[To receive a verbal update from the Director on work ongoing within the Directorate].
Minutes:
The Director of Regeneration gave an update on the areas that fell within his remit, a copy of the presentation is attached to the signed minutes. On the matter of the Future High Streets Fund, the Council had been successful in securing a grant fund of £15.7 million from Government. They were working to ensure all the business cases were finalised and they would then be going to the Council’s Cabinet for final sign off. After Cabinet they would contact Government by the end of February to confirm their intentions to deliver the scheme. The finances awarded were not the full amount they had wanted but they were confident they could deliver on the four key areas planned. These were supporting projects on Victoria Street, Civic Halls, Cleveland Parade and Bell Street. The funding ran until 2024, as part of the business cases they would be addressing the phasing for delivery.
The Director of Regeneration remarked that the Interchange Project had been awarded the RTPI West Midlands Award for Planning Excellence. The Project had also just won Regeneration Project of the Year at the Insider Property Awards having been shortlisted and nominated for three awards. The Interchange Project was well into Phase two and was on programme for completion in Spring 2021. It was hoped that the Metro line extension would be completed by Christmas 2021. The i9 building was on course to complete on programme in July 2021. Marketing of the site was now live and they were in advanced pre-let discussions.
The Director of Regeneration stated that in principle, funding had been secured from the future High Streets Fund to support the delivery of public realm works outside of the Civic Halls. They were in the final stages of the operator and commercialisation procurement process. It was on the forward plan for Cabinet Approval in quarter 1 of 2021. Works to the main roof were well progressed and structural steels were being installed in the Civic and Wulfran Halls. The project was on programme.
The Director of Regeneration spoke on Lower Horseley Fields. Planning had been submitted in November 2020 for 372 units including commercial space at the former Union Mill Site. The Planning application was due for determination in March 2021. An application for gap funding had been submitted as part of the Towns Fund submission in July 2020. They were still awaiting to hear from Government on whether the Town’s Fund submission had been successful. He understood that the announcement would be made in February 2021. He thought that they would receive some funding from the Town’s Fund but that it would be significantly less than that asked for in the bid submission.
The Director of Regeneration commented that there had been significant interest in the i54 Western Extension. The project was currently delivering on programme and under budget. He hoped there would be an announcement on the end user in a few months’ time.
The Chair, on behalf of the Panel congratulated Officers on the awards received for the Interchange Project. The Cabinet Member paid tribute to the work of Officers on the regeneration projects and added that they would use whatever grant funding was received to achieve the best outcomes for the City.