PAPER C
Purpose: For Decision

Committee

EXECUTIVE

Date

15 DECEMBER 2016

Title

ISLE OF WIGHT
PROGRAMME

Joint report to

LEADER
AND
EXECUTIVE
MEMBER
FOR
RESOURCES AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES AND THE
EXECUTIVE
MEMBER
FOR
REGENERATION,
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, TRANSPORT

COUNCIL

REGENERATION

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1. The financial challenge facing the council is the biggest risk to sustainable local
authority services on the Isle of Wight. The council’s recently approved medium term
financial strategy provides it with an opportunity to secure its financial position over
the medium term.
2. In order to make the most of this opportunity the council must seek to grow its tax
base (council tax and business rates), by increasing the prosperity and sustainability
of the Island community, based on the pillars of regeneration, growth and
productivity.
3. This paper identifies the council’s options for using in the main, its own land and
assets to kick start its regeneration activity. It also considers the need to acquire two
employment sites, not in the council’s ownership, in order to secure them for its future
regeneration aspirations.
4. It is estimated that the regeneration programme proposed in this paper could, subject
to a number of assumptions, deliver £15m per annum in increased council tax,
business rates and new homes bonus, as well as 12,000 new jobs over a 10 year
period.
BACKGROUND
5. Following the austerity agenda, introduced by government as a result of the financial
crisis, the council continues to face significant budget challenges. It has been
required to save almost £60m from the budget over the last 5 years; a further £24m
has to be identified over the next 4 years, to close the council’s funding gap, as set
out in the medium term financial strategy (MTFS), approved by Full Council in
October.
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 6. The MTFS recognises the council cannot sustain key services to the community in
the longer term purely by making further savings. It therefore sets out a fundamental
policy shift to invest resources, in order to generate income/revenue directly, through
increased council tax, business rates and financial receipts from the sale/use of its
assets. The plan also recognises that, as the council has continued to make savings
and focussed on the delivery of its statutory services it has not retained the capacity,
skills or resources needed to deliver any step change in the regeneration activity that
might support a significant growth in its income or the prosperity of the Isle of Wight.
7. As a result, the MTFS allocated resources to recruit and properly fund a regeneration
team. Newly created posts of, Director of Regeneration, Assistant Director of
Regeneration and Property Manager has been agreed and recruitment is underway.
In addition the new team will be able to secure other resources (specialist legal,
design, planning, property, programme management etc.) necessary to bring forward
and deliver regeneration activity.
8. In order for the council to develop its regeneration aspirations without delay, working
with the Local Government Association (LGA), it has looked to identify a programme
of regeneration activity, based on the deliverability and impact of the potential
projects to be delivered as part of that activity. The projects are, in the main, focused
around the council’s own land and premises in order to aid their overall deliverability.
9. The capacity and resource to produce the programme was provided by Inner Circle
Consulting (ICC), procured through the LGA and tasked with establishing a
regeneration programme through a detailed process of data collection and
evaluation. In so doing, ICCs starting point was to ensure that, for the programme to
be successful, it would have a compelling vision and secure consistent leadership
with a focus on delivery and it must embrace entrepreneurial thinking.
10. As a result of this work. Inner Circle Consulting identified 11 priority projects in
“opportunity areas” of Ryde, Newport and Sandown Bay, with a focus on income
generation and deliverability.
These projects and ICC’s assessment of the
deliverability of an Isle of Wight regeneration programme are set out in appendix A to
this report, for members’ consideration and endorsement.
11. In overall terms the programme has the potential to deliver, over a ten year period,
£15m pa of additional tax income to the council, 12,000 jobs to the Island and 1,200
new homes. These estimates are, however, subject to some very broad assumptions
that would need to be tested as the detailed planning associated with each
regeneration project is progressed. It also important to note that the creation of new
homes must be linked to the development of the new jobs and therefore the council’s
housing strategies must become interwoven with its regeneration aspirations.
12. The regeneration programme is intended to be delivered in line with the council’s
current related strategies and plans in particular the Island Plan Core Strategy and
Economic Development Action Plan. It will also complement the work currently
underway on a One Public Estate bid for the Island working with other public sector
partner including health police and fire on the development and more efficient use of
all public land and buildings.
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 13. ICC’s work identified a number of barriers to growth which are worthy of highlight in
this paper. In part, they relate to the Island’s separation from the mainland and
include the high cost of delivering services, lack of investment in some sectors
including tourism, reduced economic activity due to the ageing population, reliance
on low skilled often seasonal employment and issues with transport infrastructure. It
also points out other factors that impact on investor confidence including political
stability and consistency of planning decisions, especially in relation to major inward
investment projects.
14. In addition to establishing the scope and potential outcomes from the regeneration
programme, the work of ICC also identified the key activities the council will need to
adopt in order to deliver the programme and its associated benefits:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Develop a partnership approach to programme delivery and stakeholder
management
Continue to develop a vision and 20 year growth plan for the Isle of Wight in
partnership with all stakeholders.
Develop a set of principles that govern the behaviour of all those involved
Adopt a strategy of retaining assets and investing to create the most value and
maximise long term returns on investment.
Ensure each priority project has a clear value and that it is making a
measurable contribution to vision
Commit to an evidenced based approach to decision making
Adopt a common method of project progression
Establish a strong Programme Office
Ensure all investment decisions are underpinned by a clear business case

15. In order to deliver this programme and ensure the pace and momentum needed it will
be necessary to establish appropriate governance structures to ensure timely
decision making. This is to be organised through a Regeneration Board with a clear
remit for both decision making and delivery of the programme. In this model the
Executive would be responsible for agreeing the overall programme and the
resources required but the Board would be able to act within this overall framework in
order to ensure development opportunities and momentum are maintained and the
outcomes set out in the programme are realised.
16. The proposed regeneration programme was developed in accordance with a strict
brief in relation to deliverability and impact. It is additional to ongoing regeneration
activities including those at East Cowes, Dinosaur Isle, Sandown and the Spectrum
affordable housing schemes. It also takes no account of opportunities currently
being developed or considered by the private sector, which the council may want to
consider and enable through its own regeneration activities, depending on the
proposed outcomes of each scheme.
Kingston Marine Park (KMP), East Cowes
17. Kingston Marine Park comprises around 6.5 hectares of allocated employment land
between the river Medina and the housing development currently being competed by
Barratt’s at Whippingham (see plan attached as Appendix B). The land is owned by
the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) which has invested in the infrastructure
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 of the site over a number of years. The site is currently serviced and has road
access, but still unresolved is access to the water which requires significant further
investment. Planning approval has been granted for a “hoist dock” which will enable
vessels to be transported from the river to the site but the funding for this has yet to
be secured.
18. The HCA estimate the cost of the hoist dock to be £2.5m – £3m but have been
unable, at this time, to secure further funding given the significant sums already
invested by them the site. A revised layout of the hoist dock has recently received
planning approval which it is hoped will reduce costs.
19. The council have been working with the HCA and other stakeholders on the
regeneration of East Cowes for many years and more recently with the Solent Local
Enterprise Partnership (SLEP). The SLEP have funded the new floating bridge
project and are supportive of the need for safeguarding and creating marine related
employment and business as this is a key priority within its economic strategy.
Discussion are on-going with the SLEP to secure a funding package which would
complete the marine access and enable the both the relocation of businesses from
the centre of East Cowes and inward investment opportunities for further business.
Island Technology Park (ITP), Whippingham
20. The HCA also owns the final plot (Plot A - 2.03 Ha) at the Island Technology Park
situated in Whippingham. The site is allocated as an employment site and has
planning permission for B1/B2/B8 employment use (see plan at appendix C). The
HCA has worked with Isle of Wight College to develop a new Centre of Excellence
for Composites, Manufacturing and Marine Technology on the front part of the whole
site and is understood to be in negotiations for the disposal of other parts of the site
21. The HCA has indicated its intention to dispose of Kingston Marine Park and Plot A at
the Island Technology Park and is prepared to negotiate a disposal to the council, on
terms to be agreed. This is primarily because the HCA’s internal priorities are
changing, and its focus is now primarily on the delivery of housing across the
country, given the increasing need for new homes.
22. Both sites have been identified as key employment locations and in the context of
delivering a financial strategy based around creating prosperity and wealth, will add
an important resource to the council’s portfolio if a purchase can be agreed. Whilst
the sites could be developed by the private sector, it may not have the same pace or
urgency to bring them forward for development and ultimately the sites could end up
simply being land banked until the market improves.
23. The acquisition of Kingston Marine Park would also ensure that the principal
aspiration for this site, as one for marine related employment, could still be pursued
by the council. If, however, the council is not able to secure the necessary funds for
the hoist dock that make a marine related scheme possible, then it would still have
the opportunity to develop the site for general employment purposes.
STRATEGIC CONTEXT
24. The overall aim of the council’s MTFS (October 216) is to ensure that
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 “in year expenditure matches in year income over the medium term, whilst
regenerating the Island economy and providing essential value for money services
for our residents and businesses”.
The council’s budget gap is projected to be £24m over the next four years and,
without any additional financial support from government, the council will need to
increase its income from its tax base in order to avoid significant service reductions to
help it to meet this aim. The adoption of the regeneration programme will start the
process of securing additional direct income to the council with a positive benefit of
creating new opportunities for jobs and wealth creation for the Island’s residents.
25. The acquisition of Kingston Marine Park and Plot A at the Island Technology Park will
ensure that the council has sufficient land assets to extend its regeneration activities
over the medium to long term, improving the overall financial sustainability of the
Island and the council.
26. The regeneration programme will guide activity which, if delivered, will have a
positive impact on four priorities of the council’s corporate plan 2015-2017.
Specifically under the priority of, “supporting growth in the economy, making the
Island a better place and keeping it safe”, the corporate plan sets out that the council
will,
“continue to influence the work of the…..HCA to secure funding which enables the
creation and safeguarding of jobs, supports business start-ups and growth secures
inward investment and creates affordable homes for the benefit of the Island
community”.
CONSULTATION
27. The regeneration strategy is primarily focussed on bringing forward council owned
sites where the council has greater control about the deliverability and overall impact
on its revenue budget position. Consultation with partners and stakeholders will take
place as proposals for sites are developed.
FINANCIAL / BUDGET IMPLICATIONS
28. The council has allocated £1m a year in its MTFS to support the delivery of its
regeneration activities in order to improve the prosperity and sustainability of the Isle
of Wight and increase the council’s revenue income. This funding provides for both
directly employed staff as well the opportunity to buy in specific additional skills,
capacity and expertise, as required, to deliver the programme
29. The delivery of specific projects within the regeneration programme (and the
council’s wider regeneration activities) will require the provision of capital financing.
These funds may come from the private sector, grant awards (for example from the
Solent Local Enterprise Partnership) or from the council itself. It will be the role of the
regeneration team to develop and prepare business cases to secure the funding to
develop specific projects and to make the appropriate bids to secure that funding
from the most appropriate sources.
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 30. The council will need to fund the purchase of the Kingston Marine Park and Plot A of
the Island Technology Park, from within its own resources. Officers will need to
demonstrate that any price negotiated for the acquisition of these sites offers ‘best
value’ to the council. Funding for their acquisition will need to be agreed by the Full
Council when it meets to set its capital programme for 2017/18.
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
31. Section 2 of the Local Government Act 2000 provides the council with the power to
do anything which it considers will improve the overall economic, social and
environmental well-being of the area provided that such actions are consistent with
the Community Strategy. The regeneration programme seeks to improve the
economic well-being of the Island.
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
32. The council as a public body is required to meet its statutory obligations under the
Equality Act 2010 to have due regard to eliminate unlawful discrimination, promote
equal opportunities between people from different groups and foster good relations
between people from different backgrounds. The protected characteristics are: age,
disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and
maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
33. The regeneration programme attached as Appendix A is intended to improve the
overall economic well-being of the Island. It is not targeted to any group of people in
particular and therefore none of the identified groups will be adversely affected by the
adoption of the plan. It is intended that the development of key sites set out will
create opportunities for investment in the Island’s economy that may ultimately lead
to greater employment and economic well-being across the whole of the community.
OPTIONS
34. The options available to the council are as follows:
(a)

Adopt the Isle of Wight regeneration programme set out in appendix A, as a
basis for securing the future prosperity and sustainability of the Isle of Wight.

(b)

Not to adopt the Isle of Wight regeneration programme set out in appendix A.

(c)

Agree to purchase land from the HCA at, Kingston Marine Park and Plot A at
Island Technology Park, in order to secure its contribution to increasing the
future prosperity and sustainability of the Isle of Wight, provided that the
purchase price is at ‘best value’ to the council.

(d)

Not to purchase the land at, Kingston Marine Park and Plot A at Island
Technology Park.

(e)

To recommend to Full Council that it allocates the funds necessary to acquire
land from the HCA, when it meets to set its capital programme for 2017/18.

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 RISK MANAGEMENT
35. Regeneration and transformation are two of the key elements in the council being
able to successfully deliver its MTFS and securing its long term financial
sustainability. Without a clear and properly resourced regeneration strategy there is
a risk that the council will be unable to deliver the aspirations of the MTFS. It is also
important that the council starts its regeneration ambitions without delay and gives
some pace and structure to them whilst monitoring their progress. The proposed
regeneration programme offers the right structure at this time creating the right
environment for the new regeneration team to start to deliver for the benefit of the
council and the Island.
36. The council has set out its aspirations to build a prosperous and sustainable Island
community, built on the pillars of regeneration, growth and productivity. In order to
achieve this aspiration it needs to build confidence in investors and employers that
the Isle of Wight is serious about its regeneration aspirations and prepared to work
with them to deliver solutions that meet the Island’s needs. This will be greatly aided
by a sound regeneration programme, with clear outcomes and aspirations, delivered
in a timely and consistent way by a properly resourced regeneration service.
37. The proposed regeneration strategy attached at appendix A lays the framework for
such an approach but, will not be such a strait jacket as to exclude other potential
activities that may come along and which may offer better options in respect of
deliverability or impact. Ultimately however the council will need to ensure that it
does not allow the scope of its programme to ‘creep’ to such an extent that it become
undeliverable within the available resources.
38. If the council does not purchase land on offer from the HCA then there is the
possibility that it will be sold on the open market and then land banked by its owner
until such time as the market warrants its development. This would severely limit the
opportunity to bring forward employment land with waterfront access in order to
protect and grow the Isle of Wight’s important marine industries. This would prevent
the council from securing some of the marine businesses in Cowes and East Cowes,
currently on short leases from their landlords.
39. Securing funding for the hoist dock at Kingston Marine Park is critical to supporting
the marine businesses that may locate/relocate there. There is a possibility that the
council may be unable to secure these funds but, if it has the site under its control, it
has secured the time and opportunity to explore every available source of funding for
the hoist dock. If the site is outside the council’s control, this opportunity is lost and
the site may only be developed for more general employment use. Ultimately, this
may be the position the council has to take if no funding can be secured.
EVALUATION
40. The council has made clear in its MTFS that a key component of securing a
sustainable future for the council is to grow income via increased business rates,
council tax and new home bonus. To achieve this positon the council recognises that
it needs a new approach and that targeted activity focussed on the use of the land
and property within the council’s portfolio can help deliver a significant increase in the
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 tax base. At the same time it will support the creation of jobs and economic wealth to
the Island as a whole.
41. To do this the council needs to invest in regeneration and has set aside the budget to
drive forward this work at pace. A regeneration programme is vital to ensure these
resources are efficiently and effectively deployed and once adopted will give the
newly recruited regeneration team an immediate programme of work.
42. The purchase of HCA land would both enable the council to secure a vital area of
marine related employment land and also set out the council’s intent to invest in the
future regeneration and growth of the island’s economy.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
(a)

Adopt the Isle of Wight regeneration programme set out in appendix A, as a basis
for securing the future prosperity and sustainability of the Isle of Wight.

(c)

Agree to purchase land from the HCA at, Kingston Marine Park and Plot A at
Island Technology Park, in order to secure its contribution to increasing the future
prosperity and sustainability of the Isle of Wight, provided that the purchase price
is at ‘best value’ to the council.

(e)

To recommend to Full Council that it allocates the funds necessary to acquire land
from the HCA, when it meets to set its capital programme for 2017/18.

APPENDICES
Appendix A: Isle of Wight Council Regeneration Programme, Inner Circle Consulting,
November 2016.
Appendix B: Plan of Kingston Marine Park
Appendix C: Plan of Island Technology Park.
BACKGROUND PAPERS
Medium Term Financial Strategy, October 2016

Contact Point: Ashley Curzon, Head of Economic Development
 821000 x6210 e-mail ashley.curzon@iow.gov.uk
ASHLEY CURZON
Head of Economic
Development

COUNCILLOR
JONATHAN BACON
Leader and Executive
Member for Resources
and Children’s Services

COUNCILLOR
JULIA BAKER-SMITH
Executive Member for
Regeneration, Housing and
Homelessness, Transport

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