Report of Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet members: Councillors Smith and Giles

(This report contains an exempt appendix. Any discussion of this must take place at item 23 following exclusion of the public.)

(Key decision):

(1) To note the progress on the business case outlining the investment potential and opportunities within the Newhaven Town Centre area.

(2) To approve the allocation of funding of up to £500,000 from the property acquisition and development budget in respect of consultancy, professional fees, and surveys to fund the project up to the letting of the construction contract.

(3) To delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning in consultation with the Director of Service Delivery and the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Impact (and where appropriate the Chief Finance Officer and Assistant Director – Legal and Democratic Services) to progress the project through the Energy & Sustainability Joint Venture if they consider it appropriate and at an appropriate future stage to decide the project should be put forward to the JV Steering Board for inclusion as a Part 1 and/or Part 2 project.

(4) To delegate authority to enter into an agreement for lease of the property to the Director of Regeneration and Planning on the basis of the conditions and terms that are no worse than those set out in the report; such delegation to include authorisation not to dispose by auction or invitation of tenders following public advertisement (sought under Contract Procedure Rule 18.1) for those leases.

(5) To approve the proposal to allow free parking of at least 30 minutes, perhaps more, depending on officer modelling, in both Lower Place and Dacre Road multi-storey car parks to support the regeneration strategy for Newhaven and that authority be delegated to the Interim Director of Service Delivery to implement the decision.

(6) To delegate authority to the Interim Director of Service Delivery to request that East Sussex County Council amends the Traffic Regulation Order and associated on-street and off-street parking places orders to ensure enforcement against nuisance parking, and that parking violations on Denton Island may also be enforced.

(7) To approve the commissioning of a feasibility study to regularise parking at Railway Quay to provide additional parking in advance of the redevelopment of the town centre.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Planning, providing an overview of the potential redevelopment of Newhaven Town Centre, as well as the scheme’s role in successfully delivering the aims of the Newhaven Enterprise Zone.

Visiting member, Councillor Saunders addressed the Cabinet, supporting the proposal for free parking at recommendation five, however suggested that this should be extended to one hour. The Cabinet agreed to revise recommendation five and this was detailed below.

It was suggested that an internal member working group be formulated to discuss and monitor all the various redevelopment projects in Newhaven from a planning perspective.

Resolved (Key decision):

(1) To note the progress on the business case outlining the investment potential and opportunities within the Newhaven Town Centre area.

(2) To approve the allocation of funding of up to £500,000 from the property acquisition and development budget in respect of consultancy, professional fees, and surveys to fund the project up to the letting of the construction contract.

(3) To delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration and Planning in consultation with the Director of Service Delivery and the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Impact (and where appropriate the Chief Finance Officer and Assistant Director – Legal and Democratic Services) to progress the project through the Energy & Sustainability Joint Venture if they consider it appropriate and at an appropriate future stage to decide the project should be put forward to the JV Steering Board for inclusion as a Part 1 and/or Part 2 project.

(4) To delegate authority to enter into an agreement for lease of the property to the Director of Regeneration and Planning on the basis of the conditions and terms that are no worse than those set out in the report; such delegation to include authorisation not to dispose by auction or invitation of tenders following public advertisement (sought under Contract Procedure Rule 18.1) for those leases.

(5) To approve the proposal to allow free parking of at least 30 minutes, perhaps more depending on officer modelling, in both Lower Place and Dacre Road multi-storey car parks to support the regeneration strategy for Newhaven and that authority be delegated to the Interim Director of Service Delivery to implement the decision.

(6) To delegate authority to the Interim Director of Service Delivery to request that East Sussex County Council amends the Traffic Regulation Order and associated on-street and off-street parking places orders to ensure enforcement against nuisance parking, and that parking violations on Denton Island may also be enforced.

(7) To approve the commissioning of a feasibility study to regularise parking at Railway Quay to provide additional parking in advance of the redevelopment of the town centre.

Reasons for decisions:

(1) Newhaven has substantial physical capacity for growth, including large brownfield sites in and around the waterfront and the town centre. The town is planning for 28% of all housing growth within the District over the lifetime of the Local Plan (ie. to 2030). Newhaven is also home to 40% of the district’s B-Class employment space, and the designation of the Enterprise Zone emphasises the town’s central role in delivering sustainable economic growth.

(2) Newhaven town centre is one of the key redevelopment sites within the town and will be the anchor playing a critical role in delivering new housing, employment space, and other community benefits. The redevelopment of the town centre links closely with delivery of the Newhaven Enterprise Zone that commenced in April 2017 and seeks to address a range of development barriers that are inhibiting effective investment delivery.

(3) In November 2017, Cabinet approved the allocation of £1.2m from the property acquisition and development budget to develop the proposed scheme in order to submit a planning application. At the same time, Cabinet requested that the Director of Strategy and Planning develop a business case for Cabinet to consider in 2018.

(4) A well-designed parking scheme is one of the factors that can support a successful high street. The Council wishes to offer limited free parking to improve footfall and interest in the town centre in advance of the regeneration plans.

(5) Nuisance parking is having a detrimental effect within Newhaven and this report makes recommendations to regularise enforcement and to improve the parking facilities.