Following the green light for Stratford’s Gateway Project, Cllr George Cowcher goes into details of the scheme that are worrying residents
WHILE England may have lost out at the Euros, at least the Gateway Project is coming home for Stratford after 15 years of hurt – or at least protracted delays.
Last week the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) unveiled a multi-million-pound investment – believed to be £9 million– that will help to kick-start the project that will ultimately embrace an area bounded by Birmingham Road and Arden Street, through to the rundown Windsor Street multi-storey car park.
However the news was not universally welcomed, with many residents voicing concerns over such things as the cost, buildings being knocked down, other shabby areas in the town being further neglected, and whether the project will be completed in a timely manner.
Their cynicism is perhaps not surprising. The plan to showcase ‘world-class Stratford’ by creating a Gateway area of shops, a hotel and restaurants, was first hatched by businessman Peter Warwick back in 2009, when he began buying buildings in the area.
For numerous reasons, the Gateway Project stalled under successive Conservative district councils, and became something of a white elephant – proving too costly and complex to become a reality but never quite being abandoned.
The WMCA dipping its hand in its pockets is a sign of just how viable the project is, said Cllr Cowcher, who is focused on the district’s regeneration.
He told the Herald on Tuesday: “The WMCA wanted to ensure it was getting enough value from the investment.
“With a new Labour mayor in the West Midlands, we were worried there may be some political prejudice against us, but that wasn’t the reality at all. I think the case for the regeneration was so very strong, and the WMCA were very keen to do something constructive in Warwickshire, so we’re very fortunate to get it in Stratford.”
Cllr Cowcher promised that the Lib Dem administration will see the project through.
“The Conservatives messed around with it for 12 years. We sat down last year and looked at ways in which we could actually make the scheme work.
“We in the administration are not interested in starting things and never finishing, we want to get things done.”
The Gateway Project will be delivered in three phases, says Cllr Cowcher. The first being the building of 118 affordable houses in the north of the Gateway area, and which the WMCA is project managing, and funding.
“Ideally they will have a planning application in before Christmas. I suspect it’s going to take four or five months to determine that application, because it’s not going to be simple, and I’m sure there will be lots of views about that.”
He continued: “I think what we’re trying to demonstrate is that Stratford is coming alive, and actually we’re getting on with things at the moment, rather than kicking the can down the road.
“I would personally hope that we might see some physical action taking place towards the end of 2025. That would be my best guess, but obviously we’re not in control of the situation.
“I’m somewhat impatient about things in Stratford, so I’m constantly on everyone’s back about getting on with things.”
The promise of ‘affordable homes’ has seen residents query how actually affordable they will be, but the WMCA measure is that repayments do not exceed a third of income, something the district council is keen to support.
“We’re very keen to ensure that in Stratford we’ve got housing that is suitable for young people starting out and also people downsizing as well, but making sure that they are attractive and affordable. That is really important for our key workers and obviously for the continuing development of the town. So it ticks many boxes from our point of view.”
Cllr Cowcher also offered assurances that none of the listed buildings would be knocked down – but would in fact benefit frombeing saved from dereliction.
Some of them are owned by Peter Warwick, and it is Cllr Cowcher’s understanding that the WMCA has agreed a purchase with the businessman.
Phase two involves the proposed new visitors’ centre and museum for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT), which will be in place around the existing coach park on Windsor Street and take in the listed buildings and empty office buildings on Arden Street.
“We are also urging SBT to get on with their fundraising, because clearly if we’re going to have a new centre, it’s going to cost a bit. The trust are pretty confident they will get it.”
Cllr Cowcher continued: “The third element is the demolition of the Windsor Street car park, and making better use of Arden Street car park. No design work of that has been done at the moment. This the phase that the district council will have to do [and fund] in the fullness of time.”
Mindful of the anti-social behaviour problems ongoing in that area and its impact on residents, Cllr Cowcher added: “What we need to make sure is we don’t make the same mistake in terms of what we do on Arden Street. And that’s why I’m keen to see what the details will look like. It’s a problematic area in the town which we’ve got to sort out.”
While the regeneration of the Gateway area is good news, Cllr Cowcher says he is still prioritising other neglected sites.
“I said when we took over a year ago there were three major sites in Stratford that we were determined to get sorted. One was Debenhams, and we’re hopeful that is going to move ahead. Another is the High Street, and I’m please with the new investment that’s coming into Stratford, such as the new Gail’s Bakery.
“I’m very keen to try and pedestrianise the High Street. But they seem to be dragging their feet terribly about that.
“And then my third site, which I’m really on the case of at the moment, is the BHS building.
“After this we’ll be looking at the Green Dragon site.”
Sharing a final thought on the Gateway Project, Cllr Cowcher said: “It’s going to be a continuing process. It’s not going to happen overnight. I’m sure there will be bumps in the road going ahead, but I think at the moment we have got a way forward.”
