The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 20: Summer 2021 | Page 24

BUILDING BACK BETTER
ECONOMIC STRATEGY
Bath & North East Somerset ’ s new Economic Strategy is still in the scoping phase . It has to address a number of key challenges brought about by the changing shape of our economy in light of Covid , Brexit and other factors such as our ageing population , the “ hollowing-out ” of mid-level jobs in the area , inequalities and the digital sphere . In the meantime , Bath & North East Somerset Council is working on a number of projects and schemes to support businesses and the construction sector . These include :
• Building out Bath Quays South to provide circa 90,000sq ft of grade a modern business workspace in the centre of Bath .
• Putting forward new masterplans for the regeneration of key locations affected by Covid such as the Milsom St Quarter .
• Continuing to work with local businesses , commercial agents and developers in identifying sites for business expansion and development of new employment space . B & NES welcome contact from these stakeholders .
• Section 106 developer contributions : addressing the wage and skills gaps through work placements and working with contractors to encourage women into the construction industry .
• 3D Academy : a new scheme to support unemployed people to retrain and
reskill and encouraging contractors and suppliers / employees to push modern methods of construction .
• Adult Education Budget : working with providers to come into the area to offer free CSCS and a wraparound support service to ensure a flow of new workers into the construction industry .
• Working with partners on schemes like Future Proof ( pilot currently ended and awaiting new funding ) to help contractors ’ skills and qualifications around retrofit and green technologies .
LOCAL EXPERT OPINION
We spoke to several local developers and planning consultants to get their thoughts on the plans .
Iestyn Lewis is CEO of Bath-based Rengen . The firm provides global property services and has experience across a wide range of development sectors including residential , student , leisure , hospitality and commercial property . The business focuses on the delivery of complex , brownfield sites in sensitive locations . Previous projects in Bath include the Labour Exchange building , Widcombe Social Club and Bath Sea Cadets headquarters on St John ' s Road .
Iestyn , said , " We are keen to support the economic recovery process in Bath and its surrounds and have raised £ 100 million , backed by an institutional funder , to spend locally . Recovery from past recessions has been led through a high level of construction activity and we want to be part of that effort this time .
" We have heavily invested in Bath over an 11-year period , we love working in this area and can ' t wait to invest in new projects to create sustainable jobs and help kickstart the local economy .
" It ' s really important for us to understand Bath & North East Somerset Council ' s plans , so that we can work with them and help them realise those plans and achieve greater productivity . If planning applications tick all of the planning policy objectives from the start , it makes sign off a lot quicker , for projects to then get underway and for money to be deployed into the local economy . We can only achieve success if we work collectively as a community to achieve those goals .
" Rengen is passionate about creating sustainable , eco-friendly buildings , sympathetic to community use ".
Iestyn and the Rengen team ' s current projects include Banglo House on the Lower Bristol Road , which consists of 20 studio apartments and Eveleigh House on Grove Street . Eveleigh House is a joint venture with another local business , Longacre , and will deliver a riverside mixed-use scheme comprising a collection of high quality studio apartments and office space . The development comprises of two former office buildings , Eveleigh House and Riverside House , which will be comprehensively refurbished and collectively named ' The Riverside '. A key part of the proposals are approximately 9,000 sq ft of refurbished Grade A office space across the lower floors .
Mark Tyrrell is Director of Longacre , he said , " The planning process can often be long and expensive with a very limited certainty of a successful outcome , so it ' s so important to understand the shared vision for Bath with North East Somerset .
" There is an economic emergency which needs to be balanced with equally important climate and ecological considerations and it ' s key that we work together to forge a way forward . My vision for Bath is for the main stakeholders in the city being , B & NES , University of Bath , Bath Spa University , the Royal United Hospital and others to work collaboratively to enhance job prospects , either by providing accommodation themselves or working with the private sector to do so . We also need to help start-ups in the growing life science and healthcare , engineering and digital and technology sectors to grow in the B & NES economy .
" B & NES have made a great start with the construction of the South Quays office building but there ' s so much more we can do by working collaboratively . The Bath area has one of the best balances of living and working in the South West and we need to capitalise on that ."
John White is CEO of AGM Limited , a leading planning practice in the city acting on behalf of major developers and local residents . John has worked with B & NES Council for many years and understands the planning departments predicament of finding a balance between encouraging economic growth and preserving our historic landscape . He said , “ The process is frustratingly slow for both the B & NES planners and our clients . The mandatory documentation required by often external specialists comes with huge financial and timely consequences for anyone entering the system .
“ I would like to see the planning department properly resourced , so that they are effectively able to meet the demand of their services and to allow them to deliver their professional opinions more swiftly . Local politics shouldn ’ t take such a significant part in the planning process . Decisions need to be made in accordance with local and national policies and not from feelings . There is a fine line . We are currently experiencing
“ an unprecedented level of work and we don ’ t want there to be a bottleneck which prevents investment .”
BATH ’ S LEADING PLANNING CONSULTANCY
Arena Global Management offer a comprehensive range of specialist planning services from small scale residential developments through to large commercial schemes .
SERVICES INCLUDE :
• Listed building and heritage conservation
• New builds and extensions
• Change of use
• Appeals and objections
With a proven track record the AGM team will give you expert and intelligent planning advice every step of the way .
AGM have consistently provided me with an outstanding service ; they are commercially astute and I have complete confidence in their knowledge . Professional and enthusiastic , they are a pleasure to work with .
Paul Haskin , Founder , Interaction
Eveleigh House , a Rengen and Longacre development project
01225 681 589 - info @ agm-ltd . co . uk - www . agm-ltd . co . uk
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