Infrastructure Planning
Businesses and industry across Worcestershire
need the right conditions to grow. They require reliable
infrastructure to transport people, goods and information. The
communities of Worcestershire will also require access to health,
education, leisure and green networks, and emergency services in
order to ensure an enviable and safe quality of life. This requires
investment physical and social infrastructure as the population of
the County increases.
Historically, investment in infrastructure was
financed by both the public and private sector, but with limited
public sector funding available over the next few years it is
especially important that this investment is coordinated and
integrated to ensure the right infrastructure is provided at the
right time. Carefully planned infrastructure investment should help
rebalance the economy and provide the right conditions in which
business and industry can grow.
About us
The level of infrastructure investment required is dependent
upon the level of housing, employment, population and economic
growth and the levels of existing under provision of infrastructure
in some parts of the county.
The role for Worcestershire County Council is to specify what
infrastructure is needed, what the key barriers are to achieving
investment and to help mobilise the resources, both public and
private, to make it happen.
Over the last few years the County Council have been busy
starting to gather this evidence.
|
Infrastructure Study
In 2008 Worcestershire County Council commissioned Baker
Associates to identify the infrastructure requirements arising from
the development targets set out in the Regional Spatial Strategy
(RSS) Phase Two Preferred Option report.
The report identified the existing capacity of infrastructure (a
baseline) and then assessed the impacts of additional development
on the requirement for infrastructure. The study also sought to
provide an indicative cost for additional infrastructure required
as a result of development and to identify funding mechanisms and
responsibility for delivery.
In order to identify the potential costs of
the infrastructure provision, the consultants had to take into
account where development is likely to take place during the period
of the WMRSS. To do this they used the information on possible
development locations around the county set out in the emerging
District Core Strategies, after discussion with District Council
Officers.
These possible locations are of course subject
to amendment as the Core Strategies progress through the planning
system and as such are not 'set in stone'. It is important to note
therefore that the study only represents a snapshot in time.
The key conclusions of the study are:
- For the period of the WMRSS to 2026 the total cost if
infrastructure provision for the county is approximately £820
million.
- Of this amount transport infrastructure will require £526
million and social infrastructure £294 million.
- It is estimated that both secured funding and money from all
funding bids (if successful) would together provide approximately
£199 million
- It is estimated that money secured from Developer Contributions
could potentially provide £452 million.
- This would leave a funding deficit over the period to 2026 of
approximately £168 million.
- The funding deficit is at its greatest during the earlier
period of the revision process (2006-2021).
Main Report
Important Note: Addendum April 2009
Following further review of the study into the Infrastructure
requirements within Worcestershire to 2026 arising from Phase Two
Review of the West Midlands RSS Preferred Option, March 2009, a
number of changes to the tables within the report have be made. In
reading the report it is important therefore that this addendum is
read in parallel.
Appendix 1 Development Options Map
Maps of potential locations for growth are available:
Appendix 2 Transport Infrastructure Maps
Infrastructure Study Update December 2010
Since the Baker Study was
commissioned, the change in government has resulted in the
revocation of the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) and thus the
development targets on which the infrastructure study was based
upon. Local Authorities now have the autonomy to set their own
development targets. The Worcestershire districts are currently
reviewing their development targets in light of new arrangements,
however a full picture of targets across Worcestershire is not
expected until later in 2011.
In the interim it is
important for the Council to continue updating the information held
on infrastructure, and is currently working on a revised baseline
report which will also set out standards and trigger points for new
infrastructure. This work will form the first stage of an updated
Infrastructure Requirements study and is expected to be published
early 2011.
If you are an infrastructure
provider or a member of business community and would like to get
more information on infrastructure provision or think you can help
define infrastructure requirements in the future please contact the
Strategic Planning Team on 01905 763763. Your
views would be extremely helpful in updating the Infrastructure
Requirements Study.
|
This page was last reviewed 24 November 2011 at 15:47.
The page is next due for review 22 May 2013.