Issue - meetings

Lancaster Square Routes

 

 

Meeting: 28/05/2013 - Cabinet (Item 6)

6 Lancaster Square Routes pdf icon PDF 125 KB

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hanson)

 

Report of the Head of Regeneration & Planning

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hanson)

 

Cabinet received a report from the Head of Regeneration & Planning to report on further project implementation to improve key streets and spaces within the city centre and request that the decision on the centrepiece for Market Square be deferred to the June meeting.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

 

The proposal made in the report followed extensive community engagement. It was based on design concepts approved by Cabinet, which the Council had made budgetary provision for in the General Fund Capital Programme. The ERDF investment award was towards specific deliverables and to a whole programme of improvements. It could not be drawn down if the scope of works was reduced significantly.   With this as the context, two options were presented. The difference between the two options concerned the centrepiece to Market Square. Option one included a single elevated structure as the centrepiece. Option 2 for a twin or divided structure. The plans and drawings in appendices 1 and 2 on the supplementary report refer.  The two options had very similar seating capacities and both could be used for impromptu and informal performances.

 

Option 1

 

To implement the proposal set out in section 2.0 of the report with a centrepiece to Market Square comprising a single elevated structure (as per the option 1 drawings in Appendix 1).

 

Advantages

 

A full renewal of the length of Cheapside, Horseshoe Corner and Penny Street can be achieved in 2013/14 to a much higher specification than the county council could otherwise afford.

The Lancaster Square Routes concept proposal for Market Square can be delivered in full by September 2014, including part of Market Street.

The option represents a large investment for the city council with upwards of £2 of external investment secured for every £1 invested by the city council. Investments of this magnitude are hard won and unlikely to be available again.  

The proposal will give a better environment for trading in the established commercial and retail centre of the city. This should help the competitiveness of Lancaster centre with other centres and drive footfall.

It will complement the Castle and Canal Corridor North developments should these come on stream.

Market Square itself will be better laid out to support an improving Charter market. On non market days the improvements will be convivial for quiet enjoyment and best designed to accommodate events and a range of performances. The effect should be that at many times the Square becomes a much more vibrant place,

 

The proposal makes it possible for the city council and the Arts Partnership to grow Market Square as a venue of choice for certain types of performance and events.

 

Specific re. the centrepiece

Is wholly consistent with the agreed concept design for Market Square, with the first phase completed last year.

Centrepiece is multi-purpose as it can be used as seating and as staging for performances.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6