, the proposed WHQS investment which has been programmed and will achieve the standard by 2020.

Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) Plus

Purpose | To build on the proposed WHQS investment plan by the County council to achieve a “WHQS Plus” standard in key aspects of housing and local environment quality

Project |

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Rationale

The Groundwork Employment and Skills team has the main focus of providing skill building opportunities, accredited qualifications and employment opportunities. The programme would develop an initial 16 week traineeship and work towards establishing a portfolio of provision throughout this time which would allow each person to develop with Groundwork through a stepped approach to achieve sustainable employment. Groundwork would focus on the Welsh Government priority of Employment and Skills for 16 – 25 years olds and Groundwork would use its Employment and Skills team to facilitate all delivery, manage referrals and training, providing accredited qualifications. Trainees would gain a variety of practical skills and experience through working on a variety of environmental improvement projects benefiting their local communities.

The project will work with local voluntary and residents groups to help them to improve their environment.

Deeside Green Team Project | Purpose | To develop employability skills through the improvement of the environment in Deeside.

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Rationale

Deeside has been identified by the Welsh Government as the focal point for the advanced manufacturing sector in Wales and in April 2012, was designated as a new generation Enterprise Zone. Deeside is already a strategic employment zone for the region. It currently provides 20,000 jobs, most in the expanding, high value manufacturing sectors.

A North Wales Advanced Manufacturing Skills and Technology Centre (NWAMSTC) is seen as a key element in both sustaining existing employment and securing planned growth. The first phase involves:

Improvements to the engineering learning facilities at Coleg Cambria to ensure that the hub and the skills learnt there keep pace with new technologies and the requirements of businesses. Furthermore the engineering hub will support the supply of skills that will be involved in the research and development work that will take place at the NWAMSTC once it is developed.

An Advanced Manufacturing Skills Academy (AMSA). A national centre of excellence to train the next generation of technicians and engineers. It will be a powerful means of attracting the required numbers of high quality students to the sector and will place North Wales on the map of advanced manufacturing.

An Advanced Manufacturing Technology Institute (AMTI) – a world-class centre for collaborative research between universities and industry, providing North Wales businesses with a clear competitive edge.

This facility is also designed to act as a catalyst for further growth amongst existing companies and attracting further mobile investment to Deeside. A network of skills entry points are planned across North Wales for any employer, employee or new entrant to benefit from.

North Wales Advanced Manufacturing Skills and Technology Centre Project |

Purpose | To establish a pipeline of skills training support for the advanced manufacturing sector in North Wales

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Rationale

The North East Wales Area Based Transport Study (NEWABTS) and North East Wales Integrated Transport Task Force have identified that the local economy is over reliant on road based transport and personal car usage to provide access to employment. The core infrastructure is there but it needs to relate better to the significant and future changes in land use and population growth.

The challenge for the Council is therefore to provide an integrated and sustainable transport system to access jobs within Deeside Industrial Park and the existing and new jobs created through the Deeside Enterprise Zone. Many journeys made within the Deeside area are often short but the Active Travel Network for walking and cycling is disjointed and patchy and the barriers of the River, coast road and railway line create real and perceived barriers.

Lack of further investment in Deeside from a transport perspective will see continuing or worsening traffic congestion which will undermine other parts of the programme and discourage investment in Deeside. This will lead to a decline in people accessing jobs and bring forward further deprivation, negative public perception and town centre decline.

Project 1 – Develop the highway infrastructure for sustainable transport and active travel - new walking and cycling routes between areas of deprivation and areas of employment including upgrading existing footway and cycle ways and the installation of a new bridge over the River Dee to Northern Gateway.

Project 2 – Develop public transport infrastructure and services - new bus and rail interchange at Shotton station linking the higher and lower platforms and provide a new link road, Park and Ride car park and bus interchange facility and improve surrounding

streetscape.

Project 3 – Improve bus services between local communities and Deeside Industrial Park - expand the demand responsive Deeside Shuttle bus service funded by the Council to include Zone 4 of DIP and provide a scheduled bus service throughout the day using new vehicles. Build on cross border links with North West England.

Sustainable travel in Deeside Project | Purpose | To develop an integrated and sustainable transport system that provides opportunities for communities to access employment, health and leisure facilities.

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Rationale

The scheme will buy up vacant units and bring them into commercial or residential use. This will increase the availability of affordable floor space for new temporary uses and start up businesses. The project will improve the vitality of retail areas and reduce the prevalence of long–term vacant units and blight sites. Without intervention, sites are unviable and will result in many towns moving further into decline. For Deeside the focus will be on supporting a small retail core supplemented by a wider range of uses such as leisure; accessible (and affordable) transport; housing, as well as more use of the town centre for office and civic uses.

The centre also needs to focus on localised convenience and every day needs. The growth in online weekly grocery shopping has paralleled a push back to local shops that are, in turn, benefiting from time poor consumers, rising fuel costs and better quality convenience store provision from the major multiples. Local shopping is further supported by the aging population profile, the growth in urban households and more frequent budget constrained shopping.

The plan is to establish a balance of leisure opportunities, community and health uses and residential accommodation. Early assessment of the potential in Deeside has identified positive developer interest, which, with intervention could result in investment in the area.

A range of sectors could be included in the development mix. Hard and soft landscaping in an attractive public realm and a pedestrian friendly streetscape are also proposed.

Bringing vibrancy back to the High Street Project |

Purpose | to target investment to purchase, renovate or refurbish the buildings to enhance the built environment, attract investment and offer affordable floor space to start-up businesses and temporary uses.

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Rationale

Dee Coast Park – Dockside public realm

In the summer of 2013 the Council commissioned a study to investigate the feasibility of a coastal park, opening up access to leisure and recreation facilities along the Dee coast line. This would include visitor facilities located along the Wales Coast Path and North Wales cycle route.

One of these hubs would be Connah’s Quay docks and a local community group are in discussion with the Council over establishing a café and boating facility in a Council owned building on one discrete historical area of the waterfront. Upgrading this area will support the community enterprise and it will showcase the level of transformation that can be achieved. In turn, other landowners along the waterfront will be inspired and this will be a crucial first step in establishing a coastal park that can bring enormous benefits to Deeside.

Shotton station – public realm

The purpose of this project is to support the development of a well designed street environment to complement the proposed public transport hub at Shotton railway station. The project would facilitate access between the town centre and the transport interchange. The transport element is covered in the Sustainable Travel in Deeside business case.

Improving the appearance of Deeside Project |

Purpose | To encourage use of the waterfront as the first phase hub of a Coastal Park and to improve the appearance of the High Street

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Rationale

Access to free WiFi is increasing in importance as a selling point for town centres and offers local residents the opportunity to access information on services.

The feasibility of developing this service will be assessed and the costs of service provision and infrastructure established. Partnership arrangements with the private sector will also be established to share the costs and risks of the project.

This will complement the WG roll out of Superfast Broadband in Deeside.

Digital inclusion – town centre WiFi Project |

Purpose | To investigate and subsequently implement the creation of a free WiFi service throughout the Deeside retail centre.

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4.4 | Outputs and Outcomes summary

Project V and V Finance

Outputs Outcomes

Housing

Northern Gateway affordable housing

£1,200,000 Up to 360 affordable housing units 15 apprenticeship placements £1.75m spend to local contractors and building supply firms

Sustainable mix of housing

Stalled sites £ 200,000 40 affordable housing units 5 apprenticeship placements £350k spend to local sub contractors and building supply firms

Redevelopment of derelict and disused sites in town centre

Living above the shops

£300,000 15 affordable housing units 2 apprenticeship placements £250k spend to local sub contractors and building supply firms Increased footfall in town centre Increased

Increased vibrancy of town centre


£1,400,000 5 apprenticeship placements £750k spend to local sub contractors and building supply firms Reduction in fuel poverty

Improved quality of existing stock and environment to match new match new market housing attractiveness

WHQS plus £1,680,000 15 additional 1B / 2B units 494 properties gaining SAP65 status 543 properties with secure, defined and well-designed boundaries

Improved social housing stock

Jobs and skills

Deeside Green Team

£140,000 48 traineeships offered 30 young people engaged

24 young people having a positive outcome

NWAMSTC £2,490,000 Improved equipment and learning processes

Internationally recognised hub for


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As a result of, and in addition to, the specific project outputs and outcomes described above the programme will enable a total of:

1,800 Jobs created 1st 3 years

450 People supported into work 1st 3 years

£33.18m investment levered in (public / private) over 6 years

Spend through the Welsh supply chain will also be monitored.

Increased enrolments for advanced manufacturing related courses Collaborative research 500m2 business floor space (phase 1)

engineering technician training and development and leading edge applied research in advanced manufacturing technology development.

Connectivity

Sustainable travel in Deeside

£2,000,000

Public transport infrastructure

£1,540,000

Bus connection to Deeside Industrial Park

£1,500,000

More accessible travel options and improved bus journey times. Improved access and connectivity for those without access to a car. Increase in public transport use. 6 eco friendly buses

Use of new Active Travel options including walking and cycling routes from residential to employment and service/leisure areas

Urban regeneration

Bringing vibrancy back to the High St

£2,115,000 24 shop fronts improved 4 shop units acquired Development site acquired

Improved business performance Increase town centre footfall

Improving the appearance of Deeside

£395,000 Provide community facilities and a setting for events Attract and retain more visitors

Reverse environmental decline Enhance and interpret the area’s natural and heritage value

Digital inclusion – town centre Wi-Fi

£40,000 Assessment of viability of scheme


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The programme will also establish systems to collect information on the net additional entry-level (NQF Level 2 or below) jobs created through targeted regeneration investment; and number of people supported into work through targeted regeneration investment who are a) low-skilled (NQF Level 2 or below) and b) from workless households.

4.5 | Stakeholders summary

A detailed stakeholder communication and engagement plan is presented as Appendix 11.

A project by project summary of the key stakeholders is given below.

Project Key stakeholders Role

RSLs project partnership and access to finance

Tenants groups engagement and local intelligence


Shotton & Connah’s Quay – Stalled Sites

Private sector housing developers

partnering on projects and funding

Partner RSL partnering on projects and access to finance

Private landlords investment

Living above the shops (LOTS) Promoting Deeside as a place to live and work

Disabilities groups advice

Tenants and Residents Groups

engagement and local intelligence (WHQS) Plus

Local contractors employment

Deeside Green Team

Groundwork North Wales funding, management of project, community engagement

North Wales Advanced Manufacturing Skills

Advanced manufacturing employers, potentially Tata, Airbus, Toyota

partnership with the project, finance


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Deeside Enterprise Zone Board

support, funding and Technology Centre

Deeside College, Swansea University, Glyndwr University

partnership with the project, finance

Sustainable travel in Deeside

TAITH funding

Bringing vibrancy back to the High Street

Private developers partnership on projects, funding.

Improving the appearance of Deeside

Quay Watermen social enterprise aiming to provide facilities

Digital inclusion - town centre WiFi

Local businesses

sponsorship


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5 | Commercial Case

5.1 | Commercial strategy

The allocation of VVP funding will support the wider programmes of investment through the DEZ, private sector investment into Northern Gateway, Council investment in meeting the WHQS and investment in 21st Century Schools.

In embarking on the transformation of Deeside, developing the pace and scale of change will be essential to ensure public and investor confidence is built and maintained and a number of the interventions in the programme are designed to accelerate, increase or add value to existing programme of work.

The investment outlined in the programme will accelerate the pace of development on the considerable opportunity sites that exist and will help to unlock the benefits of this development at an earlier stage. The programme has been geared around catalysing private sector investment to ensure that the small public sector investment draws in large private resources to ensure the maximum leverage and sustainability. The State Aid implications of each element will be assessed as part of the project development process.

The project resource would be used prudently with the aim of recycling capital monies invested in private homes, energy efficiency measures and conversion – achieved through well established loan mechanisms, providing a legacy for the funding. The commitment of funding to change in the area from other sources such as Regional Transport grant and Neighbourhood renewal complements the additional proposed VVP public and private sector investment.

5.2 | Procurement strategy

Outside of the areas highlighted in section 5.1, the expenditure of the programme will be confined to procurement through the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules, which are compliant with the EU Public Sector Directive 2004 (2004/18) and the Public Contracts Regulations 2006.

5.3 | Community Benefits statement

All the partners supporting the development of the VVP and wider Deeside regeneration programmes confirm their support for a progressive approach to the identification, procurement and monitoring of community benefits as an essential component to the successful sustainable regeneration of the area.

The main community benefits proposed are set out below and in Appendix 8. These will be kept under constant review as part of the monitoring and evaluation arrangements for the programme, towards achieving continuous improvement in method and measurable outputs


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Elements of the construction procurement process, i.e. methods, information dissemination and supplier development that will encourage local economic development and manage local supply chain.

Targets for the delivery of the community benefits, e.g. how many long term unemployed people will be assisted into employment, how many work experience opportunities will be provided in each element of the programme, etc.

Engaging with the local community to develop a community benefits framework.

Sharing information between projects to secure a pathway for local beneficiaries to complete extended periods of work experience and necessary accredited training.

Developing a network of entrepreneur mentors as part of the Communities First cluster entrepreneurship training programme

Development of social enterprise opportunities to support successful sustainable regeneration of Deeside

Tackling poverty, equalities and Green Infrastructure benefits

Use of Welsh Government Community Benefits Toolkit monitoring approach

6 | Financial Case

The metrics associated with the costs and outcomes proposed are outlined at Appendix 1. The main factors informing these estimates are set out below:

Temporary construction jobs 4,000 over 12 years on Northern Gateway site, 300 over 5 years on town centre / housing schemes. (Informed by PRDL assessment of employment impact from development of southern part of site only – 2,880 construction and 2,169 after excluding supply chain).

People into work – based on the anticipated level of Communities First cluster capacity and current performance, future social clause commitments and Deeside industrial park job growth.

Additional business floor space - £1,350 per m2 build value (based on advanced manufacturing accommodation).

Projections of additional business floor space (34,500 sq m) based on 160,000 sq ft constructed in last 5 years and potential for up to 600,000 sq ft on Northern Gateway.

Market housing values based on average house price in Flintshire 2013 - £158,392.

Assumes a Deeside Enterprise Zone contribution as set out in their business plan as additional public funding.

6.1 | Indicative Costs/funding arrangements

The total cost of the programme is £37,590k with a VVP contribution requested of £15m. Appendix 9 provides details of the allocation of funds and Appendix 1 provides a summary of the metrics for the programme.


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6.2 | Funding Arrangements

In addition to our innovative approach to funding the programme’s housing proposals the Deeside partnership is developing proposals to seek further investment from private and third sector sources.

See Appendix 9.

6.3 | Finance and deliverability assessment

Overall, the programme has been developed to ensure that it is ambitious but affordable. The development of the NWAMSTC requires a broader package of funding still needs to be assembled for the project alongside the V&VP allocation.


Finance Deliverability

£1,200,000 (all VVP) to build road and service infrastructure to designated site currently in private ownership

Agreement required with two land owners regarding land value of affordable housing allocation, development of property management company by FCC , partner RSL to be confirmed

Stalled sites


SHG / HRG confirmed in programme £2.1m £200k VVP to secure site

Negotiations advanced with one remaining site to secure land package for 20 units 20 additional units designed and tendered by partner RSL

Living above the shops


£300k VVP conversion grants £225k owner contributions

Previous record of take up by property owners have informed estimate for 2014-17



Group repair – Welsh government and FCC £1.46m, VVP £1.15m Streetscene environmental improvements -£250,000 VVP

Group repair systems and procedures in place Design work already undertaken on target area


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WHQS Plus


£1,680,000 VVP £4.5m from ECO

Council stock –main WHQS programme funding committed

Deeside Green Team


£140,000 VVP Requires further funding from other programmes – bid outcomes will be before VVP approval.

NWAMSTC


£990,000 – VVP (Coleg Cambria) £5,000 from Coleg Cambria £1,500,000 – VVP – Refurbish existing building

Stage 1 feasibility and subsequent stakeholder negotiations complete. FE and HE partners confirmed Enterprise zone board supports the proposal and funding for future phases identified in DEZ business plan

Sustainable transport and active travel


£600k from the Regional Transport Grant and £600k planning gain from developers of the Northern Gateway site. VVP contribution £2m

Taith Regional Transport Grant secured – land for proposed cycling and walking route improvements in FCC ownership or at advanced negotiation with developers

Develop public transport infrastructure and services


£400k from the Regional Transport Grant. VVP £1.54m

Taith Regional Transport Grant secured – schemes in development towards agreement with Network Rail

Improve bus links to Deeside Industrial Park


Match funding of £1.5 million from Flintshire County Council over 3 years. £1.5m VVP

Gaps in service identified – advanced negotiations with developers, transport service providers and bus service companies.


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Bringing vibrancy back to the High St


Cost - £360k VVP/£240K private shop fronts £1.395 m VVP/£1m private acquisition £360k small premises acquisition

Strong developer interest in improved precinct and civic site Neighbouring units lend towards acquisition and impact Good interest from existing owners re improvement grants

Improving the image of Deeside


Cost - £395k VVP Land in council ownership apart from small elements in control of Railtrack. Indicative design work undertaken

Digital Inclusion – town centre wi-fi


Cost -£40k VVP Feasibility study


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7 | Management Case

7.1 | Programme management arrangements

The programme management arrangements are set out diagrammatically below.

The key management processes and documents will include:

Risk management plan for each project and combined at the programme level.

Delivery plans at project and programme level to enable monitoring of progress.

Project and programme level budgets.

Change control processes at project and programme level.

Communication strategy to co-ordinate stakeholder engagement and communication across the structure.

Quarterly highlight reports at project and programme level to enable monitoring of progress.

Half-yearly reviews of overall programme progress and of strategic context to ensure continued strategic fit.

Output profile for each project

Governance

Programme management

Programme Management Team

Deeside Partnership

(will act as Programme Board)

FCC CabinetFCC Overview and

Scrutiny

Project managers

Project working groups

To include Programme Executive. Will co-ordinate projects and monitor and manage progress.

Project BoardsTo include Project Executives. Will monitor project progress and approve project-level changes.

To include Senior Responsible Owner. Will ensure continued strategic fit and approve change and resource allocation.

Deeside Vibrant and Viable Places programme management structure

To co-ordinate the delivery of the different project elements.

Stakeholders


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Exit arrangements

The Vibrant and Viable Places programme is planned to operate from 2014-17.The major transformative change in Deeside will continue over the subsequent 5 years. The launch of the East Wales structural funds programme provides the context for the longer term delivery of SOP outcomes along with the continuing development of the Enterprise Zone and partnership-based whole place planning approach.

Risk management plan

The main risks identified at this stage of programme development have been set out in Appendix 12. This risk plan will be refined and update during programme development and will be subject to review and reporting as part of the programme governance and implementation arrangements.


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7.2 | Programme milestones

Milestone

Ap

r 14 – Oct 14

No

v 14 – Mar 15

Ap

r 15 – Oct 15

No

v 15 – Mar 16

Ap

r 16 – Oct 16

No

v 16 – Mar 17

Programme approval

Programme Board meetings

Develop Northern Gateway affordable housing – reach an agreement with the developers

Develop Northern Gateway affordable housing – develop infrastructure

Develop Northern Gateway affordable housing – agreement with RSL partner

Develop Northern Gateway affordable housing – development commences

WHQS Plus implementation

Promoting Deeside as a place to live and work – (including Garden City streetscape) commencement of streetscapework

Promoting Deeside as a place to live and work – Garden City Group Repair

Living above the shops – launch scheme

Stalled sites – development commences

Sustainable transport and active travel

Improve bus links to DIP

Public transport infrastructure and Services – agree funding package for rail interchange

Public transport infrastructure and Services – rail interchange commence works

Deeside Green Team – launch project

NWAMSTC - Coleg Cambria upgrade

NWAMSTC – John Summers building renovation

Bring vibrancy back to the high street - shop fronts launch grant

Bring vibrancy back to the high street – purchase shop units

Bring vibrancy back to the high street – site acquisition

Enhance docks/streetscape – implementation

Digital inclusion – Town Centre Wi Fi Feasibility study


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7.3 | Programme assurance

The programme will be assured through:

Biannual reports to the Deeside Partnership, acting as the Programme Board, on the progress of the programme. This will include review of the wider strategic context to ensure that the programme remains responsive to emerging priorities and new programmes.

Annual reports on progress, outputs, outcomes and expenditure to the Council Overview and Scrutiny Committees and Cabinet to ensure effective and efficient delivery.

Reports on progress, expenditure, outputs and outcomes to Welsh Government as agreed.

Control will be applied at the programme and project level through the respective Boards through exception reporting, a robust change management procedure, risk management and a gateway approach to moving between project stages.

This structure will be able to respond to issues arising with project delivery and is of sufficient seniority to decide upon mitigating courses of action.

Deeside Partnership

Places Sub Group People Sub Group

Deeside Forum

Flintshire Regeneration Partnership

DEZ Board

Scrutiny Cabinet


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The Deeside partnership was established in 2012 to bring together the key organisations concerned to ensure the successful sustainable regeneration of Flintshire’s most populated area. The need for increased co-ordination of economic, social and environmental development at the sub county level complements the areas regional, strategic significance in North Wales. Significant projected growth in employment and housing in the area combined with distinct community needs and challenges, the continuing operation of the Communities First programme and transport pressures required the mobilisation of all stakeholders around a shared vision for improvement and change.

The membership of the partnership continues to evolve with representation from public, private and local third sector groups being secured in the coming months.

In developing a Whole Place approach to Deeside the partnership is to commission a detailed masterplan of the area that goes beyond the land use and infrastructure planning approach to incorporate analysis and response to the socio-economic and cultural issues the area might face in undergoing major structural change. It will be vital that the Deeside partnership acts a co-ordinating body for this work and harnesses all the available resources and expertise of partner organisations in achieving progress against key priorities. The Vibrant and Viable places programme acts as a further catalyst to this process and the partnership has endorsed this SOP.

7.4 | Monitoring and evaluation plan

The detailed monitoring and evaluation plan for the programme is attached at Appendix 10. The Council has developed its proposed approached taking account of the Treasury Magenta book. Key programme measures against which monitoring and evaluation activity will be undertaken at the project and programme level are set out below:

Deeside - Vibrant and Viable Places –Key programme measures

Theme/Activity Outcome Key V&V programme measures

Healthy

Communities

Housing investment

New build public and private

Group repair Energy efficiency Homes above shops

Sustainable tenure mix

Improved access to owner occupation

Improved health Improved educational attainment Reduced fuel poverty Local Job, sourcing

and training opportunities

Mix of development appropriate to achieve LHMA objectives for area

% reduction in fuel poverty


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Prosperous and Learning Communities

Jobs/Skills - Advanced Manufacturing campus

Development of learning and research facilities linked to AM sector

Deeside Green Team

Employer confidence in local and regional skills pipeline

Pathway of multiple entry points for new entrants and existing workforce

The numbers of people from the Communities First cluster as a % of all targeted recruitment and training/social clause beneficiaries

Neet rate (CF measure)

Feeling positive about school(CF measure)

Employer survey – workforce development needs achieved%

Properous and Healthy

Communities

Integrated Sustainable Transport

Improved highway and public transport infrastructure

Increased number of passengers carried

Increased number of people using walking and cycle routes

Mode of travel

Passenger and business surveys

Prosperous

Communities

Urban Regeneration

Environmental improvements

Physical Regeneration

Improved environmental quality in existing urban areas and high quality environments for new residential areas

Increased confidence in use of retail centres by shoppers and in terms of new business formation

Perception of area as a good place to live

Vacancy rates

Shopper survey

Deeside Enterprise Zone

Activity Outcome Measure

Prosperous Technology park 5000 jobs, R&D facilities, Firms reporting


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and Learning Communities

new and existing firm expansion

employment numbers at Northern Gateway site

Flintshire East Communities First Cluster

Prosperous, Learning and Healthy communities projects

Increased attainment, employment and entrepreneurship rates by local residents

See cluster delivery plan

The four themes will not necessarily apply at the four levels of the monitoring and evaluation hierarchy. Careful consideration of the individual themes and their associated measures suggest that at the macro level the themes of housing supply and integrated transport are more appropriate indicators of contextual change to the V and V area. As the monitoring and evaluation focuses in more detail on the immediate context of the area and the change associated with the designation and funding in Deeside then the remaining themes of jobs/skills and urban regeneration become more appropriate.

Level of the hierarchy

Housing Supply

Integrated Transport

Jobs /Skills Urban Regeneration

Macro * *

Meso * * *

Micro * * * *

Two key techniques will be deployed to support the monitoring and evaluation plan - Results Based Accountability and LM3

RBA – the population accountability (overall programme) and performance accountability (project components) indicators will establish wherever possible the specific contribution of the Deeside VVP to identified key measures of sustainable regeneration Each project in the programme will set targets to achieve outputs which in turn contribute towards overall programme outcomes measured at the population level.

LM3 – the Deeside programme lends itself to an assessment of the local economic impact of mainstream as well as VVP spend. An extensive WHQS programme, school and FE modernisation capital programmes and local supply chain development initiatives linked to further development of the Deeside Industrial area combine with VVP investment to warrant this tool as a means of collecting information on local economic benefit. In addition to these the programme’s Community Benefits statement sets out the proposed approach


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to capturing project outputs in terms using the Welsh Governments Community benefits and I2 I toolkits.

7.5 Stakeholder engagement

The stakeholder communication and engagement plan is attached at Appendix 11.

The Flintshire Youth Forum and Communities First cluster involvement plans will be key reference points in the formative implementation of the plan

The development of a wider ‘Whole Place’ masterplanning approach will offer the opportunity for wider and deeper engagement and the partnership has already had early discussions with the Centre for Regeneration Excellence Wales on the development of this approach. The Design Commission for Wales will also be approached to act as a critical friend in the process.

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