Covid recovery sees plans for city scaled back
AN ambitious overhaul of Hereford city centre – including the concept of a new Cathedral/River Wye quarter – has been scaled back to account for Covid recovery.
The refurbishment scheme for High Town won’t be progressed given the projected impact of construction works on trading, while the risk of cost inflation sees the Cathedral/River Wye quarter stay at the design stage.
Herefordshire Council says it is committed to delivering the quarter through its capital programme once design/construction costs are “known and stabilised.”
High Town will see “minor works” done and there is scope for market and event infrastructure, CCTV enhancements and facade improvement grants.
The St Owen’s Street cycle contraflow and Widemarsh Street kerb improvements are also on the ‘to do’ list. Sustainable cycle shelters, public art and overall ‘greening’ complete the plan. The council will now look to vary the grant funding agreement to reflect the update of a scheme that goes back to 2016.
To date, two phases of the original scheme have been delivered along with the implementation of on-street parking charging and residents parking.
As part of the request for further capital funding, the scheme was extended to include the Cathedral and River Wye Quarter – an area to the west of High Town including Broad Street, King Street, Bridge Street and other smaller streets.
Last year, a funding bid was submitted and secured with £3 million coming the council’s way from the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to be matched by £3 million of the council’s money. A council decision report reveals that, as a result of delays and procurement issues, the required spend was not achieved, so a freedom and flexibilities arrangement was entered into with Marches LEP to manage the risk of funding loss.
This arrangement ensured no 2020/21 LEP grant was lost and made monies available for the Hereford city centre improvements in 2021/2022.
In May, a cabinet briefing identified a desire to reconsider elements of the project – in particular, the scale of investment in High Town paving works.
The LEP indicated a willingness to consider alternatives and a draft second freedom and flexibilities letter setting out a proposed programme to ensure the remaining LEP grant funding is spent in 2021/2022.
Last month, cabinet members met to confirm what elements from that letter were acceptable, with the scheme revised accordingly to cut the construction elements for High Town and the Cathedral and River Wye Quarter.
The council said that after “careful consideration” it will not proceed with the refurbishment scheme to High Town to reduce the impacts of construction on trading, particularly during the Covid-19 recovery.
Meanwhile, the report says, the design content for the quarter will continue and is currently in the process of contract award.