Funding and investment in the St Austell, St Blazey and China Clay Area.

Cornwall wants to have a strategic overview of the plan area as this will enable us to work towards maximising opportunities in new development and steer public sector funding to where it is most needed. Despite the difficult economic climate and reductions to public sector fundinginward investment has still been secured for the area.

European Funding

Along with Camborne, Pool and Redruth, the St Austell, St. Blazey & China Clay Areais identified as a priority for investment through Priority 4 of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence Programme. The Convergence Programme represents a significant but time limited opportunity to deliver the economic infrastructure (workspace, roads, sustainable transport, training and research facilities) which will provide the foundations for rapid and sustained economic growth. ERDF Convergence will also soon bring next generation broadband to the area.

The residents and businesses of the area will benefit from approximately £17 million from the European Social Fund (ESF) Convergence Programmefor skills development and removing barriers to work and training.

Convergence investment has already been secured for the Mid Cornwall Rail Infrastructure Project, with total investment of £233,000. This project will identify and develop options for the delivery of enhanced rail-services in the mid Cornwall area. In addition, the Convergence Programme has supported the development of eleven modern, flexible, high quality industrial units at Goonvean Yard. A number of other Convergence funded workspace projects are imminent.

An industry led training academy is proposed at NewquayCornwallAirport. It will see the start of the first 15 aerospace engineering apprenticeships being trained at NCA as a ‘pilot’ academy project. This is a huge opportunity to attract new investment and employers because of the skills base available, offering many transferable skills from a historic pool of workers from engineering (particularly China Clay communities) and ex MOD backgrounds, especially as there is a major undersupply of aviation sector skills nationally.

Rural Development Programme for England

Clay Country Local Action (CCLA) is one of three rural regeneration programmes in Cornwall, funded through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), which primarily focus on projects that utilise the areas natural environment, whilst prioritisinglow carbon, sustainable tourism and community projects. CCLA covers the historical china clay extraction region in mid Cornwall characterised by the Hensbarrow Moor Landscape Character Statement.

Decisions on which projects receive funding from the CCLA £1.8 million budget are made by a local representative group, supported by staff of the Cornwall Development Company who act as the accountable body for the group. As of early 2011 DEFRA have undertaken a review of Local Action Groups that means no new applications can currently be made to the fund. However, all funding that has already been allocated is unaffected. A decision from DEFRA as to when applications can resume is expected towards the end of 2011.

The types of projects already supported include refurbishment of village halls and pre schools, a major study to identify the missing link and economic opportunities of the areas ClayTrails, and a feasibility study for enhancement of heritage works at LuxulyanValley.

Programme of Development Funding

In addition to RDPE and Convergence funding for the area, the Council has received £12.6 million from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to provide infrastructure that supports new eco-developments and provides assistance to existing communities. Thishas funded community regeneration projects but also supported studies that will help assess and steer development across the area. These include:

Highways model - to be used to test the impact of developments across the area.

Prepare a Bus Strategy and spend over £600,000 to start to implement measures such as Real Time Passenger Information and improved bus stop infrastructure.

Invest over £550,000 on investigations into realigning the A391 to improve links and encourage establishment of the centre of a new community.

Prepare a Cycling and Walking Strategy and spend £400,000 on providing an initial wave to connections. The Local Action Group has provided a foundation for this through funding a feasibility study on the most effective way of improving and developing the existing network of paths and Clay trails.

Begin to undertake feasibility work to identify the potential for a Park and Ride site to the east of the town to alleviate traffic on the A390.

Support the Environment Agency in the preparation of a flood model which is due to be completed imminently.

Support St Austell Town Council in commissioning a Conservation Area Appraisal for the Conservation area in the town centre. This project is underway.

Investigate opportunities to maximise available Convergence funding, and the economic benefits of the Eco-communities by supporting the development of employment infrastructure which will provide significant employment opportunities and act as a focal point for the development of high value knowledge based companies.

A Skills Development Officer is being appointed to lead and co-ordinate the Eco-Communities skills agenda. They will work closely with partners working in the area to develop and co-ordinate a range of linked employment and skills projects and ensure successful delivery and suitable replication of these projects. The Officer will work with partners to develop and deliver innovative employment and training provision to a wide range of individuals, businesses, sectors and collaborations.

A partnership has been entered into with Building Research Establishment (BRE) so that the highest aspirations can be brought to projects and development, retrofit schemes including expert understanding on local supply chains, and opportunities for existing and new business growth and development.

Whilst it is an aspiration to improve standards for the future housing stock of Cornwall, the retrofitting of existing properties is an important issue in raising the overall level of energy and resource efficiency. The ‘U Choose 2 Retrofit’ scheme willretrofit three community buildings in the China Clay area (Roche Victory Hall, ClayTAWC, St Dennis and Indian Queens Victory Hall), making them more energy efficient and cheaper to run for the community groups. In addition, a potential retrofit pilot scheme for residential properties is currently being developed, which, if approved, will be launched later in 2011.

The redevelopment of Prince Charles House in St Austell to a state-of-the-art, sustainable, supported housing scheme is underway. The new eco-apartments will be built to BREEAM “Excellent” specification, the highest standard of sustainability for such a combined use building. The planning and delivery of the project will create a range of educational, training and skill development opportunities at primary, secondary and college based levels. The project is specifically designed to showcase green technologies aimed at substantially reducing the carbon emissions from new affordable housing. The design will maximise opportunities to use local labour, train local businesses in the production of high performance products and utilise local materials from Cornwall.

Implementation & Monitoring

Cornwall Council will continue to play arole in rejuvenating the area, by delivering the strategies and plans devised for the area as set out in the Regeneration Plan Guidance Note, Appendix 2 of the St Austell, St Blazey and China Clay Regeneration Plan.

We know there are further studies that will put us in a better position to proactively plan and influence new developments. We are undertaking spatial analysis of the known opportunities that have come forward and we intend to continue to work on this. Some parts of the area such as St Blazey may need individual attention.

The Environment Agency will continue to work with Cornwall Council to put in place a comprehensive review of flooding, amelioration schemes and drainage. Developers will be made aware of the suggested solutions, and would be expected to contribute to strategic infrastructure as well as spending money on on-site sustainable drainage systems, in order to benefit existing communities.

Funding avenues will be pursued that can provide improvements to the highways network. Investigations into the provision of a park and ride system to alleviate congestion on the A390 will be ongoing. Given the pressure exerted on the transport network in the Plan area, developers may be bound to ongoing targets designed to reduce car travel.

Should the Localism Act require it, communities and businesses will be supported to pursue neighbourhood plans and neighbourhood development orders to help deliver economic growth and community needs. These will be consistent with national guidance and policy, and developers should show due regard to neighbourhood aims and aspirations when formulating a proposal.

Planning applications will be expected to be accompanied by a set of clear quantifiable measures by which to monitor the performance of proposals over an agreed time frame, along with baseline data against which to monitor performance.

The Council will commit to monitoring the success of this plan. We will know that this transformational regeneration plan has been successful through use of indicators identified in the table below.

Key Principle / Indicator / Possible sources/owners of information
A. Will achieve high environmental standards in excess of minimum requirements and demonstrate how carbon
reduction measures have been applied and how zero-carbon status can be achieved in the future / Significant environmental emphasis, net biodiversity gain.
Significant renewable/low carbon energy is produced. / Department for Communities & Local Government
Cornwall Council
Department for Energy & Climate Change
Utility companies
Natural England
B. Achieve the high, quality of design and reinforce local distinctiveness / Achieve minimum of Building for Life silver standard.
New housing achieves Code for Sustainable Homes at a minimum of Level 4. / Cornwall Council
Building Research Establishment
Design Council
C. Deliver new jobs, skills and economic growth to existing or new businesses, any new housing must deliver access to a minimum of one new employment opportunity per home / Employment space created achieves minimum of BREEAM excellent or equivalent.
Number of new businesses attracted to the area.
New business survival rate.
Increase in amount of business rates collected.
Percentage of local labour and materials used.
Number of apprenticeships.
Required balance between housing and job creation is met (creation of 1 job per household). / Building Research Establishment
Cornwall Council
Skills/training providers
Department for Work & Pensions
Cornwall Development Company
Jobcentre Plus
CornwallCollege
Combined University of Cornwall
D. Can contribute infrastructure that meets the needs of existing and future communities, particularly addressing
transport, education, flooding, health needs and community scale renewable energy schemes / New infrastructure delivered.
Section 106 monies deliver infrastructure and affordable housing including ongoing management of infrastructure and assets. / Cornwall Council
CIOSPCT
Department for Energy & Climate Change
E. Can deliver affordable housing in accordance with adoptedpolicy / Percentage of social and affordable housing available.
Affordability of houses compared to average wages.
Number of Housing Benefit recipients. / Cornwall Council
Cornwall Homechoice
Department of Work & Pensions
Census 2011
F. Deliver sustainable travel patterns with an aspiration of achieving at least 50% of trips by sustainable travel means / Traffic levels and flows on key routes.
Level of modal shift to more sustainable modes of transport within the area. / Department for Transport
Department for Environment & Climate Change
Cornwall Council
Highways Agency
Local public transport providers (buses and trains)
G. Raise communities’ aspirations and opportunities / Number of proposals designed to reduce crime and fear of crime.
Reduced crime rates in the area.
Monitor the effectiveness of community involvement.
Achievement of qualifications.
Indices of multiple deprivation.
Increase in the number of up-to-date Parish and neighbourhood Plans.
Creation of Community Interest Companies, Land Trusts and/or community management opportunities. / Department for Communities & Local Government
Census 2011
Devon & Cornwall Police Constabulary
Parish Councils
CIOSPCT
H. Productively reuse former China Clay workings or other previously developed land / Previously developed land and redundant buildings are utilised. / Imerys
Cornwall Council
I. Safeguard important mineral resources for extraction and sites for important related infrastructure / Extraction tonnages for mineral aggregates for new development.
Quantity of minerals land sterilised. / Annual Minerals and Waste Monitoring Report
Cornwall Council
Imerys
J. Will maximise the provision and access to new and existing
green spaces, and create new opportunities for flexible and productive land use including food and fuel production. / Habitats protected and created/wildlife enhancements and managed appropriately.
Number of designated sites impacted.
Number of archaeological sites conserved/impacted.
Fluvial risk and flooding events within the plan area.
Extent and quality of landscape and habitat creation as part of mitigation measures.
Residents benefiting from the enjoyment of openspace and landscape enhancements.
Facilities/infrastructure created to improve access to the coast and countryside. / South West Water
Environment Agency
Natural England
Cornwall Council
English Heritage
South West Tourism
National Trust