Treasure and Transform: Our Route to Prosperity

Our Route to Prosperity in Bath and North East Somerset

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Treasure and Transform Bath and North East Somerset The combination of Bath, the three market towns – Keynsham, Midsomer Norton and Radstock, along with the surrounding villages and countryside is rich in character, synergy and potential.

Through our strengths and future potential in world-class innovation, creativity and wellbeing and vitality, we have a major opportunity to develop a stronger economic future for the entire district.

Locally Distinctive, Globally Connected

BATH

KEYNSHAM

MIDSOMER NORTON

RADSTOCK

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A 20-year Vision

The Vision for Bath and North East Somerset was established in 2005. We are now in year six of a 20-year plan – a good moment to review what we set out to achieve, what has been delivered already and to encourage those who have not yet joined the journey to get on board.

Whether you are the chief executive of a multi-million pound property or investment company, a business-person looking to re-locate, or a local resident wondering what sort of place your children will live in, our route to prosperity concerns and involves you.

Our route to prosperity in Bath and North East Somerset This brochure is about the economic transformation of Bath and North East Somerset. It is about the projects that are shaping the future of the district – not just Bath, but Keynsham and the Somer Valley towns of Midsomer Norton and Radstock.

our route to prosperity concerns and involves you

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Building on the past

Natural beauty

These projects are connected by a 20-year plan – The Vision for Bath and North East Somerset. And of course they are connected by our common heritage, identity, talents and aspirations.

The area is characterised by an outstanding quality of built environment – particularly in the World Heritage City of Bath. In recent years, the beautifully preserved Georgian townscape has been complemented by high-quality contemporary architecture.

There are large areas of outstanding natural beauty within this region – including the Cotswolds and the Mendip Hills. This helps to attract visitors and is a fantastic incentive for businesses and individuals to relocate to the area.

Public realm images courtesy of City ID

A sense of place

Chew Valley © Ian Wade Photography

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By 2026, we want the economy of Bath and North East Somerset to be more environmentally sustainable, with increased local employment, less overall commuting by car and a strong low-carbon business sector.

There is exceptional talent to underpin the economic transformation of Bath and North East Somerset – 32.6% of the local population are graduates, compared to the national average of 29%. The University of Bath has internationally recognised expertise in ccience, engineering, design and management. Bath Spa University has an emphasis on excellence in the arts and strong links to the cultural and creative industries.

We want a socially inclusive economy with a focus on lifelong learning and relevant workforce skills. Our vision is to create a more diverse, productive and resilient economy, where knowledgebased workers can find jobs locally and where the innovation of our education establishments is applied commercially.

Our schools (public and private) achieve excellent results in GCSE and at A level, and our further education colleges ensure a constant supply of wellqualified people across many industries and functions.

30% of people in the area have an NVQ level of 4 or 5.

Surprising Bath

By 2026 our plan is to increase the GVA by £1.6 Billion

Behind the Georgian walls are global leaders – in sectors that range from graphic design, through TV production through to femtocell (wireless broadband) development.

Within the World Heritage City there is stunning contemporary architecture.

There is innovation and entrepreneurialism even within our traditional economic sectors. The Roman Baths, for example, houses ancient treasures, yet we use state-of-the-art technology to help visitors interpret them.

© University of Bath

The talent to succeed

© Bath Spa University

We are aiming high

© University of Bath

TREASURE AND TRANSFORM OUR ROUTE TO PROSPERITY

© Bath Spa University

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Q: Which of these contribute the most to Bath’s economy: a Tourism b Retail c Creative Q: Outside of California, the biggest cluster of silicon design companies in the world is located in: a Bangalore b Shanghai c South-West England Q: Since 2005, Bath and North East Somerset Council has been involved in completed public and/or private sector projects valued at: a £50 million b £250 million c £500 million

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 Bath ‘City of Ideas’

Enterprise Area

This area of Bath has 36 hectares of developable land within a 96 hectare area which has the potential to deliver mixed-use development with an emphasis towards office and employment use:

City of ideas

1 Carrs Mill Area Total Area – 24,700m2 2 Stable Yard Area Total Area – 28,280m2

Bath in the future will be a city where knowledge and creativity combine to create value and enhance quality of life.

Bringing together business and academia supported by infrastructure.

Total Area – 147,000m2

WESTON

5 Bath Western Riverside East

Total Area – 48,730m

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6 Green Park Station Total Area – 24,200m2 7 Bath Quays South & South Bank

TotalLANSDOWN Area – 25,140m2

2 Bath Quays North Total Area – 27,340m 9 Manvers Street WALCOT Total Area – 14,450m2 Maps are indicative only

WESTON PARK

SION HILL8

HIGH COMMON

COMBE PARK

NEWBRIDGE ROYAL VICTORIA PARK

LOWER WESTON

picoArray die in wafer #3 © Picochip

HENRIETTA PARK

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CITY CENTRE

TWERTON 7

OLDFIELD PARK STATION

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BATH SPA STATION

OLDFIELD PARK

WHITEWAY

ALEXANDRA PARK

© University of Bath

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© Getty Images

Just as the world has changed, so has the transformation of the area begun.

3 Bath Press Total Area – 21,510m 4 Bath Western Riverside

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Glophotonics © The Bath Ventures Innovation Centre

Surprising Bath

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Building a sustainable base While tourism and high-value retail will always be important sectors, we have made a conscious effort – based on detailed research and feasibility studies that show we have the potential to deliver – to encourage enterprise in the areas of information, communication and environmental technologies and creative professions. This diversification is essential if we are to develop a broad, sustainable base for economic transformation.

Bath and North East Somerset Council’s role in economic transformation varies from the creation of a planning framework that is conducive to appropriate development through to capital funding of key projects.

The Council also has a huge bank of experience of delivering major capital projects on time and within budget, and this will prove invaluable over the next 15 years.

Our aim is to act as a catalyst, ensuring that the infrastructure and conditions are in place to allow businesses to thrive, creating a cohesive, coherent, sustainable ‘big picture’ into which individual initiatives can fit.

It doesn’t matter how well-laid your plans are, the world can change just as individual enterprises can change. There is flexibility in our vision, and the ability to adapt to circumstances and opportunities.

Transport One of the key building blocks for economic prosperity is good transport infrastructure.

Links between the outskirts of Bath and the city centre are due to benefit from the Bath Transportation Package.

Flood mitigation

Superfast Broadband

Flood prevention measures for the River Avon are an important element of long-term economic sustainability by enabling the release of city centre sites for redevelopment and protecting existing assets.

Superfast broadband will bring improvements in connection speeds for small businesses and local people.

© BT Broadband

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Done and dusted

Up and running

All of these projects have been completed by either the public or private sector across the area:

All of these projects are underway:

Thermae Bath Spa The SouthGate Centre Combe Down Stone Mines Milsom Place Bath Bus Station Building schools – Writhlington, St Nicholas and Trinity, Three Ways Bath Three new and one refurbished Community Resource Centres Kingsmead Complex Circle Bath, Peasedown St John Komedia and River Cottage Canteen Pedestrianisation of St James rampire

Wessex Water HQ Extension to City of Bath College Theatre Royal Bath – Main House upgrade Refurbishment of the Ustinov and the Egg Roman Baths upgrade National Cycle Network 24 (Bath to Radstock) 260+ homes delivered in Paulton and at St Peters Factory in Midsomer Norton Radstock Museum Radstock Memorial Garden Play park and skateboard park at Midsomer Norton

Bath Western Riverside Bath Spa Railway Station and Brunel Square Bath Abbey redevelopment Keynsham Town Hall redevelopment Bath City Centre improvements The Holburne Museum Identification of strategic sites for potential development (particularly for modern office space) Public transport improvements including the Bath Transportation Package Radstock town centre regeneration scheme

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Looking to the future There is huge potential within these sites, which fall within the next phase of our route to prosperity and are at varying stages of progress.

We will continue to help and encourage the lead partners in these projects to give them the best chance of success.

We will also remain open to appropriate opportunities, as they arise and evolve.

Potential future projects include, for example: Bath City Riverside: – Bath Quays North – Bath Quays South – Green Park Station area – Bath Western Riverside East – Riverside Business Park area – Riverside site in the Lower Bristol Road/Locksbrook area Broad Street Car Park, Bath Manvers Street, Bath Ministry of Defence sites at Foxhill, Ensleigh and Warminster Road, Bath Further a field: 640 acre site at Somerdale, Keynsham Midsomer Norton and Radstock town centre improvements Paulton Printing Factory and Old Mills in the Somer Valley

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A place to call home Up to 11500 homes will be built over the next 20 years to underpin our economic growth by helping those that want to, to live and work in and around Bath.

Well-qualified We are working with education providers to increase the number of working age residents with at least Level 2 NVQ. The percentage of graduates in this area is already higher than both the national and regional averages.

Travel broadens the mind There is a comprehensive plan to improve public transport and access to Bath, so that people who live in affordable areas can work wherever they want – and wherever employers need them. We are making major investments in our transport, communications and flood prevention infrastructure, in order to drive sustainable economic growth.

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Public realm There is a comprehensive strategy in place to improve the streets, pavements and squares in Bath. The first of these improvements is due to be implemented in 2011, and this will have the effect of improving the overall experience for visitors, residents and workers in the City.

Images on opposite page: 1 Martin Stockley Associates 2B ath Street 1987 Bath in Time – Bath Central Library 3 Northumberland Place 1960s: Bath in Time – Bath Central Library 4S tall Street c.1930 Bath in Time – Bath Central Library 5V iew of the Cross Bath 1974 Bath in Time – Bath Central Library 6S tall Street 1883 Bath in Time – Bath Central Library 7 Northumberland Place 1950s: Bath in Time – Bath Preservation Trust 8A rchitect: Gustafson Porter, Photographer: James Newton.

Image courtesy of Speirs and Major

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Historic context is the right way forward for Bath UNESCO, 2009

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We're proud of our past, our heritage, our communities – they provide a solid foundation for everything that we are doing

© Trinity Grounds day

TREASURE AND TRANSFORM OUR ROUTE TO PROSPERITY

steersmcgillaneves design.co.uk

Development & Major Projects 10 Palace Yard Mews Bath BA1 2NH T 01225 396553 F 01225 425294 www.bathnes.gov.uk