Hampshire County Council

Recreation and Heritage Policy Review Committee Item 7

Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage

1 July 2004

Winchester Cultural Centre

Report by the Director of Property, Business and Regulatory

How the conclusion in this report fits with the Corporate Strategy

This scheme will impact on the delivery of the following Corporate Aims

Aim 1 - maximising life opportunities - by creating a centre for the community in and around Winchester to enjoy

Aim 5 - improving services - by providing much improved cultural and library facilities

Aim 6 - developing councillors and staff - the new and enhanced facilities will provide opportunities for staff to develop.

1.

Introduction

1.1

The Cabinet, at its meeting on 23 June 2003 agreed in principle to support the development of the Winchester Cultural Centre. This report highlights the current position and seeks approval in principle to the proposals for the Winchester Cultural Centre, prior to the submission of a full design project appraisal to the Executive Members for Recreation and Heritage and Policy and Resources in the autumn.

2.

The Site

2.1

Last year an options study was carried out by the County Council on a number of sites including an area adjacent to the Record Office on the Carfax site and the development of the existing Jewry Street library site. The current proposal is to develop the Cultural Centre on the existing Jewry Street site.

2.2

Winchester City Council has shown its interest in promoting a partnership project for the Cultural Centre based at Jewry Street and has indicated full `in principle' support for the key elements of the scheme which would also include spaces for City Council museum facilities. Winchester City Council Cabinet unanimously agreed at its meeting on 19 May 2004 to the formal release of the car parking required for the building extension and a financial contribution of £1m to the scheme. This decision is subject to ratification by the full City Council.

3.

The Accommodation

3.1

Winchester Cultural Centre will be the flagship Discovery Centre for Hampshire. It will be a dynamic and fresh service of high quality, flexibility and durability, serving the population of Winchester and environs and acting as a resource serving a very wide area. The public library service will be at the core of activities coupled with an exciting range of other public services.

3.2

The condition of the County Library HQ and reference library in North Walls is rapidly deteriorating and uneconomic to repair. Subject to approval by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources it is proposed that this building is sold for development and the total receipt is made available to fund the Cultural Centre. The reference library is to be relocated to the new facilities at Jewry Street.

3.3

It is proposed that the Local Studies Centre in Jewry Street should be relocated to the Record Office in Sussex Street. A feasibility study is being undertaken to assess the impact on the existing building.

3.4

A schedule of accommodation has been established which includes an integrated reference and lending library, a multi-purpose hall, extensive IT and learning facilities, a major new art gallery, a café, and Winchester City Council's museum exhibition facilities. In order to provide this amount of accommodation it will be necessary to extend into the existing public car park owned by the City Council. The City Council cabinet has agreed to make this land available to the project.

3.5

In line with their funding contribution, Winchester City Council will have a significant and identifiable presence within the centre, mainly relating to the provision of heritage services. The facilities will include an exhibition space, a study room, an education/meeting room, offices, storage and staff accommodation. All of these facilities will also be of benefit to the County Council and the wider community in an enlarged joint project.

4.

Public Consultation

4.1

Earlier this year an extensive public consultation exercise was undertaken by the County Council to gauge public reaction to these proposals and more than 65% of people stated their support. Also, almost half of the car park users questioned supported the plans.

5.

Car Parking

5.1

The proposal involves an extension onto part of the car park surrounding the library building. The existing car park is not laid out following best practice so the true capacity is theoretically less than currently marked out. Approximately half of the car parking spaces (including 3 disabled spaces) will be retained and set out in accordance with acceptable practice. A project travel plan will be commissioned and submitted with the planning application in due course.

6.

Funding

6.1

So far the funding for the Winchester Cultural Centre project is made up of capital programme provision, capital receipts, capital repair contributions and a contribution referred to above from Winchester City Council. The final financial envelope will be determined by the Cabinet when the capital programme review is completed in July. It is projected that the project would cost up to £7 million, which will be confirmed also in the Project Appraisal. The available funding would act as the cash limit for the project.

6.2

The building area is driven by the funding available. Should costs increase for unforeseen reasons (e.g. abnormals, services infrastructure, planning or listed building requirements), then the building area will be adjusted accordingly. If for any reason the full City Council does not wish to contribute to the project then it will be necessary to re-evaluate the scheme to provide a more limited range of services based in the existing building.

7.

The programme

7.1

Once the financial envelope has been approved by all parties detail designs will be finalised, a planning application made and full consultation with the public and other interested bodies will begin. It is intended to complete a number of presentations on the proposals to the public and introduce a permanent exhibition and model in the Library. A detail design project appraisal will be prepared for approval by the Executive Members for Recreation and Heritage and Policy and Resources in the autumn.

7.2

It is proposed to start work on site in Spring 2005 subject to receipt of all necessary approvals and satisfactory contractor's price. The project will be phased to allow the library to remain open on the Jewry Street site whilst construction work proceeds. This will be carefully managed to ensure the health and safety of the public, visitors and staff is a priority. The library will continue in the existing building while the new extension is built and will then decant into the new extension to allow the refurbishment to take place. Work is due to be completed by early 2007.

1

That the proposals for the Winchester Cultural Centre in partnership with Winchester City Council and the submission of a detailed design project appraisal be supported and submitted to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for his consideration.