Hexham Investment
Business Strategic Plan
2007 - 2009
A working document providing continuing focus, guidance and monitoring of the activities of the Hexham Community Partnership, a Company Ltd by Guarantee.
- updated August 2007
Contents
Contact details
Executive Summary
- Background
Service Centre
Tourism
Business and Employment
Population and housing
Transport
The Local Community
- Hexham - Strengths and Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
- A vision for Hexham
- Aims and Objectives
- Action Plan 2007 -2009
- Review of Plan Jan 06 – August 07
Appendix
CONTACT DETAILS
For further information on any aspect of this Plan please contact:
Hexham Partnership Officer
Hexham Community Partnership
C/o Tynedale Council
Prospect House
Hexham
Northumberland
NE46 3NH
Or
Forum Cinema
Market Place
Hexham
Northumberland
NE46 1XF
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Hexham Community Partnership (HCP) acts as the focus for regeneration efforts in Hexham and has identified the following vision for the town:
“Hexham will be an increasingly vibrant, enterprising and adaptable market town”
This vision will be realised through securing the sustainability of the Partnership to ensure the implementation of 5 Objectives as follows:
- Developing Tourism
- Supporting Business
- Enhancing the Environment
- Encouraging Community Development
- Improving Access and Transport Management
The co-ordinated efforts of many partners have made a real difference to Hexham in recent years.
This Plan was produced by the Hexham Community Partnership to guide the regeneration of the Hexham area in the period April 2006 to March 2009 and has been updated in June 2007.
The Plan was prepared with assistance of partners, stakeholders, businesses and local residents of the area.
It will be used in conjunction with the statutory local plan, the Regional Economic Strategy, the Northumberland Community Strategy, the Tynedale Community Plan and relevant strategies of Northumberland County Council and Tynedale Council.
1. BACKGROUND
Hexham is located in the district of Tynedale, which, at 852 square miles, is the largest district in England. The district has the second lowest population density of any district in the country, and can therefore claim to be the most rural district in England. The town lies within one of the most attractive and unspoilt areas of rural Northumberland, within close proximity to Hadrian’s Wall – a World Heritage Site, the Northumberland National Park and the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Hexham is an attractive market town with a tradition of hosting markets stretching back to the 13th Century. These trade links have shaped the town both architecturally and economically and it is still the main service centre for the district and a focal point for transport links.
For the purposes of this Plan the main catchment for Hexham as a service centre was identified as including the following wards: Acomb with Sandhoe, Allendale, Bellingham, Corbridge, Haydon, Hexham, Hexhamshire, Humshaugh, Newbrough, Slaley, Wall, Warden, Wark, Chollerton and Whittington. Residents of these wards are more likely regularly to use or rely on shops and services in Hexham or provided from bases in the town.
Service Centre
Hexham hosts most of Tynedale district’s main services including, the magistrates’ court, JobCentre Plus and Business Link offices, the new general hospital, the main offices of the District Council and leisure facilities including Wentworth Leisure Centre and athletics track, Hexham Swimming Pool (which is replaced by a new facility due to open in 2008), the Forum Cinema (recently acquired by the Partnership) and the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre. Regular sales are held at the Auction Mart, located near Tyne Green Country Park, maintaining the town’s strong association with farming.
There are a wide number of specialist and professional services available in Hexham ranging from legal to accountancy, surveyors to engineers, vets to health services, many of which are the only services available for some distance (See Hexham Visitor Guide for a full listing). Added to this are a wide selection of shops, places to eat and regular general and farmer’s markets making the town an important centre for local people who travel up to 20 miles to visit.
Hexham hosts the head offices of many of the community and voluntary sector organisations in Tynedale several of which are located in the Hexham Community Centre owned and managed by the Hexham and Tynedale Community Trust. These organisations include Volunteering Tynedale, Tynedale Citizens Advice Bureau, Sixty Eighty Thirty, Links and A.D.A.P.T.
Tourism and Day Visits
According to estimates produced by EDAW (2000), each year Hexham receives 250,000 to 300,000 day visitors and tourists. The town’s appeal to tourists is mainly as a base for visiting a number of attractions including Hadrian’s Wall, The Baltic and Millennium Bridge –Gateshead, Alnwick Castle and Gardens, the Metro Centre, Kielder Water and Forest, and Carlisle. The town also receives a significant number of visiting coaches stopping en-route to other destinations for short visits and overnight at one of the main hotels with, for example, 423 coach visits recorded between Easter and August 2004.
Hexham Abbey is the town’s main attraction with over 100,000 visitors per year and dominates the skyline by day and night. Plans are underway to develop a visitor centre at the Abbey to attract increased numbers of visitors to the Abbey and therefore to the town itself as well. The Border History Museum (Old Gaol), Moot Hall and the Market Place together form the historic core. These are supported by the district’s only cinema, arts centre and theatre as well as a wide range of places to eat and drink. Visitors are attracted by the award winning Hexham Farmers’ Market, Hexham Racecourse and a developing events programme as well as a full range of retail outlets with the ability to bring repeat day visits from a wide area.
2005 witnessed a significant change to Hexham’s retail offer with the opening of a new Tesco Extra store with 24 hour opening. 2006 saw the arrival of Waitrose and it is anticipated that Marks and Spencer will be arriving in the town in late 2008.
Business and Employment
Employment in the Hexham area is varied with employment opportunities across a number of sectors. A small number of large employers are significant such as Egger UK Ltd which employs 450 people directly, supports 1500 jobs in the wider area and contributes £179 million to the local economy every year. Many jobs are based in the retail and service sector and a high proportion are part time and seasonal. Although the unemployment rate is very low – 1.2% of the resident working age population for the Hexham Travel to Work Area, compared to the district rate of 1.4% and a regional rate of 3.5%[1], - the quality of many local jobs is an issue to be addressed.
In a business survey carried out by Hexham Community Partnership, a third of employers responded and highlighted recruitment problems ranging from a lack of candidates to poor basic skills levels, pay not high enough to attract candidates and the high cost of housing deterring candidates. There are approximately 400 businesses listed on the Hexham Community Partnership mailing list, with a very high percentage self employed or only employing one to two staff. A further 350 businesses are estimated to trade within the catchment area of the town. The Hexham Community Partnership has actively supported Business Link in establishing the Hexham Business Forum, and is represented on the steering group of the Forum. Since being established in July 2006 it has achieved a membership of 200 in February 2007 and has already started to play an active role in event organisation and in making links with the District Council and other trade associations in the area.
Every year Tynedale Council carries out a healthcheck on the core commercial area as part of the Local Plan Monitoring Report, which highlights changes and trends based on quantitative surveys and pedestrian counts. In 2003, the number of vacant units stood at 12%, with many smaller units changing hands very frequently. This picture has improved slightly in recent years. In 2006 the study carried out by White Young Green on behalf of Tynedale Council showed only 6.8% or 14 vacant units in the town centre – below the national average of 7.9%. Nearly half (49.4%) of the retail businesses in Hexham considered that they had grown moderately over the previous 5 years and 46% were trading well or very well. It is also estimated in the most recent report that the town is well used by local residents at approximately 30% usage (30% of what? 30% of revenue comes from local residents? 30% of total expenditures by local residents are made in the town, i.e. 70% spent elsewhere? Or??) which further illustrates its importance as a service centre.
Population and Housing
With a population of 11,667 [2], Hexham is one of the two largest towns in the district. Demand for housing in the area is very strong with Hexham and the Tyne Valley acknowledged as one of the most expensive places to live in the North East, with the average price of a semi detached house in Tynedale of £193,256 compared to an average of £149,562 for Northumberland and £140,638 for the region. [3]
The area is seen as a highly desirable place to live as it is close enough to Tyneside for commuters, offers excellent local schools and a high quality environment. The spiralling housing cost is also a factor in causing out-migration, particularly of younger people to more affordable places. In addition the population is also ageing at a slightly higher rate than the County and national averages, which could put a strain on existing services, particularly health.
There is an acute shortage of affordable housing in the Hexham area for a variety of groups as illustrated by a district-wide Housing Needs Study carried out in 2005. A separate note of the findings of this study in relation to Hexham is available from Tynedale Council.
Transport
Hexham is well served by the A69 trunk road and the Tyne Valley railway line, which connects to a station outside of the town centre. Bus services are adequate in and around the town, but infrequent or non-existent for more rural dwellers and transport services are poorly integrated. A.D.A.P.T. provides a community transport service which helps to meet this need. Traffic congestion causes major concern in the town centre particularly, with a number of ‘hot spots’. In addition there is conflict between pedestrians and vehicles in many parts of Hexham, with pedestrians rarely given priority.
The 2003 Transport Study highlighted a number of options, which could be implemented to improve traffic management, transport systems and car parking.
Work is currently underway looking at ways of improving the Market Place through traffic management changes and hard landscaping. The results of public consultation are not yet available but the Partnership will continue to play an active role in steering and delivering this and other elements of the Local Transport plan work.
Recent concerns regarding the safety of the current bus station have led to reconsideration of the possibility of relocating it at either the Railway Station or Loosing Hill.
The Local Community
Community development, at grass roots level is growing in importance to the local economy with 46 local voluntary sector groups employing an estimated 251 staff. This figure does not take into account the large numbers of local residents who give their services voluntarily to improving community facilities and services. The sector also draws in huge amounts of funding from the public and private sector, much of which is spent locally. An audit of the accommodation needs of the voluntary sector was completed in 2005 demonstrating a clear need for the provision of additional accommodation.
Tynedale is consistently shown by statistics to be one of the safest places to live in the country. In Hexham this was reflected in 2005 by the award of the Safer Business award for the town in recognition of the continuing downward trend of already low crime levels. Areas of deprivation do exist, however, and these form a particular focus for attention in relation to issues such as environmental enhancement, anti-social behaviour, and wider regeneration. In November 2006 antisocial behaviour issues in parts of the town centre were addressed by Northumbria Police with the introduction of a six month dispersal order.
The Partnership is working closely with the recently reconstituted Hexham East Residents Association and would support the establishment of similar groups in other parts of he town.
The Partnership is also expected to play an active role in partnership with Milecastle Housing, Tynedale Council and others in any regeneration work proposed for Hexham East.
2. HEXHAM - STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS
(Updated in March 2007 from Healthcheck in 2002)
STRENGTHS / WEAKNESSES- An established service centre
- Historic core, Abbey, Moot Hall, Market Place and Old Gaol
- Impressive skyline
- Proximity to Hadrian’s Wall, Kielder and Newcastle
- Hadrian’s Cycleway
- Surrounded by beautiful countryside
- Generally low crime levels
- Active local communities
- Rail and bus access
- Range of leisure facilities
- Community ownership of cinema
- Excellent schools
- Attractive open spaces
- A wide mix of shops
- Strong voluntary sector
- Retail Crime Forum, Shopwatch/ Pubwatch and Safer Shopping Award
- Increasing population
- Good local coverage of news and views – Hexham Courant and the Journal
- Tyne Riverside
- Low unemployment
- £179 million contributed to the local economy annually by the presence of Egger
- Good road network to east (Newcastle) and west (Carlisle)
- Few vacant properties in commercial area
- Countryside Agency – Beacon Town
- Innovative and entrepreneurial local businesses – award winning
- Business start up rates high compared to national figures
- Britain in Bloom awards
- “England’s Favourite Market Town” 2005
- Hexham Community Partnership
- Newly established Business Forum
- Award winning Farmers Market and successful Christmas Market
- Lack of affordable housing
- Traffic management
- ‘Pedestrian unfriendly town’
- No cycle routes
- Poor access for those with mobility problems
- Reliance on a small number of employers for a large number of jobs
- An ageing population
- Lack of signage and interpretation
- Only one main hotel to cater for coach/travel trade
- Topography
- Lack of facilities for young people, particularly in Hexham East
- Vacant first floor premises in core commercial area
- Lack of managed workspace
- Too few business premises for new and expanding firms
- Transport links to and from much of rural area inadequate
- Lack of co-ordination of shop opening hours
- Unfilled vacancies, recruitment problems
- Lack of local awareness of the Partnership
- Traffic conflict in town centre especially Market Place
OPPORTUNITIES / THREATS
- Development of tourism and footfall building on town’s awards
- Joint initiatives between key facilities eg. Abbey, Moot Hall, Old Gaol, Queen’s Hall, Forum Cinema
- Revitalisation of markets
- The integration of public transport
- Major developments – Station Road/ Charlton’s sites
- Better signage and interpretation
- Increasing employment through tourism and retail
- Develop a town centre management initiative
- Improving access for pedestrians to and in the town centre
- Development of cycling paths and facilities and links with Hadrian’s cycleway
- Industrial investment in the forestry sector
- Creation of a Visitor/Heritage Centre for Hexham
- New play areas, playing fields and facilities
- Improvements to town’s gateways
- Development of specialist support and events for young people
- Raising the profile of the value of ‘grass roots’ community activities
- Joint promotion of community facilities
- Optimising usage of Wentworth car park
- Improvement and development in the bus station area
- Town website
- New events
- Joint promotion with Hadrian’s Wall Group Travel Consortium
- Wydon Burn Reservoir
- Improvements to Tyne Riverside
- Tesco’s new store
- Co-ordinated promotion of the Partnership
- Britain in Bloom and Country Life awards
- Out–migration of young people
- Reduction in agricultural incomes
- Lack of affordable housing is not addressed
- Competition from other towns and shopping centres
- Reduction in retail uses of core commercial areas
- Developments out of town/ isolated from town centre
- High turnover of independent retailers
- Protection of civic space
- Design of new houses detract from traditional architecture
- Limited officer capacity within the Partnership
- Sustainability of funding for Partnership officer
- Low priority of Hexham from a number of external funders
3. A VISION FOR HEXHAM
The Vision Statement for Hexham Community Partnership and this Plan is:
“Hexham will be an increasingly vibrant, enterprising and adaptable market town”
This vision will be realised through the implementation of 5 Objectives:
- Developing Tourism
- Supporting Business
- Enhancing the Environment
- Encouraging Community Development
- Improving Access and Transport Management
Underlying each of these objectives is a consideration of the environmental impact of all of our activities.
This Plan prioritises activity into a manageable work programme, based on deliverability, funding, management capacity and economic impact.
The following sections describe what exactly Hexham Community Partnership wants to achieve and how these objectives will be implemented.
4. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The Aims and Objectives in this Plan have been developed to fit local and regional economic development policies and frameworks. In addition Objectives are designed to assist with the delivery of the Tynedale Community Plan, and their ‘fit’ to district priorities is listed below. These are due to be updates in line with the 2007 Community Plan.