Regeneration’s role in Staffs LEP proposals

REGENERATION will continue to play a key role following the formation of a new Local Enterprise Partnership for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

As more local authorities and business communities prepare for the cessation of Advantage West Midlands and a 75% cut in budgets, councils in Stoke and Staffordshire have outlined proposals for a county-wide LEP.

Embedded firmly in the plans are continuing regeneration programmes which could have been thrown into turmoil following the announcement earlier this month that North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership is to disband.

The body, formed in May 2007 between private and public sector partners, was responsible for a £1.6bn regeneration of Stoke and north Staffordshire and its agenda included a new bus station, central business district and shopping centre revamp.

Added to this has been the announcements that both Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council chief executive Mark Barrow and Stoke City Council’s regeneration chief and MD of the NSRP Tom Macartney (right) have quit their posts.

Its draft proposals specifically state the new LEP would strive to secure “the delivery of the regeneration of Stoke-on-Trent City Centre, i54 in South Staffordshire and Kingswood Lakeside in Cannock”.

Mark Richards is project management director in the Birmingham office of property consultancy Turner and Townsend which is heavily involved in some of the regen projects in north Staffordshire.

He told TheBusinessDesk.com: “What seems to be clear is that the LEP will not be an incorporated body or a delivery vehicle but instead will be more strategic in channelling funding from the Regional Growth Fund to areas of specific need.

“Projects that have missed out on funding as a result of cut backs in RDA funding will have a second chance to obtain funding through the Regional Growth Fund.

“Those organisations that have their cases well advanced and which meet the criteria laid down by the Regional Growth Fund will be well placed to meet the deadline for receipt of applications to deliver programmes in 2011.

“Cases will be strengthened even more where applications can be seen as part of a programme of transformational change and supported by a LEP.”

The Regional Growth Fund is a new £1bn initiative announced earlier this summer by Nick Clegg but which offers around one sixth of the previous funding pot available through RDAs.

Those behind regen projects could approach the Regional Growth Fund directly for financial help, Mr Richards (left) added.

“So set against the backdrop of the estimated £1.6bn needed to transform North Staffordshire, it is difficulty to see how LEPs without a direct delivery capability will be able to achieve more than the NSRP has done,” he added.

“It would appear that there is a danger of LEPs becoming talking shops, criticised for the same things as the old regeneration zones before them. Ironically, this is why the NSRP was formed in the first place.”

Leader of Staffordshire County Council Cllr Philip Atkins added: “Funding nationally is going to be tight so we need to be more effective than ever in working together to maximise Staffordshire and Stoke’s business punch. The LEP will put local business in poll position on the starting grid.”