Working in partnership to create value through property solutions; an Enterprise Campus: Co-location between public and commercial partners.
We supported South Staffordshire Council as part of the wider Staffordshire OPE partnership to embark on an ambitious project to increase the scale and range of public services operating from its Community Hub. The Hub will integrate a GP surgery, pharmacy, NHS Clinic, private businesses and voluntary organisations alongside existing library and Council offices.
Design Approach
In assessing the strategic asset rationalisation plan, HLM’s approach generated principal ‘Performance and Compliance Criteria’ which was used to benchmark the option appraisal process.
HLM has defined the core objectives (Critical Success Factors) within the following design and development framework:
- The design created an integrated public sector hub with commercial opportunity. Successful integration became essential, ensuring the property solution promotes and delivers more than just ‘co-location’.
- Maximise rental and / or capital receipts from surplus space and disposals strategy. This is embedded within our design approach. Define the opportunities for reducing operational revenue streams (cost reductions through improved life cycle, energy costs, maintenance).
- Provide contemporary efficient, agile and flexible workspace for employees, promoting wellbeing and opportunities for public sector partnerships.
- Our masterplan design generates long term value whilst supporting economic and socio-economic development principles.
- Our approach meets known demand for facilities whilst offering future proofing principles.
- Property solutions improve the physical environment – creating Civic Identity through quality placemaking and improving the delivery of public services.
OPE has funded the crucial business case development stage of this ambitious project. This enabled the partnership to continue with the momentum gained and secure the confidence of their co-location partners. Staffordshire Council recognised that they need to work closely with partners to develop creative solutions to integrating existing and new services at the campus. HLM supported the dedicated OPE regional team who are providing support to the partnership by sharing expertise of nearby OPE partnerships.
This consolidation of services will allow closure of inefficient, disparate sites including the existing GP surgery and police stations, subsequently releasing land for 50 homes and generating around £3m in capital receipts. The relocation to a more modern and efficient workspace is also forecast to reduce ongoing operating costs by around £1.2m and increase productivity for the public bodies involved.
HLM’s strategic property and design input enabled the County and District to optimise value outputs from assets combining capital receipt and revenue generation opportunities. Our approach was recognised as one of three UK case studies published within the Cabinet Office ‘State of the Estate’ report.
