Agenda item

      Report of the Chief Executive

Cllr Bridget Wayman, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Waste presented the report seeking consideration of a number of proposals to deliver the first phase of the River Park Scheme for the regeneration of the Maltings and Central Car Park, Salisbury.

Cllr Wayman explained that the scheme would deliver significant flood risk mitigation for existing Salisbury residents and businesses in partnership with the Environment Agency; enable redevelopment and regeneration to come forward on the Central Car Park and Maltings site and the wider city; and enhance the local environment for residents, employees and visitors in the area, and encourage enhanced health and wellbeing outcomes including modal shift to more sustainable methods of transport.

Cllr Whitehead and Cllr Clewer expressed support for the scheme and encouraged residents in the central area of Salisbury to check the most recent flood maps which had been revised since the last episode of flooding in the town centre area, as the changes may impact insurance policies. They complimented officers on the speed of developing the scheme in partnership with the Environment Agency.

Cllr Stuart Wheeler, Chair of the Environment Select Committee reported that he and Cllr Bob Jones received a briefing on 27 October, 2020 and they supported the proposals as detailed in the report.

Resolved: To agree

1. To increase the level of grant to be made available to the Environment Agency to a maximum of £6.06m after deduction of the council’s historic and ongoing costs towards the project, using Local Growth Fund grant approved by the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership. This funding is within the capital allocation which was approved by Full Council in November 2019.

2. To delegate authority to agree the terms of the Local Growth Fund grant agreement(s) with the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the Environment Agency to the Director Highways and Environment in consultation with the Director of Finance and Procurement.

3. To undertake a public consultation on the River Park Masterplan in partnership with the Environment Agency to commence in November 2020 for a period of 7 weeks

4. To delegate to the Director of Highways and Environment authority to make changes to the consultation documents.

5. To the prerequisite changes in parking at the Maltings and Central Car Park during construction of the Phase 1 River Park scheme and following completion of the scheme.

6. To note the proposals being considered for provision of coach parking during construction of the Phase 1 River Park scheme.

Reason for Decision:

·       To enable redevelopment and regeneration to come forward on the Central Car Park and Maltings site and the wider city

·       To allow future phases on the Maltings and Central Car Park site to come forward quickly following the major investment in flood attenuation and public realm being delivered by Environment Agency using an £18 million package of investment from the Environment Agency and Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership

·       To provide a positive response and deliver against the Council’s recovery plans – both in response to the Novichok incident and latterly the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on Salisbury

·       To ensure public and stakeholder engagement and support for the masterplan and the River Park.