1. Art and Diseño

Peterhead Indicative Town Centre Action Plan Update September 2014
OBJECTIVE
1.1
PROJECT
LEAD
Business Growth and Enterprise - Enable private sector initiative through BIDS / Local innovation funds. Proactive marketing of council properties will
test the theory of central business district and decisions on the opportunities made by March 2015.
Test office
Print in October –
Property
Develop prospectus as a key promotional Draft prospectus drawn up and agreed £5,000
space and
continual assessment
tool for all internal vacant sites in with Property and the selling agent for
commercial
until buildings sold.
Peterhead.
the currently available property. Final
demand
layout being agreed with the design
team to allow printing in the by the end
of November.
1.2
Enterprise
Growth
1.3
Review Council
wide Bid Policy
ACTION
PROGRESS
Test Demand through various targeted
contacts and networks
The market has proved reasonably
buoyant with interest in the council
properties.
TIMESCALE
Property
Property
Gather Data on the availability and
affordability of premises
Assess interest in enterprise partnership,
following on from the pilot project in
Fraserburgh
Research will be carried out into Business
Improvement Districts and a paper
recommending whether Aberdeenshire
Council should support a BID will be
presented to ISC
BUDGET
Extensive Scottish wide research has
been carried out into the effectiveness
of BIDs. The research paper went to
the regeneration strategy group in
March. A paper was then presented
with the recommendation of reversing
council policy on BIDS to one of support
in April and was approved by ISC in
May. Information and guidance has
been developed for the council website.
Written guidelines are in place for any
business community interested in
March 2015
Economic
Development
P&R June/
Date for Aberdeenshire
workshop to be set
Audrey
Michie –
Town Team
1.4
Community
Capacity
Building
Initiate processes to develop committed
community groups.
Facilitate the involvement of a Youth
Forum to ensure young people have a
voice in the regeneration of their town
centre.
instigating a BID. Information will go out
through
Retail
forums
and
retail/business associations throughout
Aberdeenshire. Specific to Peterhead it
will be on the Business forum agenda
and has gone out to the Peterhead
business association. An Aberdeen
wide BIDs workshop will be organised
in partnership with Highlands and
Moray.
A community forum for all community
groups is in the process and will link
together
with
a
youth
forum.
Community ownership is paramount
and this has been a slight stumbling
block.
£3,000
November 2014
Community
Forum
supported by
Heather
Barclay
/Steph Swales
Key stakeholders include Theatre
Modo, Princess Trust and Aberdeen
Foyer,
Peterhead
Projects
and
Peterhead Civic Society and council
CLD colleagues and relationships are
being
developed
with
these
stakeholders.
The town team are
working closely with community
planning to establish a youth forum.
2.
2.1
Better Balanced Retail offer – the tone of the town centre offer is visibly improved through good quality retail and food service offering. 5 new businesses
created in the town centre.
Professionalise PR campaign to celebrate successful Partnership between retail forum and
Timescales
to
be Retail forum/
the profile of independent retail and food businesses and Buchanie, including Shop Local week.
confirmed
by
the Buchanie
retail and food highlight the skill and professionalism Heather has been working closely
Buchanie
supported by
service sector
Heather
with Morag from the Buchanie who
involved
Barclay
will attend the retail forums to offer
2.2
Develop
and
promote
a
career path at
schools.
Engage with national retail organisations to
develop career path publications and work
with education providers on enterprise
initiatives
to
prospect
potential
entrepreneurs and enable their progression.
Identify local business owners who are
willing to mentor or advise young people
considering a retail or food service career.
Develop a partnership with the Prince’s
Trust to promote their business grant
scheme to young entrepreneurs.
2.3
2.4
Encourage new
independent
businesses
Arbuthnot
House
Engage those interested and develop ideas
through learning journeys / specialist group
mentoring and mainstream Business
Gateway support.
Investigate the formation of a mentoring
group made up from local business people
willing to share their expertise.
Work with current partners in Business
Gateway to accelerate and build quality and
viability in new retail propositions
Assess as part of portfolio marketing of
possible clustering of independents or as
support to the local retailers and will
assist in highlighting the importance of
retail and shop local.
Progress has been made on a joint
project with Banff to enable a
partnership with NESCOL in order to
propose a project with various phases
which will allow the retail and catering
sectors to be emphasised in schools.
NESCOL
re-organisation
and
summer holidays has delayed
progress.
This will be established through the
retail
forum
and
through
communications with the business
association. The Peterhead retail
forum has been initiated and further
meetings coordinated.
Communication has been made with
the Prince’s Trust, once the youth
forum is set up, we will look for
complimentarities.
Due to action required in summer
months on Aldi site Gateway and
seagulls, this action has been
delayed.
This will be on the agenda of the first
retail forum.
£10,000
Develop Partnerships by
October
2014,
Test
initiative for 9 months
and review successes
for continuation
Partnership
with NESCOL/
Academy
supported by
Economic
Development
Retail forum
£10,000
Initiate project by March
2015
Prince’s
Trust/
Economic
Development
Economic
Development
Economic
Development
Economic
Development
Arbuthnot House is currently being
marketed and a verbal offer received.
The selling agent is obtaining more
Property
directed through the proactive planning
process.
Building on previous Mary Portas master
classes, offer one to one mentoring to
improve viability of the business and
perceptions of town centre quality.
details on the proposed use and
timescales.
Successful scheme in Fraserburgh
and Banff have stimulated interest.
The Retail forum meetings organised
in September confirmed demand and
project approved by Peterhead
Futures Group. The expansion of the
scheme in Fraserburgh has affected
tender value and therefore additional
approvals need to be sought.
Investigating
possibilities
via
NESCOL
and
Chamber
of
Commerce.
2.5
One to one
mentoring offer
for
existing
businesses
2.6
Investigate
food service
gaps and
promote as
opportunities
3.
Secure the Regeneration or Reuse of High Profile Sites and Buildings - Focal Areas improved and utilised creating greater vibrancy and
Market Research and publicise results,
engaging with NESCOL as appropriate.
£6,000
P& R – January 2015 for
February start
Economic
Development
–
Heather
Barclay
£12,000
Nov 2014
Partnership
between
NESCOL,
Audrey
Michie,
Heather and
Elizabeth
Mathie
community feeling around the centre
3.1
Council
properties
disposal
strategy
Market testing with proactive marketing
support. Ongoing review on demand and
tailor action accordingly. Prepare ghost
planning applications and consents if
necessary.
Discussed regularly at Peterhead
Futures Group. Interest being shown
in most properties with one verbal
offer received (See Arbuthnot House
above). Two parties are showing keen
interest
in
53
Windmill
Street/Glenugie Business Centre and
there is some interest in 60 Broad
Street.
Prospectus is being
completed.
Ghost
planning
applications are not being pursued at
this stage until level of interest and
possible uses are established.
£4,000
Property
3.2
Stimulate
business and
community
innovation
3.3
Town centre
first approach
3.4
Utilisation and
vibrancy for
broad Street.
Facilitate community events and utilise
empty spaces.
3.5
Identify priority
projects from 4
towns study for
proactive
planning
approach and
progress
accordingly
through
partnership
approach
Community
Capacity
building
3.6
This is being progressed through
background research and will be
further developed in line with
community forums in Peterhead and
Banff / Macduff.
Discussion at Regeneration Strategy
Group but further cross service
conversations required before taking
forward. Paper to be developed for
discussion at all Area Committees
and P&R.
Muckle Market project approved.
Further work through community
forum.
£3,000
November 2014
Retail
Forum/Comm
unity Forum
supported by
Heather
Economic
Development
– led by
Audrey
Michie
£8,000
On going
1st priorities:
Broad Street – business hub
Chapel Street development
Town Centre Community Hub
2nd Priorities:
Drummers Corner youth activities and
entertainment.
Market interest in available properties
is being gauged to assess appetite for
office use in Broad Street.
Chapel Street access is developing
and work is due to start on the chapel
street flats.
Initial conversations over Drummers
Corner have taken place and project
to develop during November.
£275,000
Community
Forum/
Business
Forum
supported by
Heather
Barclay
Property with
Economic
Development
and Planning
Develop and implement a process relevant
to the town centre which will stimulate
communities to become active and
empowered.
Several meetings have taken place
and plans developed although the
capacity of existing key organisations
such as Peterhead Projects and
Peterhead Civic Society requires to
be stable before significant progress
£3,000
November 2014 ongoing
A partnership
will be set up
between
Peterhead
Projects and
the Civic
Create depository of ideas, best practice and
contacts for potential community projects
and follow up support through project officer.
Investigate best practice visits if necessary
can be made. Possible Community
Council involvement.
3.7
Local
innovation
Fund
3.8
Seagull
Nuisance
3.9
4.
4.1
£75,000
£15,000
Create youth and general fund to empower
community and stimulate innovation from
individuals,
business
groups
and
communities to utilise empty spaces and
develop interest and vision in their town.
Investigate ways of reducing seagull
nuisance and report back to community.
Dates can be set once
the Governing body is
created.
Phase 1 - June 2014 –
Following increasing health and
safety issues a successful project was
Phase 2 Jan-April 2015
delivered to disperse gulls by a hawk.
This activity attracted strong press
interest and provided excellent
opportunities for education on litter
and feeding gulls. A project proposal
will be put to the Futures Group at the
start of the year for a partnership with
the businesses on egg removal and
Hawk patrolling. This project will be
initiated by Environmental Health with
support from Heather Barclay.
Artistic
Softening areas where the largest problems Draft proposals have been developed
interventions
exist.
and discussed by the Peterhead
Futures Development Group including
community involvement and well
renowned artists. No consensus on
the proposals has yet been agreed.
Access & Visibility – Every member of the community is familiar with and has access to the town centre offering
Image and
Promotion
Mi Peterhead to be evaluated and
continuation discussed and agreed.
Match funding for joint promotional
campaigns
An evaluation incorporating input from
over 40 businesses was conducted
leading to an improvement project
being approved. The mi Peterhead
ambassador has been recruited,
which
has
led
to
increased
£7,000
March 2014
Society
supported by
Heather
Governing
body created
from the
Community
Forum
Environmenta
l Health /
support from
Heather
Barclay
Community
Planning / Be
Part of the
Picture
Economic
Development
– Heather
Barclay
Digital assistant project to work with
businesses on social media visibility and
promotions etc.
4.2
Car park,
access and
pends
Review of property proposition document
widened and promoted
Investigate potential for a public relations
and branding campaign to change the
town’s image as a hard and uncompromising
place, highlight its strong community values
and address perceptions of crime.
Investigate existing brands including
Energetica and Be Part of the Picture.
Signage review to ensure clear route into
town centre and ease of access to car
parking areas. Provision of town centre plan
in key car parks and at Drummers corner.
Car parking and access review in liaison with
Peterhead Business Forum and Roads
Service
Pends leading to main shopping areas
should be inviting well lit and safe.
engagement and more promotions.
Heather has been working with
Richard from miconnex to ensure that
any issues fed back from the retailers
are looked into. We will invite the
digital ambassador to the next town
team meeting in order to discuss joint
promotions and the communication of
events. These can be communicated
to the businesses through the retail
forum as well as through the
ambassador.
£8,500
Communication has begun with the
Energetica team in order to market
the vacant properties. Ideas for a
branding campaign will be sought
from the retail and community forums.
Progress on Chapel Street reopening
has been made. Derek Murray to
propose a plan to the Futures Group
on new Town Centre Signage.
£20,000
December 2014
Economic
Development
Area committee report
May, New Car parking
policy prices in place
Novemeber 2014
Robert
McGregor/Der
ek Murray
Heather has spoken to Mark Skilling,
with regards to parking and signage.
A meeting is scheduled for late
October (in dark) with the relevant
officers to discuss and plan
improvements to town centre lighting
around chapel street, drummers
corner and the pends.
Walk Round Late
October/ proposal to
Futures Group November
Mark
Skilling/Derek
Murray
Audrey
Michie/Derek
Murray/Angus
McKiver/ Ian
Tillet
4.3
Heritage Trail
Liaise with public transport providers to
ensure easy access to information on
timetables and services
As part of Peterhead’s role as cycle
demonstration town provide secure facilities
for pushbikes in carparks and key locations.
Develop interest and awareness of key town
centre sites, giving Peterhead an attraction
to use to encourage footfall around the town
centre.
4.4
Improve tone of
gateways to the
town centre
5.
5.1
Town centre Living
Temporary
boundary
improvements
to
Aldi
site
A review of the buses will be
completed following the opening of
chapel street.
A £30,000 project has been
developed and match funding
sourced. A heritage steering group
has been formed with community
members with a heritage interest.
Social media has also been used to
encourage
further
engagement.
Through the procurement procedure a
supplier has been contracted. Due to
the timescales of this process and the
gathering of information the project
has been slightly delayed and new
deadlines of October have been set.
The signs have been chosen through
the steering group and the information
for the blades and the website is in the
process of being finalised. A sponsor
package still needs to be put together
for phase 2 of the project to gain extra
funds for the website and augmented
visual apps.
A proposal was approved for high
quality sports images to be inserted
on the Aldi boundary. Peterhead
academy and Jog Scotland were
consulted
and
the
project
implemented within a short timescale.
£15,000
October
£10,000
Heritage
Steering
group
supported by
Heather
Barclay
Economic
Development
- Heather
Barclay
Encourage
more people to
live in the town
centre by
improving
housing quality
and choice and
encouraging
development of
retail and food
outlets to
support a good
town centre
lifestyle.
Work with developers to identify suitable
premises for conversion of existing buildings
to loft apartments, flats and town houses.
Carry out market research to identify gaps in
the business mix required to support more
town centre homes (i.e food outlets, cafes
and restaurants etc.)
Proposals have been discussed
relating to the Caley buildings with
input on market situation for selfcatering apartments.