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Business leaders’ rallying call to ensure economic prosperity
Business leaders in and around Salisbury are calling for the nettle to be grasped over the city's pressing need for new employment land.
They warn that the local economy will decline, with businesses leaving and jobs disappearing, if this "critical" issue isn't tackled soon.
Peter Carson, Peter Le Count, Ian Newman, Ian Hudson and Mary Webb head up five organisations that represent the livlihoods of thousands of people in south Wiltshire.
All five have signed an open letter backing proposals for a major new business park on land between the Harnham Business Park and the Livestock Market to the south of the Netherhampton Road.
They see this as essential if the proposed redevelopment of the Churchfields Industrial Estate is to go ahead. The Salisbury Vision proposals for Churchfields sees the 81-acre (32.7 hectares) estate, which is a short walk from the city centre, transformed into a mixed-use scheme.
This could include a four-star hotel and conference centre, high quality offices and up to 500 homes, many of them affordable, where they are needed close to the city centre.
A number of firms could relocate to Harnham from Churchfields, as well as from along the A36 Southampton Road.
Inappropriately sited businesses which cause high levels of lorry traffic - currently a source of air and noise pollution in Salisbury - would be encouraged away from the city to be near main trunk roads.
Churchfields is the city's largest employment centre, with 4,500 people working for 165 firms.
But critics argue the site has grown piecemeal over some 40 years; it is poorly situated because there is no room for expansion due to the encircling River Nadder and railway line.
The open letter addressed to the district council and part of a public consultation on Churchfields' future is significant because it is from prominent local business leaders speaking with one voice.
Peter Carson is chairman of Salisbury and Stonehenge Tourism Partnership, Peter Le Count chairs the South Wiltshire Economic Partnership, Ian Newman chairs Salisbury City Centre Management, Ian Hudson is president of the Salisbury and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Mary Webb chairs the city branch of the Federation of Small Businesses.
They stated in the letter: "the identification, allocation and protection of land for employment use is a critical issue for Salisbury and south Wiltshire
"The importance of this to the economy of south Wiltshire and therby to the wellbeing of its residents cannot be overestimated.
"We must attract new businesses, create new jobs and remain competitive with our neighbouring towns and cities if we are to prosper and thrive.
"If we do not, the economy will decline, exisiting businesses will leave, jobs will disappear and the overall quality of life for our residents will deteriorate"
The business leaders acknowledge the concerns of some Harnham residents over increased traffic. And they accept that the development of the new business park would need to be accompanied by a traffic management plan for the area.
The letter also stated: "The redevelopment of the Churchfields Industrial Estate and the Southampton Road are key to the success of the Salisbury Vision and thus to the future prosperity of Salisbury and south Wiltshire"
Business leaders were responding to a public consultation document called Our Place in the Future: Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy Preferred Options.
The document provides a framework for the district council to guide future change in and around Salisbury over the next two decades and looks at wider issues than its Local Plan predecessor.
A total of 101 acres (41 hectares) of employment land has been proposed in the strategy's preferred options proposals.
The identified areas are at Harnham (46 acres; 18 hectares), Old Sarum (7 acres; 3 hectares), Fugglestone Red (24 acres; 10 hectares) and UKLF Wilton (24 acres; 10 hectares).
According to the letter, an estimated 86.5 acres (35 hectares) of employment land in or close to the city centre will be required over the next 20 years for expansion and inward investment.
This is in addition to the 74-96 acres (30-39 hectares) needed to relocate business from Churchfields and Southampton Road.
Out of a total of 148-183 acres (60-74 hectares) the LDF would need to include a provision for at least nine hectares of employment land in the first five years.
The letter was sent to David Milton, Team Leader, Forward Planning and Conservation, at Salisbury District Council.
The second stage of public consultation on the LDF is due to finish on Friday, 24 October, with submission to the Secretary of State scheduled for December 2008. The first consultation took place in February.
Market Place Competition attracts 46 expressions of interest
The Market Place Judging Panel.
Back row (from left to right);
Prof. Adrian Gale, Graham Gould, Cllr Peter Edge,
Ian Newman, Claire Smith, Alastair Clark.
Front row; Justine Leach, Linda Roberts
© Ron Wain / Deep South Media
The international design competition to breathe new life into Salisbury's Market Place has attracted 46 entries, with six shortlisted.
Architects and landscape architects from across Europe sent in their preliminary proposals to transform the public heart of the city.
The successful rejuvenation of the medieval Market Place and Guildhall square will provide a vibrant, welcoming place for residents and visitors while attracting new businesses and boosting existing ones.
Currently a car park on non-market days, the 2.4 acre Market Place, Guildhall square and Cheese Market forms one of the largest medieval public spaces of its kind in Western Europe.
The competition has been organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), which holds similar competitions up and down the country to improve the look and feel of cities and towns.
The shortlist of six designs was drawn up in Salisbury on September 24 by a judging panel made up of skilled practitioners and key interest groups.
Each of the shortlisted practices will now prepare concept drawings and designs together with supporting information.
These will be exhibited in Salisbury during January 2009, with residents and businesses invited to share their thoughts and views.
The winning design will be announced on February 26, subject to ratification by the district council's Cabinet.
Salisbury District Council and Wiltshire County Council are contributing £1.5 million each towards the cost of the scheme.
The new Wiltshire Council will be responsible for approving the implementation of the winning design. Work could begin during the first half of 2010.
Shortlisted practices:
Letts Wheeler Architects in association with Martin Stockley Associates and Wolfgang Butress: Nottingham and London
BPL Architecture with beswick:dix landscape architects: Gloucester
Gehl Architects and Landscape Projects: Denmark and Manchester
Rummey Design in association with Design Engine and Ramboll Whitybird: Kent and Winchester
Halcrow: Swindon
Land Use Consultants in association with Peter Randall-Page, Knox Bhaven, Spiers & Major, and Colin Buchanan & Partners: London
New horizons for Salisbury Vision
A DVD is being made showing how the medieval city of Salisbury is to be enhanced and protected as it moves into the 21st century.
The eight minute film, which will be available to groups and individuals online, is being produced by Richard Slee, a presenter who works for TV news broadcasters like Meridian and the BBC, and cameraman Steve Codling, a freelance cameraman from Dorset.
Graham Gould, Salisbury Vision’s project director, said: “We want to raise as much awareness as possible about how best to go about making our city an even better place to live, work and visit, and the DVD is part of that.
He added: “Salisbury will miss out on visitors and business investment if it sits on its hands and does nothing. Other regional players, like Southampton, Bournemouth, Winchester, Basingstoke and Andover, are all upping their game as they look at new ways of attracting footfall.”
The film will feature various aspects, including how the Maltings and Central Car Park could be transformed into a riverside retail and cultural centre with bars, restaurants, apartments and high-quality public space.
It also takes a look at the Churchfields Industrial Estate, which has grown piecemeal over 40 years to become home to 165 companies employing 4,500 people.
The A36 Southampton Road also comes into focus, with suggestions for improving the traffic flow, as well as the appearance by planting trees and shrubs.
International design competition to renew the heart of historic Salisbury
An international design competition to transform Salisbury's Market Place, the public heart of the historic city, has been launched.
The aim is to create a grand central square to rival any in Europe, helping Salisbury prosper as a destination city able to compete with other regional centres like Southampton, Winchester, Basingstoke and Bournemouth.
It is hoped the successful £3m renaissance of the medieval Market Place and Guildhall square will provide a vibrant, welcoming place for residents and visitors alike while at the same time attracting new businesses and benefiting existing ones.
The regeneration will be the first of 24 projects outlined in the Salisbury Vision.
The design competition launch by the district and county council is expected to attract entries from architects and landscape architects across the world. It has been organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
The winning consultant will also be asked to develop a public realm strategy for the city centre which will act as a guide and master plan for all public realm work.
The Salisbury Vision contains a number of important public realm projects, including the ehancement of the city's medieval chequers.
Once completed, the Market Place and Guildhall Square will act as a catalyst for development and for the delivery of the overall aims of the Salisbury Vision.
The budget for the scheme is £3m, split between the district and county council. Work on the winning design could begin during the second half of 2009.
Design competition timetable
Selection will take the form of a two-stage process, with stage one seeking expressions of interest by September 16, 2008.
A short list of up to six teams will be drawn up by a judging panel made up of skilled practitioners and key partners.
The concept designs will be exhibited in public during January 2009, with residents and businesses invited to share their thoughts and views.
The winning design will be announced on February 26, subject to ratification by the district council's Cabinet.
More information on the competition and the competition brief (which explains what you need to do to take part) can be found on the RIBA website.
Please contact RIBA directly if you have any enquiries about the competition:
RIBA Competitions Office,
6 Melbourne Street,
Leeds,
LE2 7PS.
tel:++44 (0) 113 2341335
fax: ++44 (0) 113 2460744
email: riba.competitions@inst.riba.org.uk
website: www.architecture.com/competitions
Information:
Contact details:
Telephone:
01722 434677
email:
vision@salisbury.gov.uk
Postal address:
Economic Development,
Salisbury District Council,
3 Rollestone Street,
Salisbury,
SP1 1DX
