Watermark Centre Presentation

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The Watermark, Ivybridge Meeting Needs, Raising
Aspirations, Delivering Results

• Keith Brown Angela King
• Devon Reinvestment Service

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Devon Reinvestment Service

• Who are we?
• Partnership of Devon County Council
  (Regeneration), Wessex Reinvestment Trust
  Business in the Community
• What do we do?
• Assist communities to develop assets
• Community engagement
• Partnership Building
• Property Development Skills
• Finance Business Planning
• Whole Project Management Approach

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What is The Watermark, Ivybridge?

• Multi-purpose community hub
• New 450sqm library
• ICT centre/training space
• One Stop Info shop/ TIC
• Large multi-purpose hall
• Meeting rooms
• Function catering, bar cafe
• Serviced business space
• 5m partnership project
• Completed April 2008

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Purpose Aims

• Community Anchor to act as a focal point for
  local service delivery
• Welcoming, bright, family-friendly space
• Bring increased footfall into the town
• Increase local business confidence encourage
  new enterprise
• Ultimately, to create a more sustainable,
  self-sufficient community

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Achievement so far.

• Outcome
• Community Anchor / Welcoming, friendly space

• Evidence (April 08-09)
• 7 day a week usage
• gt200,000 visitors
• 161 increase in library visits
• 573 events/bookings
• gt30,000 requests for info
• Volunteering Friends of group
• New local access to services e.g. CAB, new
  Ivybridge Carers Group

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Achievements so far..

• Outcome
• Increased
• Business
• Confidence

• Evidence
• High occupancy rates for Watermark business units
• 22 FTE posts numerous p/t posts
• Monthly business networking events
• Reinvigorated Chamber of Trade
• Nearly 50 less empty town centre shops 13
  businesses expanded / improved 9 new
  enterprises
• 50,000 spend on local food
• 66 of suppliers within 15 miles
• Recognised regionally/nationally!

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Why has it worked?

• Strong business case built on evidence of need
• Strong dynamic partnership vision
  determination
• Strong leadership project management
• Pooling of skills resources
• Strong PR marketing message
• On-going check-back responsiveness throughout
  design/development beyond
• Robust monitoring evaluation proving success

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Project Origins Rooted in the Community

• MCTI Community Plan TOP PRIORITY PROJECT to
  address
• Exponential population growth 3,500 in 1970s
  to over 12,500 now - plus lack of community
  facilities infrastructure
• Lack of market town presence/ heart further
  threats from major new commercial developments
• Large rural hinterland with poor access to
  services
• Lack of support for entrepreneurs/business
  start-ups affordable premises, training
  advice
• Lack of opportunities to retain young
  people/those of employment age
• However, 3 years of consultation failed at first
  to attract statutory sector support/investment
  needed help to prove the case..

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Digging Deeper.

• DRS help to uncovered demonstrate local issues
  needs around 5 themes
• Employment prospects new business ideas
• Access to services
• Training, learning, new skills
• Culture film, performance, arts, exhibitions
• Pride - restoring the heart of our market town
• Explored tested in variety of ways
• Detailed feasibility work options appraisal

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Gathering Hard Evidence

• Demographics of the town held the clues!
• e.g. Women returners
• e.g. Cultural leak
• Variety of techniques to test suspicions
  questionnaires, taster sessions, targeted
  events.
• Pieced together the jigsaw to create the whole
  picture - convinced funders the rest is
  history!

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A Lasting Impact/Legacy..

• Building for the future anticipates growth,
  flexibility of design, state of the art
  technology
• Visibility landmark building, heart of the
  town, increasing pride confidence
• Changing fortunes a reason to come to/stay in
  Ivybridge, creating new markets, providing
  quality facilities services not previously
  available, challenging perceptions.
• In-built sustainability local involvement/lead,
  robust monitoring, reduced need to travel.
• Motivation for Ivybridge - elsewhere!

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Key Messages for Today

• Building a clear business case for investment
  decisions
• Going beyond / beneath published sources of
  information
• DCC as an enabler to help communities to prove
  that need themselves
• No blueprint investment must reflect identified
  local need/circumstances

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Want to find out more?
www.devon.gov.uk/ developingcommunitiesfacilities.
htm Email Reinvest_at_devon.gov.uk Tel 01392
382157
Forthcoming event Developing Community
Assets Next THURSDAY _at_ THE WATERMARK