Cllr Graham Turner, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Regeneration, introduced the item, informing the Panel that the update will outline why Marsden is being worked on. The unlocking of some money from DLUHC (Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities) levelling up fund, has given an opportunity to build on that work because Marsden has huge potential growth in economic terms.
David Wildman, Strategic Partnership Lead, took the Panel through a presentation explaining that the economic potential of Marsden is not being realised at the moment. He advised that it is a great successful village, however it has got a constrained commercial offer. There is a lot of out commuting, there are issues caused by local traffic and parking, and there are a great deal of unused properties and mills in the village that is impacting on the quality of place.
Funding has been secured through DLUHC for the regeneration and redevelopment of New Mills which is in the centre of the village, that came through the levelling up fund round two (LUF2). Alongside that, there is also the investment that is happening in the TransPennine Route (TRU) upgrade project to Marsden. Those two investment together, with an active community that has been realised through the recent place standard engagement, present an opportunity to do something positive in Marsden.
The Panel was informed that the masterplan will provide a structured approach, a framework to unlock the development and bring forward future opportunities for growth. In June 2023, a report was taken to Cabinet that delegated authority to progress with a masterplan. A further report will be going back to Cabinet in March 2024, to seek endorsement for a partnership led approach.
The masterplan will set out a longer term vision for Marsden and identify priority projects, this is both from a commercial, and a transport master planning point of view that will help the council and partners pursue future funding opportunities. It will build on local engagement and there has already been positive engagement to date, and that is where the proposed Community Partnership comes in to help embed a community and place led approach that can shape the masterplan.
The Council remains the accountable body in developing the masterplan, and the partnership will help to shape the vision, provide local insight, oversee community engagement and support the Council as an advisory body.
The Panel was shown an overview of Marsden, which highlighted key locations in the village, including local sports facilities, the train station, canal and New Mills.
With regard to the community led approach, the Panel was informed that the aim is to form a partnership made up of ten local invited representatives, with no more than nine or ten members including one representative from each of the following: - Marsden Community Trust, Marsden Community Association, Kirklees Council, Ward Councillor, local businesses, local landowner and/or developer, youth based/sports group, community group/organisation and local schools. Following attendance at this scrutiny meeting and the Cabinet meeting in March, work will be undertaken with the community to identify individuals to represent in this partnership.
The Panel was informed that the scope of the masterplan will reflect on lessons learned from previous local centres masterplan development work, and the community partnership approach will help to ensure that local issues are understood.
The Council being accountable, will ensure gateways and milestones are worked through and that the Council and the partnership are comfortable with the progress being made. Engagement and consultation will be important throughout, and the Council has recently completed the place standard work and there were a series of engagement which will result in a place standard action plan. The aim is to build on what has gone before, and trying to align it with the engagement that will be undertaken on the Trans Pennine route upgrade and also with the consultation that the private team will undertake on the mill in due course.
The Panel was informed that with regard to the New Mills development, £5.6m funding was secured from DLUHC to support the redevelopment of the site. There is a total project value of approximately £17.5m and it will be used for refurbishing the existing mill, creating commercial space, new office space and potential residential. It's will focus on the lack of employment as there is a demand for employment space in the village. Whilst the funding is allocated to the Council as the accountable body, the work is private sector led by a Development Team.
New Mills progress to date includes:
- Regular liaison between the Council and the Development Team
- During December 23 , the Development Team undertook engagement and site visits with Historic England, community representatives, and the Council’s Planning and Heritage officers
- In Dec 23 the Development Team submitted a pre-app submission to Historic England (and are awaiting feedback). Council has engaged with team at Historic England.
- Development Team plan to submit a pre-app application to Council as Planning Authority in February 2024 – Council proposing a multi-disciplinary workshop to follow the pre-app submission to discuss options and next steps.
- Council has engaged with the Levelling Up Places Service – once pre-app is submitted the Council and DT will seek input from a Place Advisor.
- Council engaging with DLUHC and helping to strengthen working relationship
Next steps/Timescales
Feb 2024
- Briefings with Ward Councillors and MP
- New Mills Development team pre-app submission to Planning Authority
March 2024
- Cabinet approval sought to progress with Partnership & Masterplan
- Place Standard Action Plan agreed
March – April 2024
- Community Partnership established to support Masterplan
March - May 2024
- Procurement of external support for Masterplan
March – June 2024
- New Mills planning app development inc. engagement & consultation*
- TRU engagement*
Summer 2024
- New Mills planning app submitted*
June – Dec 2024
- Development of Masterplan and Delivery Plan
*Subject to emerging programmes & ongoing discussions
In response to the information presented, the Panel made comments and asked questions including some of the following:
- In terms of transport, at what point will they come in and look at the infrastructure and will it be someone external or will the Council be using its own resources for that?
- It seems like a fascinating project, however, there didn't seem to be any mention of actual parking being increased for the new development, because parking at the moment in Marsden can be difficult and it can get very congested.
- A specific request would be that, if planning impose any conditions as part of the development that these are enforced before the developer gets sign off. Previously, there was a condition put on by planning that access be made across the canal to the chemist, which was relocating, however this has never been done.
- Thanks to the officers for the work that they have done on this because this has been an impressively quick turnaround. As previously mentioned parking is one of the biggest issues and it is hoped that this can be dealt with as part of the planning application
- With regard to the pre-application submission, will there be an opportunity to have sight of that and feed it into planning because one of the few levers is going to be through the planning process?
- With reference to the information presented, why Marsden, because the issues caused by traffic, parking and unused property which impact on the quality of place, is the same argument that could be said for a number of other areas in the district?
- With regard to the membership of the Community Partnership Board, it was mentioned that the aim is to follow a similar approach taken with town boards, however, town boards includes the MP, therefore why is the MP as the elected representative for the Marsden area, not included in the Community Partnership Board membership?
RESOLVED:
a) That David Wildman, Simon Taylor and Cllr Graham Turner be thanked for providing an update on the Local Centres, Marsden.
b) The Panel recommends that the local MP for the Marsden area be included in the membership of the Community Partnership Board, and that this is reflected in the report that will be going to Cabinet.