FALKIRK COUNCIL
BRIEFING NOTE
To: Leader of the Council
Portfolio Holder (Economic Development)
Local Elected Members (Denny & Banknock area)
Denny & Dunipace Community Council
Chief Executive
Director of Development Services
From: Douglas Duff, Head of Economic Development & Environmental Services
Subject: Denny Town Centre Regeneration – update
Date 5 January 2015
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the status of the Denny Town Centre Regeneration Project including:
· Phase 1 Development
· Phase 2 Development
· Phase 3 Development
· War Memorial
· Icecream Architecture (ICA) - Public Art
· Communication
2.0 PHASE 1
Development Programme
2.1 The project has reached an important stage. The Council has progressed the demolition of the existing Church Walk blocks with all blocks now removed and later this year will initiate the first phase of the new town centre. The tendering process for these works has commenced and a contractor is expected to be appointed in March 2015. An indicative timescale for the project’s delivery is set out below. This will be subject to confirmation once the contractor has been appointed and may also be affected by factors outwith the control of the Council or contractor (e.g. utility issues).
Date Description
January 2015 Site clean-up and completion of demolition contract
April 2015 Construction phase commences for Phase 1
September 2016 Relocate retailers, Library staff from Portacabins to Phase 1 development. Relocate occupiers of the octagonal building.
July 2017 Completion of Phase 1 work including demolition of octagonal building and completion of town square.
Site Assembly
2.2 Legal agreements have been concluded with existing tenants resulting in the following commitments to units in Phase 1:
Unit 1 – Lloyds Pharmacy
Unit 4 - Cafe Anton
Unit 6 - Boots
Unit 7 - TSB Bank (to be formally concluded)
Unit 11 – Library
Interest from other parties for accommodation in Phase 1 has been expressed and will be progressed by the Council’s appointed retail agents once negotiations are concluded with the TSB and the result of the phase 2 marketing has been concluded.
Temporary Retail Village
2.3 The provision of temporary accommodation during the development period has been important in helping to retain existing businesses. The Library, Café Anton, Lloyds Pharmacy and Boots have all settled into portacabins enabling them to sustain operations during the build phase.
RCGF Award
2.4 The Council recently submitted a Stage 2 RCGF Bid for £1.4m relating to the Phase 1 development. The Scottish Government in liaison with Cosla approved this bid in November with the funding to be utilised in accordance with the bid submission during financial year 2015/16. Following the Council’s approval in September, Phase 1 is therefore programmed to start early in April 2015. The funds are an important contribution to the scheme as finalised costs for delivery of the project await the results of the tender submissions.
3.0 Phase 2 Development
3.1 SGM, commercial property agent, was appointed by the Council to market and attract commercial interest in the Phase 2 site. Following a closing date at the end of August, two interests were identified. Council officers and SGM are now working with both parties to finalise details for reporting to the Council’s Executive.
4.0 Phase 3 Development
4.1 The Council plans to establish options for Phase 3 of the scheme including opportunities for community uses on the site to support consideration of the community aspirations for this site. The Council, assisted by Icecream Architecture (ICA), submitted a bid to Scottish Government for a ‘charrette’ initiative. The bid was recently approved, allocating £16,200 to be match funded by the Council providing £32,400 funding to develop a charrette focusing on Denny Town Centre.
4.2 The Denny charrette is a consultation process to engage the local community in considering how future community asset opportunities might be achieved and sustained as part of the development. The charrette will review the capacity of existing community assets and inform proposals for the Phase 3 site, to be based on a robust business plan. ICA will progress the charrette process and will contact community groups in the near future. This is an excellent opportunity for all local community groups to work together to identify further community opportunities within the town centre.
5.0 War Memorial
5.1 The Council temporarily re-sited the existing town centre war memorial plaques during the regeneration project's demolition and construction phase to the cemetery at Broompark Community Centre adjacent to the existing town centre. The re-dedication ceremony and Armistice Day parade was held on Sunday 9 November.
5.2 The Council acknowledges the importance of a final location being determined for the war memorial. It is therefore intended that the Council will consult with all Denny households to consider and agree options for the location of the war memorial. The results will inform the Council's decision on the permanent location for the war memorial.
6.0 Public Art
6.1 ICA were appointed by Falkirk Community Trust (with funding support from Creative Scotland) as lead artist in October 2013 to work with the community and the Council’s design team in the development of the proposed town square and to promote understanding of how public art can contribute to the project. ICA has completed extensive consultation with the local community and this has identified the main elements of the public art strategy for the development. Early in 2015, ICA will present their findings to the community, outlining proposed artist commissions for the development of artworks/interventions within the public realm space.
7.0 Communication
7.1 A newsletter for all households in Denny is being prepared providing an update of progress in the regeneration project, confirming both the outcome of the RCGF and charrette bids and providing further relevant information. The newsletter will include an invitation to ICA’s presentation of the outcomes of their Public Arts Strategy and initiate the consultation on the location of the war memorial.
