MASLEN ENVIRONMENTAL SHARES HONOURS IN TOP NATIONAL REGENERATION AWARD

www.bura.org.uk

Landscape and environmental consultants Maslen Environmental played a pivotal role in a £30 million regeneration scheme that has won a national award for excellence and innovation.

The company has spent the past eight years working with the South Humber Bank Partnership, which has received a 2007 British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA) Award for Best Practice in Regeneration.

Maslen Environmental, based in historic Saltaire and headed by Steve Maslen, has provided support and guidance to the Partnership, which includes North Lincolnshire Council, the Environment Agency, Natural England, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, English Heritage, Waterside Artists’ Co-operative and the Queen Street School Preservation Trust.

The ten-strong company provided masterplanning, design and planning services, carried out public consultations and stakeholder engagement events, provided advice on issues such as sustainability, external funding and business case development and submitted bids that brought in almost half of the total funding.

The BURA awards recognise projects that demonstrate ‘best’ rather than good practice, which act as a catalyst for further regeneration in the area, have a track record of success and make a positive economic, environmental and social impact on the area. Their aim is to promote pioneering approaches and exemplary practices across the UK.

Steve Maslen, who wrote the winning BURA award submission on behalf of the partnership, said:

"In all our work with the South Humber Bank Partnership we’ve aimed beyond the normal levels of professionalism and good practice to set new standards."

“It’s a perfect example of how through the use of our green and built cultural heritage communities can work together and it shows that if you match confidence and determination with co-operation, innovation and commitment you can achieve spectacular results.”

“The result has been the complete revitalisation, not just of buildings and land, but of the hopes and expectations of the people who live and work there”.

South Humber Bank Partnership spokesperson Tim Allen, of North Lincolnshire Council, said:

“Maslen Environmental have worked alongside the partners from the outset, providing valuable funding, planning and design services.”

“They can be rightly proud of the role they’ve played in achieving this BURA award.”

“The partnership’s work continues to consolidate the area’s growing status as a centre of excellence for environmental and cultural tourism and as a vibrant place to live and work.”

Since the late 1990s the South Humber Bank Partnership has capitalised on the environmental and cultural assets of the south Humber bank to revive an area once marred by deteriorating buildings, contaminated land, low employment and social exclusion, and threatened with sea level rise.

The BURA Award recognises its work across a range of projects, including:

• The reclamation of one of the most contaminated sites in the north of England into the Waters’ Edge Country Park with a visitor and business centre recognised as one of the UK’s ‘greenest’ buildings, which has recorded more than 150,000 visitors.

• Transforming the redundant Grade II Listed former ropeworks factory into a vibrant centre for the creative arts.

• Extending the Far Ings nature reserve and turning a redundant watersports building into an Education Centre.

• The South Humber Bank Wildlife and People Project, which has involved 2,500 local people to date in wildlife education and training activities.

• Restoring St Peter’s Church at Barton and creating an exhibition on burials in the community dating back to the Norman period.

• Restoring the Victorian Queen Street School.

• Improving access and creating an exhibition at the historic Thornton Abbey.

• The flood risk management and habitat creation project at Alkborough Flats.

As a result of the projects employment, skills levels have improved, business confidence and investment increased and property prices have risen above regional averages. The area, to be known as the South Humber Collection, North Lincolnshire, is now firmly on the tourism map with a dramatic increase in visitor numbers.

Liz Bennet, Development Officer for the Waterside Artists’ Co-operative and a resident of Barton:

“The regeneration has produced the right environment for creativity and confidence, making the area a magnet for artists and craftspeople.”

Councillor Mark Kirk, Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Markets, North Lincolnshire Council:

“The BURA award is known to be the most sought after accolade in the field of regeneration. It is a real achievement for this award to be received for regeneration in North Lincolnshire. The South Humber Bank Partnership really deserves recognition.”

“All of the work we have carried out together is a benefit to the area. The SHWAP project has given residents the opportunity to learn about wildlife, built heritage and archaeological assets in North Lincolnshire. The base for this project, Far Ings Nature Reserve, is a National Nature Reserve and attracts many visitors to our area.”

“Together with the flood defence scheme at Alkborough flats the partnership is making real strides in helping regenerate North Lincolnshire and recognise the rich and diverse natural heritage.”

Jeremy Reed, English Heritage Visitor Operations Director for the North:

“This award is fantastic news for the region and for everybody who took part in the scheme. English Heritage is proud to be part of such a successful partnership, which shows you can really make a difference by working together and sharing expertise to revitalise the historic, cultural and natural environment.”

John Walker, Chairman of the Queen Street School Preservation Trust:

“The Award recognises the efforts of a range of organisations and individuals that continue to work together to capitalise on the town's built heritage and the natural landscapes around it.”

“Queen Street School is one of a cluster of Victorian public buildings, which is rare for a town of this size and the school’s restoration will improve the streetscape and hopefully act as a catalyst for similar regeneration efforts.”

Jeff Lunn, Natural England Area Manager:

“The work of the partnership has shown that successful regeneration can be built on our green and heritage environment.”

Toby Willison, Environment Agency Area Manager:

“We are delighted to be part of such a successful partnership and to have won such a prestigious award. The Environment Agency is committed to making the environment a better place and the work on the South Humber Bank is great testament to this.”

Stuart Crooks, Director of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust:

“It is wonderful that the achievements of the partnership have been recognised in this way. Working closely with partners has greatly aided the success of the projects and we are delighted with the results at the Far Ings National Nature Reserve Centre, which was formally opened by Professor David Bellamy in June.”

Fiona Spiers, Regional Manager for the Heritage Lottery Fund:
“It is wonderful to see the variety of North Lincolnshire’s heritage and the regeneration in this area being recognised nationally.”

“The commitment and hard work that has been put in by all of the partners and projects involved have helped to open up the heritage of the area and reinforce a sense of pride and belonging in the local community.”

The BURA award will be presented to the partners on Thursday 29th November at River Park Plaza Hotel, London.

The Waters’ Edge reclamation project was commended as “an excellent example of a very major project to restore degraded lands to community use with a high quality end result” in the 2007 Remediation Innovation Awards, Most Sustainable Remediation Project category.

The Alkborough Flats Project received a national BURA Waterways Award for innovation in 2006.

The British Urban Regeneration Association has provided a forum for the exchange of ideas, experience and information for the diverse regeneration sector since 1990. As the leading independent champion for those involved in regeneration, BURA’s unique strength comes from its diverse membership, which spans the private, public, voluntary, community and academic sectors.

BURA identifies and promotes best practice in regeneration, guiding and inspiring the sector’s evolution and exploring the social, economic and environmental issues involved for all parties. BURA’s dynamic cross-sector think-tank, the SDF, helps to shape and influence regeneration policy. The Association offers national and regional networks, pioneering and practical modular training programmes, diverse and constructive events and campaigns addressing key issues on the regeneration agenda, in particular the long-term development of the regeneration workforce itself.