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REPORT of the Strategic Manager, Business & Investment
Economic Development Section, Chief Executive’s Directorate
TO
Regeneration Initiatives Cabinet Working Group
1st October 2007
Title: Liverpool Road Corridor (Cadishead to Eccles) - Ten Year Strategy and Action Plan
Purpose of the report:
This report has been produced to update members of the Regeneration Initiatives Cabinet
Working Group about the progress being made with the development of the Liverpool
Road Corridor Ten Year Strategy & Action Plan.
The report:





Summarises progress made to date including the consultation process
Details the actions to be implemented during 2007/08
Outlines the arrangements for the completion of strategy and action plan
Requests that members note and provide comment on the content of the report.
(N.B Draft Strategy available on request)
Requests members consider the revised timeline to ensure synergy with the
adoption of the Salford West Strategic Regeneration Framework
Background Documents (available for public inspection):
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
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
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Salford Community Plan – Making the vision real 2006-2016,
Economic Development Strategy 2004-2007
Regenerating a Great City: Salford’s Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy
Liverpool Road Corridor Consultation Feedback Report (2007)
Salford West Strategic Regeneration Framework (Draft)
Contact Officers:
Bernie Vaudrey, Strategic Manager, Business and Investment, Economic Development
0161 793 2283
Mike Cannon, Director of Regeneration, Urban Vision
0161 779 6129
Ward(s) to which the Report Relates:
Eccles, Winton, Barton, Irlam, Cadishead.
Liverpool Road Corridor Ten Year Strategy -Progress Report to RIOG – Sept 07
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1.
Background
1.1
Salford City Council, in partnership with Urban Vision, is in the process of
developing a strategy and action plan for the Liverpool Road corridor between
Eccles Town Centre and the City boundary at Warrington.
1.2
The strategy will set out a ten year vision that will be supported by a detailed 3 year
rolling action plan for the future regeneration of this key gateway into the city. The
Liverpool Road Strategy will aim to drive activity and investment along the corridor.
The intention is for the Liverpool Road Strategy to drive activity and investment
along the corridor.
2.
Results of Consultation
2.1
Following a comprehensive baseline analysis, a 6 week formal consultation
programme was held during the summer months. The programme comprised of a
series of formal consultation workshops with a number of Key stakeholders
including Councillors, community / voluntary, public and private sectors, supported
by a number of informal ‘drop in events’. In addition, material was made available
on the Salford website for people to make comments.
2.2
Stakeholders examined the key issues and opportunities pertinent to (in some
cases their section of) the corridor and were also asked to put forward ideas for
action.
2.3
The consultation workshops were framed around three key themes ‘Improving the
Image and the Public Realm’, ‘Local Economy’ and ‘Travel and Accessibility’. There
was strong support for these themes of intervention and the number one concern of
the public was the poor image of the corridor. See below for a brief summary (full
details can be found in the consultation document available on request)
2.3.1 Improving the Image & Public Realm
Consultees saw this as the top priority. It was evident from the community events
that there is a high degree of local pride which however, in a significant number of
places, is not matched by the physical environment and is portraying the wrong
impression of the area. The consultees were keen to see the area regenerated and
in some areas, particularly Cadishead, to create a village style feel to the area with
added environmental improvements (tree planting, hanging baskets, public art etc).
Aside from environmental issues, the other key concern was the challenge of
dealing with the high volume of vacant and derelict buildings and those in a poor
state of repair, which are eyesores on the corridor.
2.3.2 Local Economy
There was unanimous agreement that the current retail provision is saturating the
area and not viable in the long term; consolidation of the retail provision should be
considered. Once this happens a support package for the remaining businesses
could be put in place including support on the planning process to promote and
attract investment, a design guide to drive up the image of the area, and a
comprehensive car parking scheme to capture passing trade.
Liverpool Road Corridor Ten Year Strategy -Progress Report to RIOG – Sept 07
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2.3.3 Travel & Accessibility
Consultees agreed that this needs to be a top priority alongside ‘improving the
image’ objective for the future regeneration of the corridor. The role of the corridor
has changed in Cadishead since the completion of Cadishead Way (and will
continue to change in the future when the development at Barton gets underway).
Concerns included ease of movement along the corridor, (there are a number of
bottle-necks/congestion points along the corridor, the most significant being at the
Irlam Gyratory - the junction of the B5320 with the A57, and at Peel Green Section
adjacent to the M60 roundabout, near the Skoda garage) quality of public transport
provision (very difficult to travel to other destinations especially from Irlam and
Cadishead) and as well as the high volume and speed of traffic. Above all the lack
of parking facilities is seen as impacting greatly on the future investment into the
corridor. It was felt that in places the corridor is significantly wide enough to support
the introduction of highway improvements / traffic calming, as well as the basic
infrastructure for multi-modal transportation (rail, cycling, bus and car) is already in
situe just needs developing
3.
Draft Liverpool Road Corridor Strategy and Action Plan
3.1
Taken all the above into consideration, we have begun to draft the strategy ( which
is available on request). The interventions are shaping around 4 Key drivers for
Change which if achieved, will help transform Liverpool Road to represent a high
quality, economically sustainable gateway into Salford. These are

An attractive and welcoming environment

A thriving local economy

A well-connected and accessible transport corridor

Sustainable neighbourhoods
3.2
To support the four drivers of change, a single key enabler has been identified Developing public / private partnerships. This describes the approach that we
intend to pursue to support the regeneration of the corridor. The implementation of
the actions will be lead initially by public sector resources to act as a catalyst to
future private sector investment. The need to optimise resources provides an
important incentive for a partnership approach. It is essential that both the public
and private sector work together in order to achieve the aspirations for Liverpool
Road. This will be crucial to the future long term sustainability of the corridor as at
present there is no specific regeneration fund available for such activities.
3.3
A draft strategy and action plan is available and has begun to be circulated for
comments (so far to members of RIOG, Cross Directorate Project Team and local
Ward Members). The current deadline for all comments is 12th October 2007 1 prior
to being submitted to Cabinet for approval in November. If you have therefore not
received a copy and would like to comment on the strategy and associated action
1
Subject to member approval of timeline discussed in the Addendum
Liverpool Road Corridor Ten Year Strategy -Progress Report to RIOG – Sept 07
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plans, please contact Becky Edwards in the Economic Development Section (0161
793 2926) to arrange for an electronic or paper version to be sent.
3.5
One concern to raise at this stage is the future delivery mechanism to ensure the
action plans are turned into reality. Your thoughts and support for this process
would be appreciated.
4.
Liverpool Road Action Plan 2007/08
4.1
Salford West Strategic Regeneration Framework has identified Liverpool Road as
one of the key targets requiring early intervention. Therefore has allocated £400k of
Neighbourhood Renewal / Capital funding for the financial year 2007/08.
.
4.2
The top priority for action that arose from the baseline analysis and the consultation
period was by far that of ‘Improving the image and public realm’ which will be the
focus of activity in 2007/08. (See Table 1)
4.3
A series of meetings have been held with key officers to ascertain opportunities for
joint working and ‘added value’ to existing maintenance programmes including the
Street Scene Officer Working Group.
4.4
All activity outlined below has been discussed with the Deputy Leader on 6th
September 2007.
Table 1
Ref
Title
1
Greening of
Liverpool Road
Description
To improve the image of the whole
length of the corridor by delivering
a greening programme to include
hanging
baskets
sited
on
lampposts and barrier planters
where feasible. To link in with the
NRF bulb planting scheme.
Will also include
 redesigned beds and planting
enhancements on Peel Green
Island
 Redesigned beds and planting
enhancements on Crossfield
Island
 Re-landscaping around Irlam
Library to complement
Cadishead library
Section of the
Corridor
All except the
Eccles section
Cost
Eccles (Church
street
to
Patricroft Bridge)
£250k
£100k
Lead
Officer
Dominic
Clarke
Scheme currently being designed,
equipment to be ordered before
March 2008 but with installation
due May 2008 due to planting
conditions required
2.
Street
Scene
Programme I
To improve the street scape within
the priority zone 1 – Eccles to
include:
 footway improvements
Liverpool Road Corridor Ten Year Strategy -Progress Report to RIOG – Sept 07
Perry
Twigg
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

new/improved lighting
improved/new street
furniture
 creative locational signage
The programme will also include a
continuation of the greening
programme highlighted in project
1.
3.
Irlam
Station
Feasibility Study
Develop action plan for
improvements at Irlam Station
Initial focus on car park
Partnership with Urban Vision and
GMPTE
Irlam
£8k
Darren
Findley
4.
Street
Scene
Programme II
To improve the street scape within
the priority zone 1 – Cadishead
Similar to the Eccles scheme
Possible inclusion of shop fronts
Co-ordinate with highways
maintenance programme of anti –
skid resurfacing
Design to undertaken in 07/08 with
Delivery anticipated 08/09
Cadishead
£20k
Dave
Evans
Darren
Findley
5
Contingency
Budget
4.5
You are asked to comment on and contribute to the 2007/08 action plan.
5.
Next Steps
4.6
Follow a recent discussion, it was agreed the adoption of the Liverpool Road
Corridor Ten Year Strategy and Action Plan will be in tandem with the adoption of
the Salford West Strategy Regeneration Framework. The timetable (table 2) below
outlines the route the strategy and action plan will now travel.
Table 2
Date
Who/Where
All
£22k
/
Project
Team
What
Strategy & Action Plan
17th September
RIOG
Strategy & Action Plan comments
18th
Ward Members Joint Meeting
As above
Key internal Stakeholders/ project team
As above
September
18th September
involved in the consultation
1st October
Regeneration Initiatives Cabinet Working
As above
Group
4th
October
Corporate Management Team
As above
23rd October
Cabinet Briefing
Information
13th November
Cabinet Meeting
Formal decision
Adoption
Liverpool Road Corridor Ten Year Strategy -Progress Report to RIOG – Sept 07
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Addendum
Since this report went to RIOG on the 17.09.07, a new timetable has emerged for the
Salford West Strategic Regeneration Framework, which translates to a later submission to
Cabinet (see Table 3).
If members agree we would like to follow this revised timeline to keep the synergy of
adoption with the Salford West Strategic Regeneration Framework.
Table 3
Date
Who/Where
What
Strategy & Action Plan
17th September
RIOG
Strategy & Action Plan comments
18th
Ward Members Joint Meeting
As above
Key internal Stakeholders/ project team
As above
September
18th September
involved in the consultation
1st October
Regeneration Initiatives Cabinet Working
As above
Group
4th
October
Corporate Management Team
As above
13th November
Cabinet Briefing
Information
27th November
Cabinet Meeting
Formal decision
Adoption
Liverpool Road Corridor Ten Year Strategy -Progress Report to RIOG – Sept 07
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