Water & DevelopmentDaventry WaterSpace

East Midlands Councils Planning CPD 28 June 2012

Contents

• Daventry• Why WaterSpace?• Evolution of the scheme• Challenges

Daventry

• Saxon origins• Norman Priory• Elizabethan ‘new town’• Georgian coaching town• 1793: Grand Junction Canal• 1838: Bypassed by the railway• 1960-70s: ‘new’ town• 1980-90s: Development by DDC

Daventry 1571

Daventry 2009

Daventry 2009

Daventry, early 00s

• Population growth ongoing• Constrained town centre• Mixed economic base (low wage)• Limited infrastructure• Poor sustainability

• …MKSM Study, then Strategy…

Approach

• Ride the tiger:• Renew the town centre • Secure infrastructure• Enhance job opportunities• Transform education• Or end up with growth anyway

“Building social and economic success on the basis of environmental excellence”

Town Centre Vision

• Town Centre Vision (TCV)– Issues– Ideas– Plans– Action

• Working with Civic Trust• Adopted 2004

Town Centre Vision 2004

Why water?

• People like water• UK’s busiest canal only 3km

away: An opportunity too good to miss

• Property values enhanced• A new ‘heart’ for Daventry:

Quality public space and buildings around water

• Public support

Feasibility study

• Full feasibility study required by Town Centre Vision• Tendered and Mouchel Parkman/DTZ Peida Consulting

team appointed• Outputs required to comply with HM Treasury ‘Green

Book’ standards for evaluation

Stage 1 report

• Canal and waterside viable• Added benefit of active water (canal connection)• No “show stoppers”• Water supply within catchment sufficient.• Potential ecological benefits.• Potential benefits to town centre and wider development• Recommends 100 berth marina and additional ‘casual’

moorings• Cost about £10 million plus optimism bias (44%)• Five route options

Stage 2 report

• Option selected• Design worked out in detail:

– Bed level 125.0m– Water level 126.5m

• Runs under Northern Way• Welton Road diverted• Extensive risk management and “buildability” work done.• Costs: £10.2 million + £1.7 million for risks + optimism bias

at 11% (down from 44%).• NPV of costs £4.3 million

Study conclusions

• Outcomes, not outputs• Environmental benefits – biodiversity, green corridor, etc.• Economic – ‘investment edge’, tourism brand, etc.• Other – cultural vitality, civic pride, etc.• Overall: Transformative project cf. Tate St Ives

How?

• Take steps• Studies• Design• Incremental strategy• Enabling infrastructure – secured funding for:

– Diversion of one road– Bridge under town ring road

• No major physical obstacles remaining• Town centre water areas first … momentum• The then ‘link’

How?

• Council own resources – value of surrounding land• ‘Growth’ funding:• S106/CIL• ‘Growth’ funds • Lottery, benefactors, etc.

Evolution: Town Centre Vision

Evolution: Town Masterplan

Evolution: Town Masterplan

Evolution: Site Masterplan 1

Evolution: Site Masterplan 2

Evolution: Site Masterplan 3

Evolution: Site Masterplan 4

• UTC secured … but needed larger area• Village Green application removed … but concession was

‘voluntary green’ on part of the area• Continued changes in economic circumstances• Replanning required … keeping the concept

Challenges

• Funding and viability• Changing economic circumstances• Fear of the unknown: opposition• Other priorities – complementary or completing• Change of development control authority

Benefits

• iCon• Centre of excellence in

sustainable construction• First HE presence in

Daventry• Opened May 2011• Would it have happened

without the vision?

What next?

• Resolve remaining issues• Obtain planning permission:

– Waterside– Canal link

• Select development partner(s)• Some self-development?

Questions?