Stroud Place Partnering Visit - The Academy of Urbanism

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The Academy of Urbanism | Place Partnering | Stroud |

Place PartneringDiagnostic Visit

Stroud3 4 November 2011


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Contents

Background

Local Context

Diagnosis

Recommendations

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

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The Academy of Urbanism70 Cowcross Street

LondonEC M 6EJ

[email protected] +44 (0) 20 725 8777academyofurbanism.org.uk


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The Academys Place Partnering programme offers places selected as nalists in the AcademysGreat Places awards the expertise and experience of Academicians to help them tackle obstacles

to longer-term and broader success. It is offered as a diagnostic service, to help, encourageand challenge the diverse interests that in uence the success of places to recognise and tackle

the issues and oppor tunities that are of greatest impor tance. (A copy of the prospectus for participating places is at Appendix two.)

The visit to Stroud was initiated by representatives of community/business groups in the townkeen to see the momentum achieved in relation to current projects maintained and broadened.In early conversations with the Academy, local representatives recognised the potential value of an independent perspective on the many and diverse activities and initiatives by which the town isbecoming recognised to help focus and prioritise the energy and resources of public bodies, localgroups and individuals.

Aware of the range of initiatives and projects already running in the town, the Academy suggested that a preparator y meeting be held to draw together local perspectives as far as possible intodiscrete areas of interest to help the Academy Panel to direct its attention and advice as ef ciently and effectively as possible.

Aware also of tension between some of the community-based organisations and the statutory authorities, the Academy discussed the proposed visit with of cial and elected representatives of Stroud District Council (SDC). This helped to establish a broader understanding of the issues inadvance of the visit, and secure the active par ticipation of SDC and Stroud Town Council.

The visit was on and 4 November 20 . The Academy Panel comprised a chairman, arappor teur, and three panel members. They met a total of 20 representatives from the DistrictCouncil and local organisations. The people involved are listed in Appendix One. All the sessionswere open, and the presentations by, and questioning by the Panel of, all those who par ticipatedwas in open session. In the interest of continuing open discussion, opinions and positions are notdirectly attributed, and this report re ects the tone and intention of what was said by all.

The conversations we had were friendly and helpful. They were also rigorous and challenging.Panel members, through a total of 2 hours of intensive engagement with Stroud representatives,gained a suf cient understanding of circumstances to offer a reasoned assessment of therelationship between the various perspectives and objectives, and their chances of a successfuloutcome. The conduct and productivity of the Panel sessions were widely acknowledged by thoseinvolved, and we trust this repor t will be similarly received. The Academy wants to ensure that itsinvolvement is helpful, and will present its diagnosis locally, if invited, at the appropriate time.

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Background.


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The Academy of Urbanism | Place Partnering | Stroud | 5

Strouds history is well-documented and remarkable. Its character as an industrial centre on theedge of the Cotswold, with many mills served by the streams of the ve valleys, is now little more

than historic, but it retains a diverse economy that has protected it (so far) from the worst of therecession.

Over the past generation it has attracted a large number of new residents drawn by its remarkablephysical character and location, its relative affordability within a high proper ty value area, and thepublicity of its radical politics, creative industry and sustainable lifestyle.

While its external reputation may be in uenced to a large extent by the activities of these

incomers, there is a settled traditional population too. It seems that this sector of the community is not as actively involved in local public life. This is not unusual, but it seems to be par ticularly so inStroud, perhaps because of the large number and diversity of groups and issues being thrashed outin public.

Its physical environment is characterised by its proximity to the open countryside that is visiblefrom just about every point in the town. The valley setting in uences the layout of the settlementas well as the transport links that connect its various communities and the town as a whole to thewider world. These remarkable natural characteristics dominate the built environment. Although

there are many ne historic buildings, re ecting past prosperity and impor tance, and attractiveformal and incidental green spaces, the town does not have the physical qualities that some of itsneighbours boast.

That in part re ects the modest economy of the town and income of its residents. The issue led to the commissioning of a Public Realm Strategy in 2008, that provided a comprehensive analysisof the potential for improving the physical character of the town. The fact that this strategy hasnot been adopted formally, or been followed by an implementation plan, re ects perhaps therelatively low priority attached to it by the community as a whole, and the lack of resources, bothpublic and private, available to implement it.

That is not to say there is no interest. Quite the reverse. There is a plethora of groups and

individuals pressing the case for speci c projects. These tend however to be self-contained andself-motivated. The Panel noted that some of the people and groups attending the Panel sessionshad not met recently, or in some cases, ever.

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Local context2.


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The diversity of interests and the need for a co-ordinated approach to planning the future of Stroud is re ected in the different ways that issues were combined in preparation for the Panelsvisit. Since the visit was rst mooted we have been offered perspectives based on projects,on economic sectors and on communities of interest. In the end, we heard from individualsspeaking for themselves, from groups promoting projects or lifestyle choices, and from electedrepresentatives and public of cials. This diversity of engagement was quickly recognised by thePanel as one of the principal characteristics of Stroud; a strength and a challenge.

We present our analysis and assessment of Strouds condition under two headings communityand projects . This re ects the Panels perception of these as the de ning features of Stroud today,and the order re ects the importance that those to whom we spoke seem to give them. Thediagnosis offered is agreed by all members of the Panel; there was no dissent on any of the issueswe address in this report.

Community

From the outset, the local people we met acknowledged the divide between those that wereactively engaged in shaping the future of Stroud, and those that werent. They also recognised

that this generally re ected a distinction between incomers, who are very strongly representedamong the activists, and native Stroudies, the great majority of whom seldom get involved. Whenwe explored the signi cance of this, those to whom we spoke felt that while broader par ticipationwould be a good thing, it was not a major issue or constraint. A number of people referred toa community planning exercise in 996 that had engaged a large number around 400 people

and had some subsequent success, not least in securing the towns cinema (while the buildingis generally acknowledged to be pretty dreadful, the facility is highly appreciated). Since 996, itseems that participation has been patchy, but that community activity, and indeed activism, hasincreased signi cantly among a minority with strong links to wider political, environmental, businessand cultural networks.

Strouds current reputation for local activism and community enterprise has grown since the

sit-in around 980 to protect buildings in the High Street threatened by demolition. The latestis the campaign against the new gyratory system introduced with the new A46 bridge over thecanal. The rapid deployment of local opinion backed up with expert suppor t may be representedeither as an over-reaction to necessary traf c management changes, or as interest and positiveengagement of the community in improvements to their town. We will return to this later.

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Diagnosis.


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For a town the size of Stroud (around 0,000 with its contiguous valley settlements) the number of groups representing issues, projects and cultural and creative activities is remarkable. This re ects theunusual level of activism and creativity among its population and the energy this generates for localactivity. Some of this is directed at the local economy, some at the environment and some at thepromotion of national and global effor ts to improve our quality of life and global sustainability. Thatenergy is harnessed and co-ordinated to some extent by pan-Stroud and pan-global groups such asStroud Town Council, Stroud Chamber of Commerce and Trade, Stroud Commonwealth and TransitionTowns. The Panel felt that it could still be more ef ciently directed and used with a better prioritisationand co-ordination of projects and issues. There seems to be a tendency for each new issue to spawn anew group to pursue it. Using existing groups and networks could be more ef cient and effective. Wewill return to this too.

The propensity for direct engagement by local people has strengthened the differentiation between the activists and democratically elected bodies, in particular the District and Town Councils. Although there have been some good examples of cooperation, such as the securing of a cinema for the town,both sides tend to characterise the other negatively. The local authorities tend to be considered slowand unimaginative by theactivists, who may in turnbe seen as obstructive andbelligerent by the Councils.The Place Partnering Panelsessions began to shift thefocus to the energy resourceprovided by the activists,

and the access to resourcesand statutory powers of theCouncils. A greater willingness

to work with the strengthsof the statutory and informalapproaches to improvingStroud could make a hugedifference. See later.

The non-statutory groupshave a further dimension,which can perhaps mostclosely be de ned asspirituality. Not necessarily in

the religious sense although this is historically an area rich in non-conformism but the commitment of groups and individuals toimproving the quality of life in Stroud connects to ethical principles that are of increasing interest to agrowing constituency. The spread of this among the residents of Stroud may be dif cult to discern, butis important to visitors who may be inspired or just intrigued by its representation in places, in art andcrafts, and in festivals and other events.

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The Panel heard of the impressive efforts being made by Stroud College to promote positive socialattitudes as well as academic and vocational skills. Its ambitions are impressive. The role of the Collegein promoting a broader engagement in the towns cultural and geo-political activities could exploit thepossibly reducing distinction between Stroudies and incomers among young people, as was suggested

to the Panel during the evening session of its visit.

The strong relationship between the College and the adjacent Museum will be an important addition to the range of activities available to visitors as well as local people. Their location outside the towncentre may reduce its attraction to visitors, although better pedestrian links could help.

Both institutions have experimented with activities in the town centre, with mixed success. The Panelfelt this was worth pursuing.

Visitors are an increasingly important part of the Stroud community. The town has not been a traditional destination for tourists visiting this par t of England, and does not have the romantic andhistoric character of Roman Cirencester, medieval Tetbury or Regency Cheltenham, but its growingnumber of distinctive lifestyle projects and businesses are interesting to domestic and overseas visitorsdesperate for new sights and experiences. The Stroud Special rail service piloted by First Great

Western in 20 is evidence of the growing recognition of Stroud as a destination. The tourist offer in the wider area of the Cotswolds is come and see our streets; our buildings; our countryside; our historic sites. The offer from Stroud to come and see us, is really distinctive.

Strouds festivals, such as the International Textile Festival, have a growing reputation. The energy of the bodies and individuals associated with them suggests that if more space were available in the town

centre, there would be no shortage of takers. The District Council expressed a desire to see theSub Rooms better used and stronger links to the Museum could be re-opened. Closer co-operationbetween agencies, ar tists, performers and the Town and District Councils would improve local culturalprovision and stimulate further creative and visitor-orientated enterprises. Council resources for additional staff are not likely to be signi cant, but higher pro le activities offer potential for localcommercial sponsorship, particularly as there are a variety of creative and arts-based enterprises locally.This could further raise the pro le of Stroud as a signi cant business location and opportunity for investment.

Strouds markets are also drawing visitors from increasing distances. With virtual shopping and digitalentertainment increasingly common, the opportunity to combine the appreciation of diverse arts andcreative activities, with shopping for locally produced food and items, provides a positive theme for local co-operation.

The focus of the Panel was on the centre of Stroud, and the wider settlement by association. Stroudand the ve valleys includes many places with which local people identify as discrete places, such asThrupp and Chalford. While insularity of communities will not help to promote greater engagementin the activities of Stroud, the positive aspects of this local identity has to be accommodated in theidentity of Stroud as a whole, and celebrated as a characteristic of the town. The various organisationsand events could acknowledge this better. The contiguous Parish Councils of Brimscombe and Thrupp,Chalford, Bisley, Rodborough, Painswick and Cainscross all have a border with Stroud Town and shouldshare in promoting greater Strouds character and attractions. Thrupp and Chalfords membership of

the Canals Consultative Group is an example.

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Tourism will inevitably take advantage of Strouds remarkable setting within an Area of OutstandingNatural Beauty. Strouds countryside is seen by some as its second most important asset. To visitors

that is de nitely going to be the case. We will consider the potential for visitor accommodation in the town later, but accommodation consistent with new-age, alternative, spiritual lifestyle aspirations isalready being served by rural accommodation whether farm B&B, country hotels or cabin/yurt-basedglamping. These will be increasingly important and valuable in the future.

Stroud is not a prosperous town, but its diverse economy has protected it from the worst effectsof the recession. The Panel did not discern a strong desire among statutory or other bodies for

the regeneration and growth that seems to obsess many communities. Stroud seems to be pretty comfortable with itself, without being in any way complacent. Renishaw and Ecotricity are establishedin, and seem to be committed to, the Stroud area. They are growing highly skilled and high added-valuebusinesses in sectors with substantial growth potential. They may attract similar and complementary businesses to the area in time, if suitable sites and premises are available.

The Pangolin Art Foundry is the largest and best known arts related business in the area, but thereare many others. These are, with a few exceptions, small businesses and independent ar tists andcraftspeople, but they help

to give Stroud a distinctiveeconomic pro le that isre ected in the shopping andcommerce of the town. Thereis scope for raising this pro le.

The strength of alternativeand new age attitudes isre ected in the types of businesses. The Panel heardof co-operatives, community interest companies, co-ownership schemes, a LETS(Local Exchange TradingSystem), and a TransitionTowns initiative. These may not generate great wealth,but they will strengthen theresilience of the local economy to the uncertain times ahead. Established community enterprisesmay offer models for other communities to follow, and Stroud may attract interest from other placesseeking to follow its example.

Strouds variety of festivals could be better co-ordinated and marketed, and the Panel heard of restricted and inadequate venues. The Panel heard calls for a publicly-funded Arts DevelopmentOf cer. That may be dif cult in the current straitened times, but with all the voluntary energy owingaround Stroud, a greater willingness among the diverse agencies to work together and offer mutualsupport may be suf cient. We make some suggestions later about facilities, but festival promotion andmanagement is an area where the organisations involved might be able to work more closely together.

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Projects

Some projects that triggered community-based action in Stroud are now well-established WithyesYard, the Farmers Market, Shambles Market, Made in Stroud, the Stroud International Textile Festival andmany others. Others are relatively new The Weave and The Stroud Special, are in their developmentstages. The largest is the Stroudwater Canal project. That such an ambitious project, to ultimately re-connect the Severn and the Thames, should have got to the stage it has with the rst phaseapproaching completion, and the second stage with funding close to being secured is a testament to

the tenacity of the community, the statutory authorities and the funding agencies. Completion may be along way off, but the project has now generated its own momentum, and successive stages will becomeeasier. The possibility of attracting major investment from water companies with the potential for water

transfer via the canal has been around for at least 20 years. That may suggest it is either not achievableor just too complicated, but whether it takes 0 years or 0 years, the Panel expects the project tosustain public and institutional interest. In the meantime, the restored water space will provide a publicfacility and a setting for new development.

The development sites on the south facing slope between the Station and the canal (the McGee siteand the former wharf) offer the opportunity for distinctive and well-designed buildings at the maingateway to the town centre. The Panel heard ideas for a hotel, pub and public space which could begood, depending on the quality of development. Stroud will have to be realistic. The location next to amajor road junction is unlikely to attract an upmarket boutique hotel, and a two/three-star budget hotelis unlikely to create the ambience that would meet the aspirations of local interests for this importantsite.

Those objecting to the layout of the new gyratory associated with the restoration of the canal and the realignment of the A46 have already prepared a plan showing how better use could be made of associated public space. A more radical approach could accommodate additional development toscreen the canal side from the road traf c and create higher quality public spaces and facilities. Thiswould have greater impact if the oppor tunity were taken to relocate Travis Perkins and redevelop thatoppor tunity site between the canal and the main road. All these sites, plus the Brimscombe Port site,could then have the critical mass necessary to transform the environment and setting of the canal andreduce the dominance of the roads. The Panel did not have the opportunity to question the County Council, but it seems that the scope for improvement to this par t of town could have been exploitedbetter when the road improvements were carried out if there had been greater local involvement anda little more imagination.

The canal project is already spawning others, such as the Visitors Centre and the Lockkeepers Caf. Theimminent occupation of the adjacent former Stroud and Swindon Building Society building by Ecotricity will add to the impetus for fur ther change in this area. The establishment of the Stroud Against theGyratory group was both a re ection of the strength of local feeling regarding what is a pretty prosaic

traf c management scheme, and a potential source of energy for achieving something better. Closer co-operation with the County Councils Highways team could yet secure space for new development andbetter pedestrian and cycle routes into the town centre.

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The Stroud Farmers Market is now an institution rather than a project, with a regional if not nationalreputation. It remains a Saturday morning only event however, and there should be scope for extendingits duration and capacity to cover a wider range of sustainable produce and products. The locationand design of the market facility are sub-optimal, and there may be scope for some adaptation,better signage and improved links with other par ts of the town. Markets have become a fashionableaddition to the retail offer of many towns, and many are copies of each other. Stroud can claim better-established credentials, and with its existing traders, organisations and their contacts, it should be able

to attract more traders with a distinctive offer in food, ar t and crafts that could sustain more marketdays.

The public realm strategy for the town centre prepared four years ago goes well beyond the physical treatment of public spaces and covers land use matters and development oppor tunities. It is close toa Town Plan, but is not adopted as statutory planning policy, or as supplementary guidance, and thereseems not to be the necessary commitment to implementing its recommendations by the DistrictCouncil, or by the County Council as Local Highway Authority.

The pedestrianisation of the High Street and other parts, and the 20mph speed limit make the towncentre a fairly comfortable place for locals and visitors once they have left their cars. The quality of

the public realm is patchy, however, and better materials design and use of public space would make asigni cant difference.

The station area has already been identi ed locally as an area requiring major improvement, and with the dualling of the railway through Stroud, the Panel would expect the station owners (First Great Western) to make this investment, and at the same time stimulate investment in the buildings and sites

around it.

The High Street surfacing is worn out and needs replacing. The Panel was told that this is not a priority for the GCC as Highway Authority, but, like the public realm strategy, this long term objective will help

to prioritise public and private sector funding as it becomes available. Whenever it happens, it must bedone in good quality materials and this will not be cheap. The cost could be spread over several yearswith an incremental scheme, but this would be more expensive overall and could be disruptive. Costscould be reduced by concentrating high quality surfaces in the areas of greatest pedestrian activity, andusing well-designed and well-laid asphalt in areas of shared or vehicular use.

More could be made of Strouds best buildings. The Sub Rooms is a ne building that could bebetter used. The Panel heard criticisms that it was too expensive and in exible, leading to under use.The willingness of the District Council to look into this and nd ways of encouraging greater use iswelcome. The Rooms could become a visual as well as a cultural focal point for the town by extending

the square in front of it across the roads on its three sides improving its setting and providing morespace for open air events. The traf c management implications of this would need to be evaluated, butvehicular access, possibly restricted, might still be allowed across the square at quiet times.

Other buildings, such as the Arts and Science Building and Stroud House would bene t from better use and improvements to their settings.

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Street furniture in Stroud is not bad, and some bollards, nger posts and cycle racks have been madeand funded locally, with a detail representative of the ve valleys. But they are not par ticularly distinctiveor consistent. There is little public art. With a ne museum and gallery in Stratford Park, a host of ar tists and makers in the vicinity, and local foundries, the public areas of Stroud town centre could bea laboratory, proving ground and shopfront for new public art and street furniture with a distinctivecharacter that draws from Strouds industrial and artisanal history.

Better lighting of individual and groups of buildings at night would draw attention to Strouds distinctivefeatures and offer opportunities for public art that could encourage more, and a wider range of peopleinto the town in the evenings. The Lloyds Bank building is an example of what can be achieved withmodest resources. Strouds better buildings, with a more creative approach to lighting their exteriorsat night, could be really spectacular. Modern lighting technology can illuminate features without spill or glare, and using little energy.

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Over the 24 hours of the visit, the Panel heard of the plans, projects, aspirations, and expectations of over 20 representatives of statutory and non-statutory agencies, business, voluntary groups, and their individual perceptions and opinions. Their combined experience, expertise and energy will provide thedriving force for Stroud in the near future. The Panel here offers its recommendations. These do notcomprise a strategy or a vision for Stroud that is for the local participants to work on but ways inwhich these energies might best be harnessed.

Mapping relationships

There are many community-led or community-orientated initiatives and existing partnerships that crosspublic/private/voluntary sector boundaries. It would be helpful if the representatives of these bodiescould meet and together map their relationships with:

their bene ciaries/members; each other; local businesses; local government; the activities/services they provide; their mission/objectives; the spaces/facilities they currently use or would like to have; their income / funding sources

This would not only log all the activities of,and the connections between, the diversegroups, but would draw attention tocomplementary, overlapping or con ictingrelationships that may help or hinder

progress.

The exercise may suggest that as much, or more, could be achieved with fewer groups. The Panelheard during its visit the view that those currently involved should be willing to give up some control in

the interests of increasing the effort available for action rather than organisation. If this is possible andreasonable, it could achieve better focus on agreed priorities.

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It will also be worth mapping the physical assets, spaces and facilities in the town beyond those of thegroups involved, and who owns and manages them. The Panel heard much of assets that could be usedmore creatively and that would bene t from local activists adding their energies to help make themwork for the groups and the communities they serve.

Reconciling statutory and other responsibilities

The value of the Panel visit was strengthened enormously by the presence and enthusiastic involvementof the Town and District Councils. The District Council explained its statutory responsibilities andposition succinctly and with evident appreciation of the legitimacy of the other interests around the

table. They were able to set their ability and willingness to work for a better Stroud town in thecontext of their wider responsibilities for the District as a whole.

The Town Council demonstrated its growing credibility as a democratically elected body that re ects the radical opinions and actions of many of the groups represented. The Town Council is in a position to act as a bridge between community action and governmental bodies, local and wider, where thiswould be useful (it wont always be necessary). This will involve some sharing of power and in uence,and releasing the proprietorial hold of some individuals and groups on particular issues and activities,but it will help to focus on the complementary aspects of formal and informal courses of action, rather

than concentrating on their differences, which appears to have dominated relationships in the past.

The re-establishment of the Stroud Concordat is a promising indicator of future co-operation.The Panel didnt meet County Council representatives, but its participation will be essential. The

commitment shown by elected representatives of the District and Town Councils, and the local MP,Neil Carmichael, should help press this home with County counterparts.

The next generation

The Panel received presentations from a fairly limited cross-section of the Stroud community. This wasnot a bad thing, and as many acknowledged, almost inevitable. Many pointed to initiatives to engage andenthuse young people in the towns future as well as their own. The enthusiastic involvement of theYouth Council was a good example.

It should be possible to reduce the current distinction between incomers and Stroudies over successivegenerations, and the assumption that local people are not interested must not be allowed to becomean orthodoxy. The involvement of the schools and Stroud College in town matters is already a positiveforce, and should be pursued and developed. Facilities in the town centre to accommodate youngpeoples activities and activism will help to foster broader engagement in the longer term.

Involving schools, the college, the Youth Council and other young peoples groups in the mappingexercise would be one way of incorporating them in the process.

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Promoting development

The Panel was also introduced to an array of recent, current, future and aspirational projects andpotential development sites. A further mapping exercise showing their:

location in context; size and extent; planned/proposed/potential uses; ownership; constraints;

could provide the brie ng material for a developers day inviting to Stroud the kind of developerswho would nd investment in Stroud an interesting and pro table opportunity; showing them theopportunities and providing the essential information that will stimulate their interest and encourage

them to explore further. (The Academy may suggest developers to whom such an approach could bemade.)

The Panel concentrated its attention on the town centre, but during the visit references were made tohousing needs and pressures, and opportunities in the wider area to meet future demand of housingand jobs. The hosting of potential developers could be split into town centre and wider opportunities,or residential and commercial development, depending on the results of the mapping exercise.

The D model of Stroud currently being produced by students at UWE will be an important assetfor this and other exercises. A physical as well as a virtual model will help local people and visitors

appreciate: the singular character of Stroud at the con uence of the ve valleys; the in uence this hashad on its history; and the ways in which topography and history can inform new development thatacknowledges its context to be popular as well as commercially successful.

This will help press home the importance of the gateway sites in particular, and strengthen the DistrictCouncils commitment to securing well-designed development of these sites.

Improving the public realm

The public realm strategy requires an implementation plan. The resources available may mean that thiscan only be a long term, incremental plan, but local commitment to making a star t will help to draw

the key partners, such as the County Council and First Great Western, into co-operation. The Panelunderstands that a restricted palette of locally appropriate materials has been agreed with local groups,which provides a sound basis. The next step could be to Identify locations for locally commissionedpublic art and street furniture that could lift the character of the town centre in the eyes of local peopleand visitors. The key will be getting the balance right too little and no-one will notice, too much and itwill look cluttered and amateur.

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The key public spaces of the Cornhill and Shambles markets, the Sub Rooms and the railway stationoffer the basis for prioritising investment and action. Signi cant improvement to their utility andattractiveness will however require further traf c management, and this will be controversial, at leastin the short term. Visiting places that have been through similar circumstances can help ease localapprehensions. The Academy can offer examples.

The Panel heard that part of Strouds distinctiveness comes from the outstanding countryside withinwhich it sits, and which is visible from the heart of the town. Stroud has always been a country town,and this identity can be strengthened through the design, orientation and layout of public spaces androutes to maintain the visual and emotional connection.

The canal

The restoration of the canal and its connections to the east and west has become totemic for most of the people the Panel met on its visit. It is a long term project that has established suf cient momentum to carry most people along with its ultimate ambition. This may be a long way off, but in the meantime the restored section in Stroud will be a symbol of that ambition. The human and nancial investmentalready made deser ves the best possible development along its banks. The sites identi ed should notbe squandered on the rst proposal that comes along. Preparing detailed planning briefs for these sites,involving the all the statutory and local interests, will help to attract development with the appropriatequalities. Improving pedestrian connections between the canal and the town centre will help spread theeconomic bene ts of new development more widely, and stimulate interest in other sites.

Quality of development

Participants expressed disappointment on a number of occasions at the poor quality of design of somerecent development in Stroud. If this is to be avoided in future, there must be a concerted effort by allinterests to ensure that the local plan sets and demands high standards. Interpretation of quality differs,but there is a wealth of guidance available, published by CABE and other bodies over the last decade,

that can help promote and express local characteristics and expectations unequivocally, and provide arobust basis for ensuring developer compliance with locally agreed standards. Such standards, possibly enshrined in an Action Plan for the centre of Stroud, would provide the basis for planning briefs andpossibly architectural design competitions for the main sites. The South West Design Review Panel canhelp monitor and evaluate proposals. The Panel appreciates that demanding good design through theplanning process is not the obvious solution that many assume, but policies and guidance that asserthigher design standards, backed up with a commitment to enforcing them, may in time make the task easier.

To incorporate the requirement for high quality design into local planning legislation under the LocalismBill, policies need to be drafted in simple English in a manner that can be understood by, and consultedupon with, the public so that they can be adopted by the District Council and supported on appeal.

Stroud has inherited a good heritage of buildings from previous periods. It is the responsibility of current citizens to ensure that tomorrows development will be similarly valued as heritage in the future.

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The Academy of Urbanism Panel

Derek Latham Chair Steven Bee Rapporteur Sophia de SousaChris OldershawBernie Foulkes

Local Participants

Neil Carmichael MPMax Comfort The WEAVERobin Cockcroft Ellis Stroud Youth CouncilAlan Ford Project StroudCarole Gar eld Stroud Chamber of Commerce and TradeKardien Gerbrands Stroud Farmers MarketPete Gilbert Stroud District CouncilBeri Hare Stroud CollegeRichard KeatingVal Kirby The WEAVEMartin Large Stroud Common WealthClare Mahdiyone Stroud Valleys ProjectsMayor John Marjoram Stroud Town CouncilCllr Keith Pearson Stroud District CouncilSimon Pickering Ecotricity Steve Roberts September Festivals Organiser Cllr Ben Spencer Stroud Town CouncilPippa Stroud Stroud District CouncilDawn TimbrellLizzi Walton International Textile Festival

Kevin Ward Stroud MuseumBarry Wyatt Stroud District CouncilDebbie Young Stroud District Council

Appendix


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The Academy of Urbanism

The Academy is a acti e, ot-for-pro t membership orga isatiofou ded to expa d our collecti e u dersta di g of placemaki ga d to share best practice.

The Academy bri gs together a leadi g group of thi kers,decisio -makers a d practitio ers i ol ed i the social, cultural,eco omic, political a d physical de elopme t of our illages,

tow s a d cities across Great Britai , Irela d a d i creasi gly,i ter atio al cou tries.

We aim to ad a ce the u dersta di g a d practice of urba ismby promoti g a culture of scholarship through e ide ce-basede quiry, pro idi g a i clusi e dialogue across all discipli es,shari g k owledge with the commu ity a d our peers a d

urturi g, recog isi g a d rewardi g excelle ce i achie eme t.

Securing Long Term Success

Represe tati es of some of those places that ha e beeomi ated as Fi alists i The Academy of Urba isms a ual

Awards for Great Places have expressed a desire for more advicea d support to secure the lo g term success of their place, a d/or expa d their ra ge of acti ity.

The Academy is kee to respo d, a d is establishi g a pa el of Academicia s from which a small group with appropriate a dcompleme tary experie ce will isit a place eighbourhood,

tow , city quarter to help local represe tati es establish acomprehe si e a d objecti e appreciatio of what makes their place special.

What we can offer

The time, e ergy a d mo ey that you i est i your places futuremust ot be wasted pursui g u realistic or u sustai able goals.

We ca help you build co de ce a d e gageme t throughout the local commu ity, a d the best cha ce of support for a dsuccess of your isio .

The Academys pa el will e gage with key local people tostimulate a d challe ge ideas. It will produce a diag ostic reportof your places stre gths a d a y immediate a d wider threats tosustai i g them. It will prese t its suggestio s to you a d the localcommu ity to a swer questio s a d stimulate further debate.

We expect our i put to be the start of somethi g, ot the e d.The Pa el will ot tell you what you should do. Their i te si einput will help you ensure that your vision, aspirations and plansfor the future are sound, and that you are aware of the internala d exter al pressures that might compromise them. Their i sightwill gi e you co de ce that you are maki g the most of your huma a d e iro me tal assets.

The Agreement

O ce a commissio has bee accepted, the Academy will offer an initial consultation with the lead Academician appointed tocurate your project; to de e the brief, establish expectatio s,a d agree outputs. You will appoi t a lead represe tati e to liaisea d co-ordi ate with the lead Academicia .

Up to three days of each pa el members time will be offeredfree of charge. You will co er isiti g Academicia s tra el,accommodatio a d subsiste ce costs a d make a co tributio

to the Academys costs, all of which is likely to total betwee2,500 - 3,500. Further help may be possible by egotiatio a dagreeme t with the Academy.

You will pro ide adequate preparatory i formatio i ad a ce,additio al i formatio as reaso ably requested, a d access to key part ers a d local represe tati es. Ad ice will be offered by the

Academy i good faith, but either the Academy or you arebou d by the ad ice, a d you will accept full respo sibility for acti g o the ad ice offered.

Participati g places will be helped to part er with the Academysgrowi g etwork of Great Places directly, a d through Academy e e ts a d other i itiati es.

Register your Interest

Please register your i terest i the programme by co tacti gStephe Gallagher by emaili g sg@academyofurba ism.org.uk or by pho e o +44 (0)20 7351 8777.

The Academy of Urbanism70 Cowcross Street

Lo do EC1M 6EJ

i fo@academyofurba ism.org.uk www academyofurba ism org uk

The AcAdemyof UrbAnism

PLACE PARTnERInGDIAGnOSTIC vISITS

An invitation to the Academys Urbanism Award Finalists

Appendix 2

Stroud Place Partnering Visit - The Academy of Urbanism

Documents

Transcript of Stroud Place Partnering Visit - The Academy of Urbanism