Promoting Regeneration in Merseyside: Structural Funds and Trams

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Promoting Regeneration in Merseyside Structural
Funds and Trams

• Anne McGregor, Steer Davies Gleave
• Thursday 20th November, 2003

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Introduction

• Merseyside Social and Economic Context
• Objective 1 Programme 2000 2006 in Merseyside
• Merseytram Achieving Regeneration Objectives
  for Merseyside
• Utilising the Structural and Cohesion Funds
  Successfully

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Where is Merseyside?

• North West of England
• Bordered by Wales
• 5 Local Authorities
• 655 Square Kilometres
• 1.5 Million Residents
• Liverpool Urban Centre
• European Capital of Culture 2008
• Home of the Beatles
• 450,000 Residents

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Merseyside Social and Economic Context

• One of the poorest urban areas in the UK
• Low economic activity
• High levels of unemployment, income and education
• Pathways Areas
• Established under previous Objective 1 Programme
• 38 Community Economic Development Areas
• Suffer from high levels of depravation

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Merseyside A Snapshot
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Objective 1 Programme 2000 2006 in Merseyside

• Designated Objective 1 area for second period
• Region under-performing against EU average GDP
  per head of population
• Will receive 1.3 billion between 2000 and 2006
  from Objective 1 Programme
• Along with public and private sector
  contributions the Programme will be worth an
  estimated 3.3 billion

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Global Objectives

• The Vision To Create A World Class City-Region
  that attracts people to live, work, invest and
  visit
• To raise GDP per capita to UK level
• To bring unemployment levels in Merseyside in
  line with UK levels
• To bring level of unemployment in Pathways areas
  into line with Merseyside levels
• Four Priorities identified to deliver these
  global objectives

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Objective 1 Programme Regeneration Focus

• Spatially Targeted
• Strategic Investment Areas
• 38 Pathways Areas
• Creating jobs and improving opportunities for
  people to access employment

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Objective 1 Priorities Key Investment Areas

• Priority 1 Developing Business
• Priority 2 Developing People
• Priority 3 Developing Locations
• Priority 4 Developing Pathways Communities
• Key Investment areas
• Infrastructure and essential facilities
• Transport infrastructure
• Under-developed key sites
• Along main Gateways / Corridors
• Better Access, Communications and Transport Links
• Better Access to Economic Areas

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Merseytram Proposed Tram Routes in Merseyside
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Merseytram Line 1

• Specifically developed to address Objective 1
  issues
• Connects 2 Strategic Investment Areas (where the
  aim is to create 10,000 jobs)
• Passes through 6 Pathways Areas (total population
  of 156,750)
• Enhances public transport accessibility to the
  City Centre
• Promotes social inclusion in Pathways Areas

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How Does Merseytram Best Fit With the Priorities?
(1)

• Priority 3 Measure 24 Improving Communications
• Contribute to the social and economic
  regeneration through a transport strategy based
  on investment in public transport
• The scheme will
• Improve access to employment
• Secure additional business investment and
  employment
• Link areas of need and opportunity
• Increase public transports modal share and
  reduce car use

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How Does Merseytram Best Fit With the Priorities?
(2)

• Priority 3, Measure 21 Liverpool City Centre
• Supports the development of Liverpool into a
  premier European city
• The scheme will
• Assist regeneration of the City Centre and
  Waterfront
• Enable city centre employers to have better
  access to staff
• Create links between the city centre and areas of
  need

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How Does Merseytram Best Fit With the Priorities?
(3)

• Priority 4, Measure 29 - Creating / Accessing
  Opportunities in Pathways Areas
• Contributes to the reduction of disparities
  between Pathways areas through supporting actions
  to improve economic and social opportunities,
  improving the quality of life and building
  sustainable neighbourhoods and vibrant
  communities
• The scheme will
• Assist the regeneration through enhancing
  linkages between key areas
• Improve access to employment for 21 of Pathways
  residents

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Current Status of Merseytram Project

• Preliminary application for ERDF Funding accepted
• Main application currently being processed
• Consideration given to applying for the funding
  under different Measures
• Other project currently applying for funding from
  the same Measure
• Final application for 25 million from Measure 24

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Structural Funds Significant Resource for
Acceding Countries

• Over 20 billion available across sectors for
  Central European applicants
• Funds must be disbursed by 2006
• Successful project applicants have 2 years to
  realise their projects and draw down the
  commitment
• If a commitment is not used within this period
  the money will be decommitted

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Utilising the Structural Funds Successfully -
Lessons Learned from Experience in Merseyside

• Able to understand the aims and objectives of the
  Programme, Priorities and Measures
• Must show adequately that the project meets the
  objectives of the Measure
• Consider applying for money from different
  Measures
• Innovative thinking will allow successful
  utilisation of the funds

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Contact details

• Steer Davies Gleave
• 26-32 Upper Ground
• London SE1 9PD
• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• www.steerdaviesgleave.com