Section 2 - Developing a Competitive
Description and rationale
The aim of this Section is to overcome the barriers to economic prosperity and quality of life associated with accessibility, transport, energy, environmental management infrastructure, telecommunications and provision of sites, premises and improvements to the built environment. All people and enterprises in the West Wales & the Valleys area must be given the opportunity of playing a full part in the economic, political and cultural life in the area with easier access to the UK, European and global markets. All measures will aim to achieve Local Agenda 21 objectives. This priority will also need to take into consideration TENs projects.
The section strategy is to overcome these barriers in the most sustainable way practicable contributing to the overarching aims of :
- Increasing economic activity rates by getting more people to jobs
- Increasing the productivity and added value of people in work by creating better quality jobs, goods and services and enhancing adaptability and skills levels
- Reducing inequalities between people and communities within Wales, and between Wales and the rest of Europe.
The Priority Measures aim to address the following key areas
Accessibility and Transport: improving networks & systems by developing improved competitiveness, efficiency, modal balance, accessibility and sustainability;
Energy: improving networks, efficiency and use of renewable resources;
Environmental management infrastructure: facilitation of sustainable economic development.
Telecommunications: accessibility to and provision of an efficient telecommunications infrastructure.
Provision of sites, premises and improvements to the built environment.
The Competitive Environment Section aims to support sustainable economic development, accessibility & competitiveness at a strategic & local level through:
Policy Objectives
To improve access to regional gateways, strategic routes & TENs in order to combat peripherality and bring West Wales & the Valleys closer to markets in the UK, rest of Europe and wider global economy.
To support sustainable economic & community development, through specific local schemes and initiatives.
To upgrade & improve the energy infrastructure, through strengthening the distribution systems, to secure a sufficient, diverse and reliable supply of energy, at competitive prices, and facilitate the connection of new indigenous generation plant.
To increase the availability, affordability and public awareness of advanced telecommunications infrastructure services.
To improve the environmental management infrastructure of the area to involve the private sector and major Utilities providers in the supply of a network of strategic development across the programme area on a partnership basis.
To enhance the competitiveness of urban centres, market towns and villages by improvements to the built environment
The measures are:
Measure 1
Accessibility and Transport
Measure 2
Energy Infrastructure
Measure 3
Environmental Management Infrastructure
Measure 4
Telecommunications
Measure 5
Provision of sites and premises
Measure 1: Accessibility and Transport
Description and Rationale
The transport network in the region has shortcomings that limit its capacity and intermodality. These limitations affect the free movement of people and goods and are a constraint on personal and economic development. Many of those not currently active in the labour market do not have access to a car and have difficulty accessing training, employment facilities, public services and leisure amenities. To support their full participation in the economic, political and social life of the greater community, affordable, good quality, reliable and timely public and community transport services are a necessary prerequisite.
The aim of this Measure is to develop an efficient, integrated transportation system that will facilitate the movement of people and goods in a sustainable manner.
To maximise use of limited resources, any schemes supported under this Measure must be able to demonstrate adequately the economic benefits to the region in terms of reducing peripherality and inaccessibility problems within the region.
Objectives
- To improve access to and facilities for intermodal transfer for people and goods.
- To make best use of existing rail network by overcoming capacity, gauge and speed line constraints.
- To extend and enhance rail services to improve accessibility.
- To develop core routes in the region to improve competitive situation and reduce peripherality.
- To extend and upgrade the railway network and encourage integrated timetabling
- To develop airport infrastructure and the development of local and national air services
- To improve traffic management
- To make maximum utilisation of freight facilities
- To make best use and extend life of the existing highway network, including overcoming capacity constraints and making appropriate provision for buses, bicycles and pedestrians.
- To extend and enhance highway network to complete core routes, provide access to development areas and sub regional links to the core network.
- To improve the transport network to support community regeneration and enhance safety.
- To support healthy life styles and the development of sustainable green tourism through quiet roads, improving and developing cycle, footpath and other non-motorised networks.
- To establish and promote integrated and comprehensive information and ticketing which is readily accessible for all transport modes.
- Enhancement of community environment through local schemes.
- Extend transport links to improve access to key employment centres.
Scope
- selective enhancement and extensions to existing rail network e.g. to achieve & implement High Speed TENs status for the North Wales and South Wales railway lines
- improvement of multi-modal access to & modal interchange at railway & bus stations, ports, airports, town & village centres
- improvement to existing stations, in particular to develop rail stations in rural areas as hubs of economic activity
- improve capacity for intermodal freight handling facilities at ports
- provision of railfreight terminals on rail to generate economic modes
- improve sub-regional access to core road networks
- provision of access to employment sites
- relief roads to support economic regeneration and reduce community severance and improve local health and safety conditions
- encourage & promote the development of green commuter plans & sustainable local travel choices
- develop & implement community transport & related awareness raising schemes
- promotion of the use of public transport
Outputs and Impacts
Outputs
- Reduced transportation costs for business through the reduction of delays
- Increase in the stock of useable development land
- Increased freight tonnage by short sea shipping and rail
Impact
- Increased economic development at sea and air port location reflecting improved freight facilities and access
- Attraction of business
- Increased access for valley and rural communities through enhanced public transport and community transport provision
- Improved competitiveness through improvement of the land bridge to Ireland, and reliable journey times
- Contribute to attractiveness of Wales for business development and inward investment
- Increase access to economic centres by physically or economically isolated communities or groups.
- Contribute to the achievement of local Agenda 21 objectives
- Support community development and enhance health and quality of life
- Improved efficiency of freight movements, contributing to competitiveness and the reduction of pollution
Measure 2: Energy infrastructure
Description and rationale
Access to a strong energy infrastructure, which provides cost-effective and efficient supplies of heat and power to industrial, business and domestic customers, is essential for sustainable economic development.
The strategy for energy supply will go hand in hand with the strategy for energy efficiency and conservation to ensure that energy needs are met in the most cost effective and sustainable ways. Fuel efficiency and local generating capacity will help reduce energy poverty.
Objectives
- To improve the efficiency of generation, transmission and use of energy - without threatening the integrity of the landscape
- To strengthen the transmission system, enabling local connections for embedded electricity generation and supporting effective distribution to development sites.
- To promote resource efficiency with wider use of re-cycling and re-use
- To improve the transport of oil, coal, gas and energy distribution network
- To develop new generating capacity, including local solutions, renewable energy, Combined Heat and Power, energy parks and district heating schemes.
Scope
Energy generation
- Feasibility studies
- Demonstration projects i.e. off shore wind farms, clean coal stations
- Renewable energy projects, local and community-led projects and enabling Measures for larger scale schemes (e.g. hydro, tidal stream, biofuels, wind, solar).
- Appraisal of all renewable energy resources of the area and a strategic plan to exploit the renewable resources
- Reduction in energy by conventional means
- Combined Heat and Power projects
- Energy Parks
- Emission abatement for fossil fuel stations
- Waste to energy schemes
Transmission
- Extending mains gas network
- Removing gas capacity constraints
- Extending and strengthening the electricity network
- Removing electricity supply constraints
- Increasing reliability of the electricity supply network
- Management systems
- Service of energy to strategic sites and energy parks/clusters
Efficiency and conservation
- Feasibility studies and energy audits
- Energy efficiency and conservation schemes for domestic and business sectors
- District heating
- Energy storage
Impact
- Improved quality and availability of supply to meet current and future energy demands, encouraging investment and expansion.
- Creation of opportunities for community-based generation schemes to provide local heat and power and link into the distribution network.
- More efficient use of energy, avoiding waste and securing savings, adding to competitiveness and creating new job opportunities whilst reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
- New types of employment and enhancement of the environment through renewable energy projects.
(Outputs to be added)
Measure 3: Environmental Management Infrastructure
Description and rationale
There is a need to facilitate the sustainable economic development of parts of West Wales & the Valleys blighted with derelict land and minewater pollution through selective reclamation and remediation works. In addition the contribution to sustainable development by encouraging the growth of environmentally focused industries involved in the better management of waste and water would increase the efficiency of industry and reduce dependency on land filling of waste.
Objectives
- To reclaim derelict land for employment use & remediation of mines to limit pollution. To provide adequate water to enable appropriate business and tourism development
- To secure more efficient collection and use of water for industry, agriculture and householders, ensuring water transmissions systems are water tight
- To develop better management of waste through reuse, recycling and energy recovery
- To generate new business and net additional jobs created in waste management and pollution control
- To ensure environmental improvements within companies together with a strategy for waste, energy and water management for businesses
Scope
- Reclamation of derelict land and brownfield sites for productive afteruse
- Development of local re-cycling industries based around new waste treatment plants (Such activities would use recovered metals, plastics, and paper and compost-from-waste materials. Energy from waste facility could also serve these industries. Re-cycling is very low in Wales with a very high reliance on landfill sites.)
- Remediation of abandoned mines. The designated area suffers from the effects of over a hundred abandoned mines, (coal, metal and slate) which cause serious river pollution and in some cases aesthetic and odour problems.
- More efficient collection and use of water particularly for agriculture by helping farmers and others to install water storage facilities thus reducing over-abstraction of rivers and groundwater.
- Waste to energy facilities. Recovering waste, that is unsuitable for re-use or re-cycling, as a fuel to provide local cheap power.
Impact
- Increased quantities of reclaimed land available for development
- contributions to achievement of local Agenda 21 priorities
- Reduced pollution and waste production
- Increased opportunities for new businesses in waste management
- Improved landscape and habitats
- More viable agriculture through more reliable water supplies
(Outputs to be added)
Measure 4: Telecommunications
Description and rationale
Today's society is becoming more and more dependent on the effective management and transmission of information. Digital technologies provide the nerve system of new economies driven by huge and continuing advances in our ability to collect, store, retrieve, analyze and communicate vast quantities of information in a short time. Access to these networks will be affected by a wide range of factors including income and geography. Provision will need in some cases to be encouraged by public sector support to ensure that ever y business, household and training facility in the region has good access to the international ICT super-highway. The use of satellite technology is particularly viable in rural areas.
Objectives
- enhancing the performance of existing commercial activities
- increasing the independence and competitiveness of SMEs by giving better access to business services and larger markets
- stimulating the growth of new businesses
- Facilitating the development of learning and skills development and home-based work
Scope
- To install leading edge technology within the telecommunications network to provide two-way broadband communications
- To facilitate the implementation of a very high speed Internet backbone in the rural and more inaccessible areas
- To increase the availability of public access points/kiosks served by high-bandwidth connections
- To improve the coverage of mobile & digital telecommunications services
- To develop early access throughout the regions to third generation mobile telecommunication services
- To facilitate the adoption of common communication standards
- To enhance customer ICT equipment and local networks
- To design, develop and promote zones with advanced telecommunications infrastructure and related technologies i.e.'Digital Zones'
Outputs
- Number of additional users of telecommunications services
- Coverage of high technology infrastructure
- Coverage of public access points
(Impacts to be added)
Measure 5: Provision of sites, premises and improvements to the built environment
Description and rationale
The supply of sites and premises for business is limited both in quantity and quality. This is a barrier to broadening the economic base and bringing job opportunities to the area. New sites must provide full disabled access and improve access to women by providing childcare facilities as an integral part of development. There is a need for a wide spectrum of sites and premises. While the supply is limited across the range, there is a particular shortage in the following areas:
For large strategic sites, major investment and for high quality sites and premises so crucial to encouraging a more diverse range of businesses, especially for firms in some of the newer industries and the service sector which bring higher income levels. In Parts of the area a poor urban environment provides a further disincentive for investment.
The low levels of economic activity and business formation that come with a low GDP, are reflected in the average market values for land and property which are significantly below those in other areas of the United Kingdom. As a result, there is little incentive for private sector investment in the physical fabric of the area. This is demonstrated by the extremely limited private investment to bring forward new sites and premises, through to the lack of subsequent reinvestment to maintain and modernise much of the older property. The viability of many urban centres and market towns and villages is affected by the poor quality of their built environment.
This has been exacerbated by the legacy of industrial and agricultural decline which has left many derelict sites and redundant buildings which can not be immediately adapted to modern uses. These bring constraints to redevelopment such as removing or converting redundant buildings, overcoming poor ground conditions, or eliminating waste material left from a former use. Equally, the topography of the area, limited or no road access to some areas, and a poor service infrastructure including an insufficient ICT provision, is another barrier to development.
Whether for green or brownfield sites, the costs of overcoming these constraints and / or providing the appropriate infrastructure to the site - is usually greater than the market value.
However, these sites and centres offer the potential for the development of substantial and attractive locations for new and expanding businesses. As a result of the problems set out above, the direct provision of sites, premises and urban renewal has predominantly been undertaken by the public sector, often with the help of ERDF. While there has been some movement towards public private sector partnerships in recent years, this has been slow and remains at a low level. In other cases, private sector investment has only been viable with support from grants such as Urban Investment and Industrial Improvement grants. Within the programme it is intended that the private sector play a full partnership role, alongside the major Utilities providers and the public sector in establishing a network of key strategic sites throughout the area.
Objectives
to provide a wide range of serviced sites and premises to support the formation and development of local businesses and attract new investment to the area;
to increase and widen the range of employment opportunities and remove barriers that inhibit start up companies and employment opportunities;
to encourage the creation and survival of new businesses through the provision of start up or 'incubator' units accompanied by appropriate business support mechanisms;
to assess the future and potential demands and opportunities for land reclamation and the balance between brownfield and greenfield sites, encouraging R&D into reclamation techniques
to improve the business environment in urban centres and market towns and villages
Scope
to facilitate site development by upgrading the infrastructure including access, utilities, services, telecommunications networks and environmental improvements; ensuring buildings enforce standards on access for disabled
to convert redundant buildings and upgrade existing premises to meet needs of modern businesses, including support for incorporation of energy conservation Measures in existing and new premises, of particular importance in rural areas
by providing larger sites for major investment, and high quality sites and business premises;
to provide assistance to encourage the private sector provision of new sites and premises, and upgrading existing property.
to provide a co-ordinated programme of renewal in urban centres and market towns and villages
Outputs
- new business premises created
- numbers of premises converted for business use
- numbers of existing premises upgraded/ including provision of energy saving Measures
- hectares of new sites serviced for development
- provision of crèche facilities
- access provided to new sites
- existing sites landscaped and upgraded
- net additional jobs
- occupancy rates - initial and after 3 years
- number of firms starting up or relocating to the area
Impact
- private sector investment generated
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