Reshaping Trafford Council

The Changing Face of Trafford

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Forum for the Built Environment

Theresa GrantChief Executive – Trafford Council

24th July 2014

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1. Trafford Council’s 6 Priorities

2. Town Hall Redevelopment

3. Asset Management & Disposal

4. Economic Growth & Planning

5. Summary

Presentation Contents

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Low Council Tax and Value for Money

Economic Growth and Development

Safe place to live - fighting crime

Services focussed on the most vulnerable people

Excellence in Education

Reshaping Trafford Council

1. Trafford Council’s Priorities

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The programme started in October 2010 with the appointment of the preferred developer (Shepherds), and was completed in March 2013. It consisted of the following:

Refurbishment of the Grade II listed building

A brand new extension replacing 1980s two storey building

Disposal of vacated buildings due to move of staff to Trafford Town Hall – reduced from six buildings to one

Introduction of New Ways of Working (technology and agile working)

Total cost = £28.8m funded from capital borrowing and the sale of buildings no longer required. Scheme delivered within budget.

2. Trafford Town Hall Redevelopment

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The on-going cost of repairs was unsustainable

The need for a fit-for-purpose building to support the transformation of Trafford Council through enabling a new working environment and culture

The configuration of the building made it unsuitable for the community to visit and increased the need for residents to travel further to other council buildings

Disability Discrimination Act (DDA & DDA2) compliance regulations

Carbon foot print reduction through Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

Opportunity to generate additional income by opening up the building for events such as match day hospitality packages, wedding ceremonies and community use

Contributing to the Council’s sustainability objectives

Saving Borough’s tax payers a minimum of £5m over a 25-year period

Why Did We Do It?

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The Old Building

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Under Redevelopment

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Can hold up to 1000 staff/partners (previously 600)

Open plan environment with flexible work space capable of adjusting to working and service delivery over the next 25 years

Refurbished Mayor’s Parlour

Ample meeting rooms, from spaces for 1-1 meetings, to facilities for large conferences and events

Catering & kitchen facilities, including a restaurant and a café

Public access to the internet /pcs to connect to Council services

Self-serve library

Restored ‘sunken gardens’

Fully DDA compliant meaning it is fully accessible

Modern business practices supported through innovative use of ICT

The Redeveloped Building

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The Redeveloped Building

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The Redeveloped Building

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High quality lighting, ventilation, and temperature control

Aquifer is used for heating and cooling across the whole building

Temperature controls keep the building operating at it's most efficient and also indicates when the staff should be opening windows

A rainwater harvesting system is in use for flushing toilets/watering green spaces

Increased recycling opportunities

Swale creates a natural external soakaway which promotes wildlife

300m2 of photo voltaic panels are used to power the building and generate an income for the Council when not in use

Two electric vehicle charging points within the car park

EPC rating of ‘B’

BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’

Sustainability

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Successes to date:

RIBA North West Regional Award 2014

RIBA North West Sustainability Award 2014

International Green Apple Award for the Built Environment

Mix Interiors (North) - Best Public Sector Interiors Award 2013

Civic Trust Awards 2014 Commendation

The building has also been shortlisted for a number of other awards including:

British Council for Offices Awards 2014 (Northern Region) Architects Journal Retrofit Awards 2013

Awards

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Adoption of Corporate Landlord model from 1st April 2014 (supports Reshaping Trafford agenda)

Use the whole property portfolio more flexibly and realise efficiencies Centralised ownership and management of all land and premises

Executive Member decision making

Long Term Accommodation Strategy

Use of property assets to support further development and investment opportunities e.g. Urmston & Woodsend Circle

Land sales programme - £6.3m by 2014/15

Land pooling agreement with THT to help social wellbeing e.g. Shrewsbury Street

4. Asset Management & Disposal

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Part of Corporate Landlord model

Over 100 “community” buildings ranging from community centres to park pavilions – working with the community

In the process of transferring responsibility to community groups to remove maintenance liability from Trafford Council

Gives community greater involvement and ownership of physical assets as well as the service provided

Need robust business plans from groups to ensure they have the means to take on responsibility

Two year programme

Community Asset Transfer

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The Core Strategy and Land Allocations Plan set the framework for the delivery of growth and regeneration in Trafford

The Core Strategy (adopted January 2012) provides strategic framework for land use in the borough - represents ambitious growth plan to 2026 for the for the delivery of : 190 Ha of employment development 12,000 new homes

Land Allocations Plan seeks to identify: the right sites to attract new businesses and enable expansion the right sites for housing growth (range of types) the infrastructure needed to ensure development is sustainable development sites that are viable and deliverable.

5. Economic Growth & Planning

Consultation on 1st draft Land Allocations Plan took place in February/March 2014. Scheduled for adoption in early 2016

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Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Trafford was the first local authority in Greater Manchester to adopt

a CIL in July 2014 Designed to be fairer, faster and more transparent than S.106 Developers pay a rate per sq.m of net additional floorspace  Revenue is pooled across the authority, but is ring-fenced for

infrastructure projects to support growth, unlock land and enable development in key areas

The CIL:

• gives developers much more certainty from the start about how much money they will be expected to contribute

gives local authorities the freedom to set their own priorities for what the money should be spent on

gives local authorities a predictable funding stream that allows them to plan ahead more effectively

rewards communities receiving new development through the direct allocation of a proportion of levy funds collected in their area

 

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Development Opportunities

Partington Canalside

Pomona / Cornbrook

Tamworth

Trafford Point

Altair

Stretford

Trafford Quays

Carrington

Voltage Park

Ortonbrook

Altrincham Market Quarter

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Carrington

Major employment and residential opportunity of national significance

• Potential to deliver c75ha employment land and c1,560 residential units

Site owned by Langtree - preparing Masterplan Framework

Full private/public sector partnership to deliver the site

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Altair

Major development opportunity within Altrincham Town Centre

Council working in partnership with Nikal to deliver c£70m mixed use development

Outline planning consent for 195,000 sq.ft commercial floorspace & 150 residential units

Adjacent to the redeveloped £19m Altrincham Interchange that will complete in 2014

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Altrincham Market Quarter

Trafford Council leased the existing market to a new commercial operator in 2013

Improvements to Market House and Lower Market Place with c£0.9m Council funding

Completion of the new Altrincham Hospital facility in 2015 will release the current hospital site on Market Street for a mixed use scheme

Library will relocate to the Market Quarter in 2016 with further mixed-use development

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Stretford Masterplan

Produced by the Council and provides a bold vision for delivering long-term transformational change in the town centre

10 priority development sites identified for delivery of wide mix of uses

Public Realm & Movement Strategy to be prepared in 2014

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6. Summary

Council is experiencing a period of unprecedented change

Needs to adapt to financial pressures and reshape its delivery model

Review and re-assessment of assets is vital to consolidate the portfolio and make it work ‘smarter’

Council continues to work in close partnership with the private sector to deliver growth and regeneration

Council is committed to the provision of high quality services and is ready to meet the challenges ahead 

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Thank You