Decision details

Gleadless Valley Masterplan

Decision Maker: Co-operative Executive

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Purpose:

This report aims to provide information on the draft Gleadless Valley masterplan proposals and seeks authority to consult on the draft proposals. This is not seeking authority for the final masterplan.

The masterplan work has now reached a stage where following co production with members and the community the proposals for regenerating the estate now need to be shared with all residents and stakeholders.

The proposals have been costed and the principles / projects have been agreed by the Gleadless Valley Member Steering Group and the Engagement Forum.   The masterplan will:

·       Provide a plan and series of improvements to deliver the agreed vision for Gleadless Valley that will stimulate the regeneration of this area

·       The area will see improvements across the main workstream areas:

ü  An additional 138 homes of high quality that will contribute to reductions in CO2 emissions

ü  Greater choice of types of homes, more homes with secure gardens, more supported housing for older people

ü  Well maintained maisonette blocks with higher thermal performance, secure and upgraded communal areas and modern waste facilities

ü  Green spaces that further enhance the parkland setting and build on the great work that stakeholders and residents have already done to promote bio diversity and protect ecology

ü  Additional play facilities for all age groups and better distributed across the valley

ü  Green space and landscape improvements that both provide better connectivity across the valley, provide focal points, private gardens where desired and community garden areas

ü  A range of initiatives to maximise training and employment opportunities through the delivery of the physical housing and public realm projects

ü  Improving the local centres

ü  Parking improvements and traffic calming in areas residents have identified as a concern

 

·       The improvements can be funded from existing resources and/or through identified Government grant programmes to ensure what is provided to this community can be delivered

·       Further work will be required over the years and close working arrangements will need to continue to improve Gleadless Valley for its residents and stakeholders operating in the area.  This further engagement will be invaluable to shape the District Centres, Health and Wellbeing, Employment & Skills Strategy.

·       The delivery plan will be overseen and further developed by the GV governance and ongoing community engagement, with input from the newly formed Local Area Committee for this area.

 

Feedback from the community on the proposals will enable the Council to decide the shape of the masterplan and what resources need to be committed to delivering the final plan.

The report further explains how and when the consultation on the masterplan will be undertaken and assumes a decision will be taken by the Council in March 2022 on how to proceed with the masterplan.  Alternatively as indicated in the recommendations dlay the consultation and a decision would not be taken before June 2022.

The plans have taken taking into consideration the current situation with Covid 19 but there is no scope to meet the March deadline should there be a lockdown or need to change the proposals.

Decision:

16.1

  1. To provide update information on the Gleadless Valley regeneration proposals including presentation of the draft Masterplan for inspection.

 

  1. To seek authority to consult the community on the draft proposals as set out in the Masterplan. The masterplan work has now reached a stage where, following co-production with members and the community, the proposals for regenerating the estate can be shared with all residents and stakeholders in order to take their informed views and opinions into a formal consultation process.

 

  1. To explain that the proposals have been costed and the principles / projects have been agreed by the Gleadless Valley Member Steering Group and the Engagement Forum.  
  2. To summarise the Masterplan proposes which in summary includes:

a.    A plan and a programme of improvements to deliver the agreed vision for Gleadless Valley that will stimulate the regeneration of this area.

b.    How the area will see improvements across the main workstream areas including:

                        i.         An additional 138 homes of high quality that will contribute to reductions in CO2 emissions

                        i.         Greater choice of types of homes, more homes with secure gardens and community gardens where desired, more supported housing for older people

                       ii.         Well maintained maisonette blocks with higher thermal performance, secure and upgraded communal areas and modern waste facilities

                      iii.         Green spaces that further enhance the parkland setting and build on the great work that stakeholders and residents have already done to promote biodiversity and protect ecology

                     iv.         Additional play facilities for all age groups and better distributed across the valley

                       v.         Green space and landscape improvements that both provide better connectivity across the valley, provide focal points, private gardens where desired and, community garden areas

                     vi.         A range of initiatives to maximise training and employment opportunities through the delivery of the physical housing and public realm projects

                    vii.         Improvements to the local centres

                   viii.         Addressing and facilitating improvements to the local centres

                     ix.         Parking improvements and traffic calming in areas residents have identified as a concern

 

  1. To explain how and when the consultation on the Masterplan will be undertaken and that a further report on the Masterplan will be brought forward in March 2022 provides a summary of the consultation feedback.

 

  1. To give assurance that consultation plans have taken into consideration the implications of Covid 19 and that should there be a further national lockdown how the plans for consultation may be impacted.

 

  1. To explain that consideration of the feedback from the community on the proposals will enable the Council to make further decisions and any appropriate modifications on the regeneration Masterplan and the resources required to be committed to delivering the final plan.

 

 

16.2

RESOLVED: That Co-operative Executive:-

 

Notes and approves:

 

  1. The draft Masterplan proposals as summarised in sections 6,7,8, and 9 and appended in its entirety in the closed part of the report;

 

  1. That the Masterplan proposals be shared with the residents of Gleadless Valley for the purposes of consultation as set out in that document;

 

  1. That the period of consultation with residents commences on 24th January 2022 and will continue until the expiry of 6 (six) weeks;

 

  1. That the Council shall commit to the “Timeline” set out in the Masterplan as to consideration of the feedback from consultation and completion thereafter of the final form of the regeneration Masterplan for launching later in 2022; and

 

  1. That a further report on the responses from the consultation and proposed final form of the regeneration Masterplan be brought back to the Co-operative Executive in March 2022.  The Council will then consider:

a.    the consultation feedback received,

b.    the proposed content of the Masterplan (modified as appropriate following consideration of consultation feedback) and

c.     the associated policy and cost implications for the Council.

 

 

16.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

16.3.1

The Council embarked on the masterplan work in 2017 following a grant bid submission to Government for Estate Regeneration Funding. A fundamental requirement of the grant bid and best practice in estate regeneration is that the communities affected should be engaged in the development and implementation of masterplans.  The Council has promised it would consult on the masterplan.

 

 

16.3.2

The proposals for the masterplan have now reached an advanced stage and have been co-produced with members and community. These proposals need to be shared widely and feedback invited so that the Council can reflect on the feedback and how it wishes to take this forward in the masterplan.

 

 

16.3.3

The outcomes of the consultation will be:

  1. All residents and stakeholders on Gleadless Valley have an opportunity to provide feedback
  2. Feedback will be received by the council, analysed, and shared with Council Members
  3. Members will reflect on the feedback and determine how the feedback should be used to refine the final Masterplan
  4. A final Masterplan will be published and presented to the Corporate Executive

 

 

16.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

16.4.1

Further delaying any consultation with the community at this time due to the increase in COVID infections until it is perceived that COVID 19 infections have reduced to an acceptable level.

 

Risk assessments have been undertaken relating to the activity of engagement and safeguards and a range of engagement options have been developed to address concerns. It is difficult to provide absolute certainty to the community as to when would be the right time given the nature of this public health risk. Delaying the consultation any further has a high risk of the community losing faith with the Council on this project as they have invested in this work and homes are in urgent need of improvement.

 

 

16.4.2

Abandon any plans to consult on the Masterplan.

 

The masterplan has been in development for over 4 years and was funded by a grant bid in 2017 to Government. If the plan was not consulted upon Sheffield City Council may be at risk at central government requesting that the grant be repaid under the grant conditions. The grant was £515,000 and repaying the grant would impact on other council services. This has been rejected.

 

 

16.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

 

 

 

None

 

 

16.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

 

 

 

None

 

 

16.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

 

 

 

Executive Director, Place

 

 

16.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

 

 

 

Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee

 

Report author: Jill Hurst

Publication date: 25/01/2022

Date of decision: 19/01/2022

Decided at meeting: 19/01/2022 - Co-operative Executive

Effective from: 01/02/2022

Accompanying Documents: