Agenda item

To consider a report (copy attached), which sets out the background and context to the Civic Quarter Placemaking Members’ workshop, the results of the exercise completed by members, next steps and officer recommendations. 

 

The Board considered the Regeneration Team’s Report which set out the background and context to the Civic Quarter Placemaking Workshop, the results of the exercise completed by Members, proposed next steps and officer recommendations.   The Report also set out details of four learning seminars for all Members to assist in the Council’s policy position in relation to sustainable regeneration:

 

·         Sustainable design options and changing sustainability requirements

·         Housing led developments and reinventing the town

·         Sustainable transport

·         The Green Agenda

 

The Board received a presentation from Mr Nick Irvine (Regeneration Delivery Manager) and Ms Michelle McNally (Regeneration Programme Manager) on the outcomes of the virtual Civic Quarter Placemaking Workshop held in May 2020.  The workshop had sought to capture Members’ views and to prioritise key emerging principles for the next stage of the Civic Quarter masterplanning process.  The results of the workshop had been broken down into two distinct areas – the Green Agenda prioritisation and emerging priorities.   The ‘Green Agenda’ had been rated a gold priority by Members and would be considered as one of the two gold principles that the Rushmoor Development Partnership/LDA Design would need to prioritise in the Civic Quarter scheme development.   The other significant outcome of the exercise had been the identification of sixteen priorities that would be used to articulate Members’ aspirations for the Civic Quarter site going forward into RIBA Stage 2 of the masterplanning process.

 

The sixteen priorities had been formulated through a number of questions which asked Members to rank, in terms of importance, different aspects that could assist in realising the eight key principles determined through the GT3 (architects commissioned by Rushmoor Development Partnership (RDP))  and LDA Design (appointed by RDP to progress the masterplan for the redevelopment of the Civic Quarter) work which had been undertaken previously, subsequently increased to nine to include the Green Agenda, following the declaration of a ‘Climate Emergency’ on 20th June 2019.  These were:

 

·         Create community heart

·         Green Agenda

·         Develop strong identity and raise profile

·         Encourage community cohesion

·         Improve health and wellbeing

·         Connect the town

·         Increase participation in facilities

·         Increase visitor numbers, footfall and spend

·         Develop arts and culture facilities/heritage

 

Arising out of the analysis of data obtained through the workshop, officers had taken the top 3 (Gold category), 2 (Silver category) and 1 (Bronze category) from each principle.  The Board was invited to consider the priorities arising out of the consultation with Members to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval, with the intention that the agreed Cabinet document would be presented to the RDP to inform the early stages of the RIBA Stage 2 work.   The priorities identified for consideration were:

 

Gold Category:

 

·                Create Community Heart

Places for community events/gathering

Places for rest/relaxation

Landscape – informal green approach (soft landscaping)

 

·                Green Agenda

New development to incorporate renewable energy

Introduce measures to support sustainable travel

Maximise energy efficiency of buildings

 

Silver Category:

 

·                Develop strong Identity and raise profile

Build on the town’s aviation and other heritage (eg through public realm/public art)

Introduction of landmark building(s)/distinctive architecture and design

 

·                Encourage community cohesion

Flexible community space to accommodate a variety of activities/groups

A wide mix of uses that appeals to different groups and encourages people from all ages and backgrounds to use the Civic Quarter

 

·                Improve health and wellbeing

          Places to sit/rest/reflect

          Provide space for indoor leisure facilities

 

Bronze Category:

 

·                Connect the town

Improving pedestrian connections to the business park

 

·                Increase participation in facilities

Combine community/civic uses in a hub building

 

·                Increase visitor numbers, footfall and spend

Ensure the site is well integrated with the wider town centre/business parks (access routes and wayfinding)

 

·                Develop arts and culture facilities/heritage

Regular cultural events

 

During discussion, there was a request to adjust the emerging priorities under five themes in order to reduce the amount of overlapping of priorities, as follows:

 

Leisure, Health and Civic Hub

-       Combine community/civic uses in a hub building

-       Provide space for indoor leisure activities

-       Library

 

Housing Need and Design

-       Homes for increased town centre living

-       A variety of homes provided as part of the development

 

Transport and Accessibility

-       Ensure the site is well integrated with the wider town centre/ business parks (access routes and wayfinding)

-       Improving pedestrian connections to the business park

 

Environmental Sustainability

-       Landscape – soft informal green approach

-       Maximise energy efficiency of buildings (where possible)

 

Increasing Footfall

-       A wide mix of uses that appeals to different groups and encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to use the Civic Quarter

-       A mix of places to eat and drink – an evening economy

 

Views were also expressed regarding: the need to provide housing for key workers in order to retain them in the Borough; transport to connect Farnborough town centre with other shopping areas; energy efficiency in buildings and their design; increasing the number of visitors to the town; use of leisure facilities and creating an evening economy; regeneration sustainability; the use of local trades people and companies in constructing the Civic Quarter; the integration of health and leisure facilities; the importance of cycling links, wayfinding and signposting; and, connecting the east of Farnborough to the town centre.   Members also agreed that the health and wellbeing priority should be included under the ‘Gold’ category. 

 

 

Action to be taken	By whom	When
The Board’s recommendations for priorities to be submitted to the Cabinet to be passed through to the RDP to inform the next stage of masterplanning for the Civic Quarter.	Nick Irvine	July 2020
The Board endorsed the proposed way forward for the next steps in developing the Council’s policy position in relation to sustainable regeneration though a series of all Member seminars	Karen Edwards, Executive Director	Autumn 2020