Agenda item

This report provides a progress update on the Civic Campus Programme, including the plans for the coming year and an indicative timetable to completion.

Joanne Woodward (Director of Planning and Property) introduced the report which provided a progress update on the Civic Campus and the plans for the coming year.

Philippa Cartwright (Project Director, Planning and Economic Development)

provided a presentation which covered the following aspects:

·       The project scope and delivery.

·       The opportunities afforded by the civic campus (Regeneration of western King Street, new homes, café, restaurant, shops, office and entertainment etc).

·       Details of the buildings and their context within the civic campus footprint.

·       A before and after set of visualisations.

·       Details of the energy strategy and use of a ground source heat pump.

·       Details of the design and co-production work.

·       Details of the design awards which had been won.

·       Progress to date and future works.

·       The impact of the civic campus and details on place shaping.

Councillor Adam Peter Lang commended the civic campus as a landmark of local democracy renewal. He asked if he were a local resident, rather than a Councillor, how would he find out about the project. In response, Philippa Cartwright provided an overview of the build to date, some of the issues that had arisen and explained that officers were currently working on a communications plan that would be rolled out in early June 2023. These details would be available on-line, in print and would clearly set out what the civic campus was and its goals.

Councillor Ashok Patel noted the estimated cost and projected income streams from the project and asked if Officers could comment further. In response, Philippa Cartwright confirmed the latest position statement was set out in February 2023 Cabinet report. Commenting further, the Leader, Councillor Stephen Cowan provided an update on the break-even projections for the project set against the context of stamp duty changes, Brexit, rising energy costs and the innovation required to create a sustainable invest to save project.

Councillor Jackie Borland commented on the design of the new public square in front of the Town Hall and noted that it did not incorporate any rain shelters. In response, Joanne Woodward confirmed that the Town Hall Commissioners had considered the architectural merits of the scheme, including planting and the views through the new square to the Town Hall. While shelters had been considered, it was felt on balance, that these would impinge on the views across the site to the attractive refurbished listed building. This also encouraged residents to go into the town hall and served to reinforce local democracy renewal.

Commenting further on the design, the Leader, Councillor Stephen Cowan confirmed a considerable amount of thought had gone into ensuring the town hall felt a special place. An aim of the civic campus had been to lock in future democracy and ensure the buildings became a time capsule of where local democracy currently stood.

The Chair, Councillor Rory Vaughan, asked about the status of Nigel Playfair Avenue. Officers confirmed this would be pedestrianised and would be highlighted in future communications about the civic campus. Reflecting on what the Leader had said, the Chair concurred that the new civic campus had a different feel (to the old iteration of the town hall) and this needed to be communicated to residents. In terms of the work conducted so far, the Leader, Councillor Stephen Cowan confirmed the site had been marketed heavily during the Planning phases and about fifteen exhibitions had been held to date. As well as incorporating world class design, the building would have its own curator, be inclusive, strong green credentials and be Lord Rogers last building. The Chair was pleased to learn that the marketing plan for the Civic Campus would start in the near future.

Resolved

That the Committee both note and comment on the report.