Agenda item

To consider a report seeking approval for the draft Wallsend Masterplan and to use it as a basis for engagement with residents and businesses in Wallsend.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval for the draft Wallsend Masterplan and to use it as a basis for engagement with residents and businesses in Wallsend.

At its meeting on 28 March 2022, Cabinet received a report which set out a set of policy priorities for Wallsend Town Centre. These policy priorities were developed with the Deputy Mayof and following engagement with the Ward Councillors for Battle Hill, Howdon, Northumberland and Wallsend and were to inform a Masterplan for Wallsend which was identified as a priority in Our North Tyneside Plan 2021-2025. 

Over the past 6 months, working with the Deputy Mayor, Ward Members, the Chief Executive and other stakeholders the Authority had prepared a draft Masterplan which reflected its ambition for the town centre and delivered on the policy objectives which were agreed in May 2022. The draft Masterplan enshrined the Cabinet’s agreed policy objectives and included a series of projects to deliver them. The first stage of that work was now complete, and a draft Masterplan had been prepared. 

The scope of the Masterplan area covered the town centre core of High Street East and West, the Forum shopping centre and Station Road, with their surrounding catchment area of housing. It also included the Segedunum Roman Fort and Museum and Wallsend riverside as far as Davy Bank. And to the north it included the Parks, Wallsend Hall, and the former Buddle School and arts centre building. This built on the early engagement with ward members which had helped inform thinking and the direction of the Masterplan.

In addition, since March 2022 the Authority had been working to better understand the issues, challenges and opportunities in Wallsend focussing in particular on the three policy priorities i) Improve the quality of the housing offer in Wallsend; ii) Make the town centre and the nearby neighbourhoods great places to visit and live; and iii) Make sure Wallsend residents were connected to good jobs.  This work had included:

·       A review of recent reports such as the surveys of town centre businesses and customers in 2021 (the “Understanding the Heart of our Town” report);

·       An assessment of the town centre’s buildings, roads, streets, footpaths and public spaces and development of ideas for improving them;

·       A review of the local property market to better understand the supply of and demand for homes, shops and offices;

·       Identification of opportunities to support residents in securing employment and improving their skills e.g. adult education and a “Working Well” employability hub;

·       Creation of the River Tyne Task Force with the North of Tyne Combined Authority, Port of Tyne, businesses and other local authorities marketing the offshore energy opportunities under the ‘Tyne Powered’ brand and providing a collective voice to talk to Government.

·       A review of traffic flows, transport usage and car parking;

·       Working with the Academic Health Service Network and the One Public Estate initiative to understanding the opportunities for the Masterplan to support public health initiatives and provision.

The 14 proposed projects listed in section 1.5.4 of the report were mostly based on a specific place or building while those covering Business Support, Employment Support and Events & Animation would apply throughout the Masterplan area.

Cabinet was asked to note the work done so far and agree the approach to the next stage.  Officers had developed a draft Communications, Marketing and Engagement Plan which was subject to an EqIA to ensure stakeholders with protected characteristics had an equal opportunity to engage. The draft document set out the Authority’s approach to communications, marketing and engagement activities, including the core narrative to support the successful delivery of the Wallsend Masterplan. It aimed to help audiences to understand the Masterplan vision and its strategic intent, in a way that was relevant to their particular point of view and needs; ensure information was accurate, consistent and timely; help facilitate effective two-way communications and encourage feedback from residents, elected members and partners so that their views, issues and comments could help shape future communication planning; and increase the profile of and change negative perceptions around Wallsend.

A range of communications methods would be used to ensure residents, businesses, staff, members and partners were kept informed and encouraged a two-way conversation, both digitally and via traditional methods to ensure all demographics were targeted.  A dedicated email address and phone line would be created for enquiries from members of the public. It was proposed to run the engagement process for a6-week period from the 16 January to 26 February 2022.

In line with the Authority’s listening approach, public feedback would be reviewed, and any necessary changes made to the plan, prior to retuning to Cabinet in the spring of 2023 with a final plan for approval. This would then provide a long-term plan for the town and would provide an effective tool to secure the additional funding necessary to bring forward projects. Further reports would be brought forward to Cabinet should the Authority secure Levelling Up funding in October, and to review progress on an annual basis.

In introducing the report the Deputy Mayor had also invited the Director of Regeneration and Economic Development, to present to Cabinet the draft Wallsend Masterplan.

The Deputy Mayor also commented that the projects were at different stages of development, for example the Authority had secured just under half a million pounds of funding for repairs at Segedunum Museum and were developing a lottery bid for its wider transformation.  In the town centre the Authority had secured almost £2 million of grant funding from the Combined Authority to fund a packaged of measures including business support, shop front grants, events and improved walking and cycling routes.  Other projects in the plan targeted housing development and refurbishment and investing new uses for historic buildings such as the Civic Hall and the Coach and Horses. The Authority was hopeful that Government would approve its application for a Levelling Up Fund grant for improvements to the town centre. All of this would be underpinned by the Authority’s employment initiatives such as a Working Well Hub to ensure Wallsend’s residents had the support, they needed to access job opportunities in Wallsend and beyond.

The Elected Mayor welcomed the report and thanked the Director of Regeneration and Economic Development for the presentation and for the work done so far on the Ambition for Wallsend Masterplan.

Cabinet considered the following decision options: to approve the recommendations set out in paragraph 1.2 of the report; or alternatively, to not accept the recommendations.

Resolved that (1) the progress made in delivering the Wallsend Town Centre Masterplan since March 2022, be noted;

(2) the Draft Wallsend Town Centre Masterplan be used as a basis for consultation and engagement with residents, businesses and stakeholders over a 6-week period in January and February 2023, be agreed;

(3) the Director of Regeneration and Economic Development, be authorised to consult and engage with residents, businesses and stakeholders in line with (2) above;

(4) the Director of Regeneration and Economic Development, in consultation with the Deputy Mayor and the Director of Resources, be authorised to prepare a final Draft Wallsend Town Centre Masterplan; and

(5) a further report be received in Spring 2023 when Cabinet will be asked to consider and approve the final draft Wallsend Town Centre Masterplan, be agreed.

(Reason for decision: The scope aligns with the themes within the Levelling Up prospectus and the Masterplan boundary enables the three themes of housing, employment and an improved built environment to be addressed.)