New Ideas Form LEADER Arwain Sir Benfro FORM 2 Discussed with PLANED staff member: Yes, Cris Tomos Thank you for your interest in bringing forward an idea for developing with the LEADER funding in Pembrokeshire. Ideas are welcomed to be submitted in Welsh or English. Ideas submitted in either language will be treated equally. Please ensure you have contacted a LEADER Arwain Sir Benfro officer before completing this form to ensure you are given a full explanation about the LEADER Themes. Once the form is completed please return to either your main contact or to leader@planed.org.uk If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the Arwain Sir Benfro team on 01834 860965. 1. Initial name of Project Idea Feasibility Study for former Victoria Filling Station and Grade II listed Quay Stores in Milford Haven 2. Contact Person Stella Hooper 3. Organisation Name Milford Haven Port Authority (MHPA) (if relevant) 4. E-mail address Stella.Hooper@mhpa.co.uk 5. Telephone Number / Mobile 01646 696375; 07805 749164 6. Summary of the idea E.g. what activities could this idea cover? What difference would the idea make, who or what will benefit, why the idea is needed and how you know this. If you have an indication of how the idea could be progressed - how long it will take, how much it will cost, who will be involved? Any initial thoughts on time lines and milestones. MHPA has a shared* vision is to create a vibrant new waterfront destination for Milford Haven and Pembrokeshire. To achieve this vision we have worked with development consultants to develop a Master Plan for the newly branded Milford Waterfront (see www.mhpa.co.uk). As part of this plan, our idea is to commission a feasibility study for the redevelopment of a vacant & redundant site in a key town centre location in Milford Haven known as the former Victoria Filling Station and Grade II listed Quay Stores on Victoria Road. This site is owned by MHPA. The feasibility study will look at our initial plans for the building to become a multi-use cultural centre, but it will also consider all other possible uses, together with concept drawings. It will consider how this development can be undertaken in ways which reflect LEADER principles. It will also look at what other potential sources of funding are available. * See section 7 below. Architects plans have been drawn up for the site and initial plans for the proposed development include: a 400 seater auditorium/conference/banqueting facility/music venue retail space exhibition space Page 1
café and viewing gallery overlooking the Haven Waterway start up office accommodation interconnecting tower housing a restaurant, bar and bridge link to the town centre The gross internal area of the entire development will be 29,795 sq ft (2,768 sq m and 1,858m² internal space). Why the idea is needed: Milford Haven s potential for tourism has yet to be fully realised. In 2010 there were 4.2 million visitors to Pembrokeshire but only 12% visited Milford Haven (Tenby 49%, St Davids 38%, Pembroke 22%) (source: Pembrokeshire Tourism). The town has significant levels of deprivation - the majority of Milford Haven s Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) are ranked overall among the 30-50% most deprived of the 1909 LSOAs in Wales. The Barton Willmore study commissioned for the (then) Welsh Assembly Government, Pembrokeshire CC and Milford Haven Port Authority in 2009 noted the way in which Milford Haven is topologically challenged, with a rapid change in levels between the waterfront and the town centre. Of the total number of retail units in the town, 22% are vacant - well above the UK average of 11% (Barton Willmore 2009). There has been no subsequent improvement on this. Project benefits to the area: Redevelopment of a key location in the town centre from a vacant and derelict site into a multi-use cultural centre for use by the local community and visitors alike The development will bring about sustainable diversification and a dramatic improvement to the vibrancy and viability of the town centre A grade II listed property restored and brought back into use It will help Milford Haven to compete with other locations Employment prospects will be enhanced and local deprivation reduced. 12+ jobs created plus 15-20 jobs created during the construction phase By providing an interconnecting tower and bridge link to the town, this proposal offers a solution to the disconnect between Milford Waterfront and the town Page 2
centre a significant issue as identified in the Barton Willmore study (2009) The Master Plan for Milford Waterfront includes the intention to establish the area as a carbon neutral zone. MHPA s 5 Megawatt solar farm on Liddeston Ridge will supply the renewable energy for this development. Three quotations for the feasibility study have been obtained. The proposed feasibility study will take approx. 6 weeks. This work would commence upon approval. The work will be awarded to the company offering the best value. 7. People & partners that could be engaged. What evidence of need is there for this idea? E.g. engagement/ consultation activities? As part of the early development of the Master Plan for Milford Waterfront, we undertook a comprehensive 5 phase pre-application consultation programme over 2 years (2012-13). This involved statutory stakeholders, local residents & businesses, berth holders, local councillors & school groups. Over 500 people attended. 85% said they supported the proposal. 83% said they would use the new facilities; 78% agreed that it would benefit the local community. Key messages from this include: historical importance of Milford Dock; create linkages with town; expand leisure sector; create enhanced activity and facilities. This consultation programme has been followed by an ongoing open invitation to Have your say on MHPA s website. Partnership opportunities already identified : - Pembrokeshire College are interested in the site for various uses - Initial tenant interest in the 400 seater auditorium. - Site is close to Milford Museum with whom we already have an established working relationship - We have an agreement in place with an artist (kareningham.org.uk) to host an energy exhibition in Milford Haven in 2018. This could become a permanent exhibition. If so, we would seek collaboration with the National Science Museum in London for the loan of exhibits. The feasibility study will explore these opportunities further and identify other people and partners who could be engaged in the project. Page 3
8. Identify under which LEADER theme does the idea fit? Please also refer to the Guidance Note explaining the LEADER principals of piloting project ideas and the need for a network approach and cooperating with as many individuals and groups as possible. 9. What resource do you need to develop the idea any other resources and/or support? E.g. staff support for consultation events, research, feasibility, questionnaires, piloting? Theme 1: Adding Value to local identity and natural and cultural resources. Theme 2: Facilitating pre-commercial development, business partnerships and short supply chains. Theme 3: Exploring new ways of providing non-statutory local services. Theme 4: Renewable energy at Community level Theme 5: Exploitation of digital technology None. 10. Any initial thoughts on the financial support needed to develop the idea? If you do not know at this stage then please leave blank or list expenditure discretion as an indication of cost headings List knows heading and a general estimate of costs if known: Please give additional noted to explain the rational. Expenditure Cost 1. Feasibility study for Quay Stores 21,400 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Total Project Cost: 21,400 RDP funding (no more than 70% 14,980 of the total): Cash matchfunding 6,420 Total: 21,400 11. An idea of how long the idea could take to deliver. From: 05/12/16 To: 28/01/17 (6 weeks allowing for Christmas holidays) 12. Please consider possible Benefits, Outcomes or Impacts from developing the idea. If unknown please leave blank No. No of businesses that could benefit 4+ Page 4
No. of communities that could benefit 1 No. of possible jobs created (including 15 in construction phase) 27+ No. of possible people engaged and/or benefiting Other (list) Other (list) 13. Any other issues or known barriers to consider when developing the new idea. The development proposal is subject to the outcome of the feasibility study. It has not yet been submitted for planning. However, as the site is currently a vacant, derelict and redundant site in the town centre, we do not anticipate any major issues with planning. Page 5