1. Water & Development Daventry WaterSpace
East Midlands Councils Planning CPD
28 June 2012

2. Contents
Daventry
Why WaterSpace?
Evolution of the scheme
Challenges

3. Daventry Saxon origins Norman Priory Elizabethan ‘new town’
Georgian coaching town
1793: Grand Junction Canal
1838: Bypassed by the railway
s: ‘new’ town
s: Development by DDC

4. Daventry 1571

5. Daventry 2009

6. Daventry 2009

7. Daventry, early 00s Population growth ongoing Constrained town centre
Mixed economic base (low wage)
Limited infrastructure
Poor sustainability
…MKSM Study, then Strategy…

8. Approach Ride the tiger: Renew the town centre Secure infrastructure
Enhance job opportunities
Transform education
Or end up with growth anyway
“Building social and economic success on the basis of environmental excellence”

9. Town Centre Vision Town Centre Vision (TCV) Working with Civic Trust
Issues
Ideas
Plans
Action
Working with Civic Trust
Adopted 2004

10. Town Centre Vision 2004

11. Why water? People like water
UK’s busiest canal only 3km away: An opportunity too good to miss
Property values enhanced
A new ‘heart’ for Daventry: Quality public space and buildings around water
Public support

12. Feasibility study
Full feasibility study required by Town Centre Vision
Tendered and Mouchel Parkman/DTZ Peida Consulting team appointed
Outputs required to comply with HM Treasury ‘Green Book’ standards for evaluation

13. Stage 1 report Canal and waterside viable
Added benefit of active water (canal connection)
No “show stoppers”
Water supply within catchment sufficient.
Potential ecological benefits.
Potential benefits to town centre and wider development
Recommends 100 berth marina and additional ‘casual’ moorings
Cost about £10 million plus optimism bias (44%)
Five route options

14. Stage 2 report Option selected Design worked out in detail:
Bed level 125.0m
Water level 126.5m
Runs under Northern Way
Welton Road diverted
Extensive risk management and “buildability” work done.
Costs: £10.2 million + £1.7 million for risks + optimism bias at 11% (down from 44%).
NPV of costs £4.3 million

15. Study conclusions Outcomes, not outputs
Environmental benefits – biodiversity, green corridor, etc.
Economic – ‘investment edge’, tourism brand, etc.
Other – cultural vitality, civic pride, etc.
Overall: Transformative project cf. Tate St Ives

16. How? Take steps Studies Design Incremental strategy
Enabling infrastructure – secured funding for:
Diversion of one road
Bridge under town ring road
No major physical obstacles remaining
Town centre water areas first … momentum
The then ‘link’

17. How? Council own resources – value of surrounding land
‘Growth’ funding:
S106/CIL
‘Growth’ funds
Lottery, benefactors, etc.

18. Evolution: Town Centre Vision

19. Evolution: Town Masterplan

20. Evolution: Town Masterplan

21. Evolution: Site Masterplan 1

22. Evolution: Site Masterplan 2

23. Evolution: Site Masterplan 3

24. Evolution: Site Masterplan 4
UTC secured … but needed larger area
Village Green application removed … but concession was ‘voluntary green’ on part of the area
Continued changes in economic circumstances
Replanning required … keeping the concept

25. Challenges Funding and viability Changing economic circumstances
Fear of the unknown: opposition
Other priorities – complementary or completing
Change of development control authority

26. Benefits iCon Centre of excellence in sustainable construction
First HE presence in Daventry
Opened May 2011
Would it have happened without the vision?

27. What next? Resolve remaining issues Obtain planning permission:
Waterside
Canal link
Select development partner(s)
Some self-development?

28. Questions?