SLIDE 1
Love Wolverton Ltd Agora redevelopment May 2019 update
Mike Bodkin TOWN
SLIDE 2
Jonny Anstead part of Prince’s Foundation team supporting Neighbourhood Plan preparation process
Part of drafting team for Agora Development Brief SPD
Informal work with Future Wolverton to seek developer interest in Agora and help MKC evaluate case for potential CPO
Agora put on the market; TOWN under-bidder with “Love Wolverton” proposal
TOWN approached by Leyland to revive interest
Informal pre-app discussions on principles of new scheme
Heads of Terms agreed with Leyland to acquire Agora
MK Council disposal decision on car park
Contracts exchanged for acquisition of Agora
Love Wolverton Ltd (TOWN / Trivselhus JV) acquires Agora
Timeline.
TOWN’s involvement in the Agora.
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Marmalade Lane, Cambridge
SLIDE 4
Sommar Place, MK
SLIDE 5
Wolverton.
SLIDE 6
Today.
Agora and car park today.
SLIDE 7
The Agora.
SLIDE 8 Plan MK.
- Strategic Objective 8
- Town Centre Policies
- Heritage policy
- Sustainable construction &
generic policies
SLIDE 9 Local Policy.
- Make Wolverton town centre
a “vibrant, attractive and distinctive neighbourhood”
- Regenerating the Agora the
driving force behind the NP
- Centrepiece of local policy
SLIDE 10
Regeneration context.
Agora Development Brief SPD.
To “actively encourage the redevelopment of the Agora with a mixed use development that has as its key elements the reconnection of The Square to Radcliffe Street and the need for any development to respect and complement the existing conservation area.”
SLIDE 11
- Reinstate Radcliffe Street.
- “Re-urbanise” existing
streets.
- High density, low-mid rise:
– 2-3 storey terraced houses; – Flats above shops (3-5 storey).
- Live-work units.
- Mixed-use at smaller scale
(c 10% of GIA).
contextual not copying.
- Car parking at appropriate
levels for location.
Development principles.
SLIDE 12
Emerging masterplan.
SLIDE 13
Emerging scheme.
View from north-east.
SLIDE 14
Emerging scheme.
View from south.
SLIDE 15
Emerging scheme.
Church Street & ‘New’ Radcliffe Street.
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- Redevelopment of the Agora car park alongside the building is necessary to
make regeneration viable, and will made for a better development.
- Agora SPD clear that this is acceptable subject to a survey of parking and, if
necessary, adequate mitigation to prevent harm to local businesses.
- Surveys have been carried out town-centre-wide, including week-long ANPR
survey on Agora car park. Only on Friday early afternoons does the Agora car park routinely reach its theoretical 120-vehicle capacity. Usual daytime
- ccupancy is 40-60%. Evidence of commuter/long-stay use outside 3hr limit.
- What matters for town centre custom is adequate car parking during trading
- hours. It does not have to be exclusive, and does not have to be a single car
park.
- Working with MK Council and Stakeholder Working Group, we have identified
- pportunities to create new and improved town centre parking.
Town centre parking.
Context.
SLIDE 17
Town centre parking.
Opportunities.
SLIDE 18
Town centre parking.
Opportunities.
SLIDE 19
- Three new bus stands on Church Street replacing the single existing stop.
- New crossings at Creed Street/Church Street junctions for easier pedestrian
movement.
- One-way vehicle movement on Church Street between Creed Street and Radcliffe
St – improved planting and public realm making a nicer shopping street.
- A new ‘pocket park’ under the plane trees on Buckingham Street
Other potential changes/benefits.
SLIDE 20
- Planning and detailed design process:
– Meetings MKC – Aiming for submission of planning application in July 2019
- Public and stakeholder engagement:
– Stakeholder workshop March 2019 – Public Review 13-15 June, venue to be confirmed (Love Wolverton website)
- Subject planning and related processes:
– Planning permission Autumn 2019 (anticipated) – Agora demolition late 2019 – Phased development commencing early 2020 – Completion 2022/23
Timeline.
What happens next?
SLIDE 21
lovewolverton.co.uk.
For more information and to get involved.
SLIDE 22
Agora car park: Friday occupancy.
SLIDE 23
Town centre parking.
Potential numbers. Location Additional spaces Type Church Street (South Side) 7 Short stay daytime; permit holders evenings Radcliffe Street 6-12 Short stay 'New' Radcliffe Street 19 Short stay daytime; permit holders evenings The Square 6-10 Short stay St George's Way (West Side) 9-12 Medium stay St George's Way north car park 40 Medium stay and permit holders St George's Way estate garages 36 Residents only (reprovision) TOTAL 123-136 additional spaces 87-100 short stay
