Herefordshire Council has created a new development company to secure private sector investment and deliver new opportunities for the whole of Hereford - while protecting and promoting the special character of the city's historic core.
Councillor Roger Phillips, leader of the council, said today (16 July 2010) in a meeting of the full council that the new company is called Hereford Futures. It will take its lead from the priorities recently voiced by residents in the council's successful Shaping Our Place consultation earlier this year.
"Local people have said they want new and better-paid jobs, new enterprise, affordable homes and vibrant new communities, better transport links and improved higher education facilities. Hereford Futures will be responsible for ensuring that all this is delivered for Hereford".
The chief executive is Jonathan Bretherton, and the chairman is Ted Willmott CB OBE, both previously with ESG Herefordshire. New board members will be announced shortly.
Herefordshire Council has worked with ESG and partners on bringing substantial investment into Hereford through the new £650-million regeneration project. The council believes it can build on this track record to ensure the whole city is well placed to benefit from the upturn in the economy.
"With our development partners, we are close to clinching exciting new retail and leisure attractions for Hereford, which will bring in more visitors and shoppers to benefit the whole of the city and the county economy", said Councillor Roger Phillips, leader of the council.
"Now we feel the time is right to focus on what more is needed. We intend to create a new and confident environment for more private sector investment in the historic core of the city, whilst respecting its special character and supporting established retailers, businesses and attractions. This is what people have told us the city needs - more investment, more care and more support for what is already good about Hereford.
"Hereford Futures will have a comprehensive remit, which maximises on the wide experience of the chair and chief executive and others in delivering successful high value regeneration projects across the UK. This will now be combined with the expertise of professionals and resources from within Herefordshire Council to restore Hereford's rightful position as an economic powerhouse in the region".
Commented Jonathan Bretherton, chief executive of Hereford Futures: "We have listened carefully to what residents and businesses have been telling us needs to be done for Hereford. I am delighted to be working with talented and creative people, in the community and in the council, and in the traditional and best interests of the city. We want enhance the identity and marketability of Hereford and finally fulfil its potential as an exciting destination for tourists, shoppers, businesses and inward investment".
Hereford Futures will drive improvements in the transport infrastructure, including working on investment for the city's new relief road and a second river crossing, as well as clarifying funding for the new link road. It will oversee other important traffic management projects, including sustainable transport, and improved public transport connections to ensure that visitors find it easier to get to, and get around, the city.
Hereford Futures will develop new communities and urgently needed decent, affordable and sustainable, energy-efficient homes for the whole city, as well as working with housing partners to create the new urban village close to the city centre. The company will investigate smaller sites within the city core where new retailing or residential development could take place.
Hereford Futures will also deliver the new flood alleviation and protection measures to ensure peace of mind for city residents and businesses. It will open up new strategic business parks to attract new enterprises, including knowledge-based industries to bring new and better-paid jobs that benefit the county as a whole. And it will create new and imaginative amenities, a new one-stop-shop for public services, and a new higher education campus to ensure the city and the county has the skills it needs to support new enterprise and growth.
The new company is also tasked with maximising on the
opportunities of the new livestock market, due to be built in
the current financial year, to help safeguard the county's
valuable agricultural heritage and promote new ideas for
maximum use of the resource.