Results

Camborne, Roskear & TuckingmillTHI Outputs

Expected Outputs

The Stage 2 bid for the scheme (June 2006) set the following measured outputs for the THI:

•22 buildings improved of which at least 3 will be Listed Buildings

•6 residential units improved / created from underused or vacant spaces

•11 buildings with architectural features restored

•£525,289 private sector contribution

•4 buildings removed from the Buildings At Risk register

•Significant contribution towards CPR Regeneration’s Business Plan

Breakdown of outputs

Looking at the combined data the following outputs have been achieved during the lifetime of the scheme:

Conservation Areas Improved

Actual:3

All the targeted properties lay within the Camborne, Roskear and Tuckingmill Conservation Areas. The THI has had apositive impact on three Conservation Areas. The use of traditional materials and the restoration of architectural features has made a remarkable impression. The restoration of 28well-positioned properties has most definitely enhanced the Conservation Areas and the work of the THI has helped secure these buildings in the long term.

Buildings Improved

Target:22

Actual:28

In total 21 grants were offered and 28 buildings were improved.

A number of the actual grants offered involved funding to multiple buildings (eg The Forge, Holmans No.3 site, 3-5 Tolgarrick Road).

There was a good spread of projects throughout the three Conservation Areas (Camborne (x14), Roskear (x3) and Tuckingmill (x4)) including a spread of residential (x12), commercial (x5) and community (x4) projects

Particular emphasis placed on derelict sites, in which twelve buildings (of the 28) have been tackled through the scheme

The total grants offered totalled £865,598 (£878,667 of grant aid actually offered with £13,068 of project savings [to date]).

The £865,598 of grant aid offered was £54,500 higher than the original projected Capital spend (£811,150) for the project. £54,500 was transferred across from the Revenue budget as a result of project savings on the running costs.

Private Sector Contribution

Target:£525,289

Actual:£1,533,017 (+ approx. £8M)

Due to increased building costs and the large scale of some of the projects, individual property owners have contributed far in excess of the original target. Additional non eligible works were also undertaken at the same time that the THI work was being carried and this has not been included in this figure. The figure for the non-eligible works to the Holman No.3 Works site alone was approx. £8M. Property owners are also looking to invest in further internal works on a number of the properties works (e.g. Former Fire Station, Camborne, Unit E of Holmans No.3 Works, Camborne)

It was originally estimated that the average cost of each project would be £60,747 (based on 22 properties). The actual average cost of each building project was £68,307 (based on 22 properties) of which the average grant awarded was £30,735 (average grant rate: 45.0%), with the lowest grant offer being £3,330.00 (Regal Gateway, Camborne) and the highest was £259,660 (Holmans No.3 Works, Camborne, split across six buildings).

Buildings with architectural features restored

Target:11

Actual:28

It was originally considered that 11 of the priority target buildings had architectural features in need of attention / reinstatement. In addition the other priority properties also had important architectural features which contribute to the overall quality of the conservation areas.

Throughout the course of the scheme 28 buildings had lost architectural features restored or reinstated which contribute to the overall quality and appearance of the town centre.

Listed Buildings

Target:3

Actual:8

It was anticipated that at least 3 Listed Buildings would receive assistance through the scheme. In total 24 Listed Buildings (all Grade II) received grant aid:

  • The Old Fire Station, 1 Trevenson Street, Camborne
  • Camborne Clock, Camborne
  • The Clink & Parish Vestry, Camborne
  • All Saints Community Centre, Roskear
  • 27 Roskear, Roskear
  • 29 Roskear, Roskear
  • Former Methodist Chapel, Tuckingmill
  • Former Laity’s Bakery, 107 Pendarves Street, Tuckingmill

Buildings removed from the Buildings at Risk Register

Target:4

Actual:13

BAR Category 1 (Extreme Risk): 12

BAR Category 2 (Grave Risk):0

BAR Category 3 (At Risk):1

The Buildings at Risk Register was one of the main guides in targeting the properties through the THI. The target was to remove a minimum number of four buildings that were classified as Buildings at Risk (Risk Categories 1, 2 or 3). In total 13 buildings were removed from these categories:

  • Holmans No.3 Works, Camborne (Category 1 x 4)
  • Camborne Forge, Camborne (Category 1 x 3)
  • The Clink & Parish Vestry, Camborne (Category 1)
  • 27 Basset Road, Camborne (Category 1)
  • 3 - 5 Tolgarrick Road, Tuckingmill (Category 1 x 2)
  • Former Methodist Chapel, Tuckingmill (Category 1)
  • Former Fire Station, Camborne (Category 3)

One further building (Bingo Hall, Camborne) was removed from BAR Category 4 (Vulnerable).

Residential Units Improved / Created from Underused or Vacant Spaces

Target:6

Actual:12 Buildings

39 Residential Units

Twelve vacant buildings have been brought back into use, including Holmans Site (3 x Residential), Old Fire Station (Commerial), The Forge (3 x Residential), The Clink (Community), The Chapel, Tuckingmill (Residential), 27 Basset Road (Residential) & 3-5 Tolgarrick Road. One additional building at the Holmans No.3 works has been improved, but as yet remains vacant.

The final output for the whole scheme will be 39 new residential homes (all previously un-inhabitable or new build)

  • Holmans No.3 Works, Camborne – 11 Units
  • Camborne Forge, Camborne – 7 Units (including 3 new build)
  • 27 Basset Road, Camborne – 6 Units (including 2 new build)
  • Former Methodist Chapel, Tuckingmill – 13 Units
  • 3-5 Tolgarrick Road, Tuckingmill – 2 Units

The upper floor (the residential element) at the Former Fire Station, Camborne is to be developed at a later stage.

Floor space returned to residential use

Actual:Approx. 3,508sqm

The measure of underused / vacant floor space and potential usage was based on detailed condition surveys, Ordnance Survey building floor space areas (net) and discussions with property owners.

The total amount of floor-space being returned to residential use was approx. 3,508sqm.

  • Holmans No.3 Works, Camborne – 1,100sqm
  • Camborne Forge, Camborne – 483sqm
  • 27 Basset Road, Camborne – 450sqm
  • Former Methodist Chapel, Tuckingmill – 1,275sqm
  • 3-5 Tolgarrick Road, Tuckingmill – 200sqm

An estimated further 400sqm have plans to be converted back to residential use. The scheme has secured and weatherproofed buildings previously at risk, providing the potential for future conversion.

Floor space returned to commercial use

Actual:Approx. 500sqm

The measure of underused / vacant floor space and potential usage was based on detailed condition surveys, Ordnance Survey building floor space areas (net) and discussions with property owners.

The total amount of floor-space being returned to commercial use was approx. 500sqm.

  • Former Methodist Chapel, Tuckingmill (ground floor only)
  • Former Fire Station, Camborne (ground floor only

On a number of projects the external THI works were combined with further private investment on internal works.

An estimated further 100sqm have plans to be converted back to commercial use.

Small or Medium Enterprises (SME’s) assisted

Actual:6

All of the buildings in the scheme which are owned by or contain an SME, received support through the scheme in the form of providing grant aid towards improvement of premises.

In total 6 SME’s were directly assisted through the scheme. This does not take into account the increase in sales within the town that have been created by wider regeneration activity and the SME’s assisted as an indirect result of the projects (ie contractors, suppliers, agents etc).

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) direct temporary jobs created

Actual:34.5 + 3.9 (Professional Fees)

Temporary jobs that have been created through construction works are the most significant element of spend within the THI. Total construction costs of grant works totalled £2,398,615 (grant aid + private sector contribution and not including separate works invested by grantees). Research carried out by Atlantic Consultants on construction projects (Economic Impact of the Mineral Tramways Strategy, commissioned by Groundwork Kerrier on behalf of the Mineral Tramways Maintenance Group, 1996) indicated that 40% of the gross budget for such projects is spent on labour costs. On this basis £959,446 of eligible project costs can be attributed to labour.

This figure is then divided by the average full time construction wage in the South West region. However, the average full time construction wage of £17,555 when the bid was submitted was based on 1999, Regional Trend figures.

More recent figures from the Annual Survey of Hours & Earnings (2007) show that the average full time construction wage for the South West is £21,813. This would give a sum of 44 FTE direct temporary jobs created (or 55 FTE if based on original calculation of £17,555).

Professional staff have been employed to implement the proposals and manage the construction work that has resulted from THI spend. This equates to £83,780 of which £70,533 represents agent fees & £13,247 relates to QS, Structural Engineers, Valuations and Condition Surveys. Therefore the total spent on professional staff costs was 11.5%. Using a comparable Local Authority salary of £21,645 (2001/2 figures) this results in the creation of a further 3.9 FTE jobs.

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) gross direct jobs created

Actual:25.6

1.5 FTE new jobs were created by the employment of project staff to manage the HERS.

Figures for the remaining FTE gross direct jobs are based on average gross sales per square metre. The following methodology (outlined in the original bid) was employed.

Gross direct jobs created are based on survey work undertaken within the Camborne Pool Redruth area. A figure for average sales per sqm was established across a range of businesses by dividing annual sales by commercial floor space area – this gives £2,624 per sqm. This is then multiplied by the projected commercial floor space to be brought back into use (estimated 500sqm) to give an estimated figure of £1,312,000 total sales generated.

Calculation 1

In order to establish the level of annual sales that supports one FTE employee, total sales across the surveyed businesses were divided by total number of employees, resulting in average annual sales per FTE employee of £49,418. The figure for total sales generated is then divided by average annual sales per employee which results in a figure of 26.5 FTE jobs created.

Calculation 2

In order to test the reliability of this figure the average number of FTE employees per sqm is calculated by dividing total floor space in survey buildings by total number of employees (0.049 FTE per sqm). This is then multiplied by the area of commercial floor space to be brought back into use (500sqm) resulting in a figure of 61.6 FTE jobs created. This figure compares favourably to that calculated above.

Calculation 3

A final check on the above figures is carried out by comparing with guidance from SWERDA that indicates general anticipated new job creation at 4 FTE jobs per 1000sqft. This equates to 1 new job per 23.36sqm. Thus total commercial floor space brought back into use (1,257sqm) divided by 23.36 gives 53.8 FTE new jobs created.

In order to ensure that projected targets can safely be secured it is felt that the output figure for gross direct jobs created should be set at 55.5 FTE (1.5 + 54 FTE)

Actual Calculations

It is estimated that 500sqm has already been brought back into use (across two commercial properties).

Calculation 1

£2,624 x 500sqm = £1,312,000 total sales generated

£1,312,000 / 49,418 = 26.5 + 1.5 (project staff) = 28.0

Calculation 2

500sqm x 0.049 = 24.5 + 1.5 (project staff) = 26.0

Calculation 3

500sqm / 23.36 = 21.4 + 1.5 (project staff) = 22.9

The average across the three calculations above is ((28.0 + 26.0 + 22.9)/3) 25.6 FTE

At the time of writing this report, two commercial properties that partook in the THI remain unoccupied (totalling approximately 300sqm).

It is expected that the two currently empty commercial premises will be occupied adding 300sqm to the existing 500sqm. This will therefore mean that 800sqm will have been brought back into use (across four commercial properties), which will have a further positive impact in terms of employment creation.

Gross additional sales

Actual:£1,312,000

Gross additional sales are based on survey work undertaken within the Camborne Pool Redruth area. A figure for average sales per sqm was established across a range of businesses by dividing annual sales by commercial floor space area – this gives £2,624 per sqm. The target figure was calculated by multiplying the projected commercial floor space to be brought back into use (estimated 500sqm) to give an estimated figure of £1,312,000 total sales generated.

The actual gross additional sales are therefore calculated from the average commercial space brought back into use (500sqm) multiplied by average sales per square metre (£2,624.6) to give a figure of £1,312,000.

These calculated additional sales are limited only to the properties that will be targeted by the scheme and do not take into account the % anticipated general increase in sales within the town that will be created by wider regeneration activity.

The Camborne Discovery Map
The THI part funded the Camborne Discovery Map project (a £5,000 contribution through the current THI and £5,000 through the new THI against an overall £30,000 project cost).

The Camborne Map in a colourful three dimensional map of Camborne and its surrounding areas of interest. It incorporates historical buildings from the Town Trail and highlights sustainable ways of accessing local historical attractions in the area.

Camborne Town Councilcontributed £1,500 (and administrative support) to the Discovery Map Project and £5,000 was contributed by Cornwall Council Sustainability Team and £3,000 from Cornwall Council’s World Heritage Site Team. The remaining money is being collected from local organisations and businesses.

Work to the Camborne Discovery Map is now complete. 20,000 Maps have been printed and every household in Camborne will receive a free copy.

The Camborne Map was officially launched on the 14th April 2012 when the website also went live.

Scheme Publicity

  • A THI site board was displayed on the side of each property participating in the scheme. The site boards act as publicity for the scheme and do include the funders logos. The boards were completed in time for the first project going live.
  • Display boards, promoting the THI were set-up on Trevithick Day (all years) and at The Royal Cornwall Show and any other appropriate Public days (eg the Celebration Day to mark the completion of the Camborne Public Realm scheme).
  • Display boards providing details of The Clink & Parish Vestry Project were on display at CamborneChurch and Camborne Church Hall for about one month prior to work commencing
  • THI documentation was available on the Cornwall Council site
  • A number of letters have been written to all target property
  • Site boards and publicity displays were present at the Lime and Bag Rubbing Training Day, the Joinery Workshop and the SPAB training day.
  • Press articles have regularly appeared in the West Briton and the Western Morning News (and associated websites)
  • Radio Cornwall interviews have taken place with the THI Project Manager and THI Project Co-ordinator.
  • Enquiries from other Conservation officers throughout the country regarding the schemes progress and energy saving initiatives
  • A press release entitled ‘Camborne students get to work as energy experts’ was written by Community Energy Plus, in November, about the SIEU III project complimenting the THI.
  • An articled entitled ‘Presentations celebrate achievements of SIEU Programme’ was posted on the website of Community Energy Plus in December 2010. The article celebrates the success of the Schools for Intelligent Energy Use Project, a programme delivered in the UK by Community Energy Plus. CornwallCollege worked with the THI on the SIEU Programme at the Assembly Rooms, Camborne.
  • Press articles entitled ‘Repair man clocks that Camborne has Big Ben's little brother made by Dents’ and ‘Restoration programme has been going like clockwork’ were written by the Cumbria Clock Company about the works carried out at the Clock Tower, Commercial Street and appeared in the local press in February 2011.
  • A press release entitled Traditional Joinery Week was written by the THI team about the 130 local joiners, architects, surveyors and local authority staff that attended the traditional joinery week. The article was submitted to the Cornwall Council press office, however, we did not see this in the local press (see previous claim for details).
  • Internal Member Information reports have been submitted to relevant Councillors regarding progress with the THI. Progress with skills Training and Energy Saving Measures has appeared in the Council’s Planning newsletter
  • Progress with the Energy Saving Initiatives was a specific workshop as part of a member training event in St Austell
  • CornwallCollege posted an article on their website entitled ‘Cornwall students team up with Council to analyse renewable energy housing’, detailing the College’s involvement with the THI in monitoring of energy saving measures.

Community Engagement