£200 million to improve walking and cycling routes and boost local economies
Active Travel England, the government’s executive agency responsible for making walking, wheeling and cycling, the preferred transport mode choice in England, has, today, announced a new £200 million fund to improve walking and cycling routes and boost local economies. Local authorities are being invited to apply for funding for schemes such as new cycle routes and improved safety at crossings, with projects to be designed in consultation with local residents and businesses. AMION Consulting has experience in making the case for active travel infrastructure, both standalone and as part of broader land use and transport interventions. For more information, please contact Tom Millard tommillard@amion.co.uk
AMION helps to secure £215 million of Levelling Up funds
The government has announced the second round of successful Levelling Up Fund (LUF) bids across the country. In total, £2.1 billion of government funding has been announced for 111 successful applications from 525 total bids. Building on successes in Round 1, AMION Consulting has further cemented its status as market-leaders in competitive funding rounds, having helped to secure £215 million of LUF grant to support nationwide projects. Highlights include AMION securing £20 million for the local regeneration of a Riverside Gateway in Great Yarmouth. In South East Lincolnshire, AMION led on three successful bids – £14.8 million for Rosegarth Square (a new urban park in Boston); £20 million for a new Health and Wellbeing Hub in Spalding; and £8.1 million to revive three at-risk heritage and cultural sites in Lincolnshire Wolds. AMION also helped to secure £20 million of funding for the restoration of Haigh Hall in Wigan, which will make the site a popular destination for culture, community, events and hospitality. Government has also allocated monies for a third round of Levelling Up, with dates yet to be confirmed. Further details can be obtained from Simon Dancer, AMION Consulting on simondancer@amion.co.uk
INVESTMENT ZONES: AMION ADVISE ON 100+ SITES ACROSS COUNTRY
Whilst the “Mini” Budget generated some turbulence around tax changes, it also included the introduction of Investment Zones The aim of Investment Zones is to drive growth and unlock housing, using fiscal incentives and planning liberalisation The EOI assessment process was managed by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Applications closed on 14 October 2022. AMION led the market, providing analytical advice on some 100+ sites across the country. Sites successful at the EOI stage will be required to prepare Delivery Plans. These reports will need to confirm that sites will represent value for money and deliver the housing and growth objectives of the Investment Zones programme. Further details can be obtained from Simon Dancer, AMION Consulting…simondancer@amion.co.uk
A new service offered by AMION Consulting – Transport Economics
AMION has substantial expertise in the field of transport economics. We have a detailed understanding of DfT Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG), and regularly apply this in making the case for a wide variety of different projects and programmes. Our experience includes economic appraisals, business cases, funding applications and evaluations for road, public transport and active travel schemes, as well as development focussed projects that may have a transport component or transport impact that should be captured as part of a broader economic appraisal. We are able to work collaboratively with transport planners and modellers, advising on inputs that are required to inform an economic analysis.
HMT publish new “Green Book”
HM Treasury released an updated version of the Green Book (2022) on the 31st March 2022. For those of you new to the world of public sector workings, this is a fairly big deal given the critical way it plays in appraising projects. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-green-book-appraisal-and-evaluation-in-central-governent The Green Book, or to give its full title ‘Central Government Guidance on Appraisal and Evaluation’ details how public bodies should appraise policies, programmes and projects. Unlike departmental guidance, the Green Book applies across the whole of government. In other words, it sets out the “rules of the game” for those of you who require initiatives to be signed off as “Green Book-compliant”. This will mean any organisation applying to Central Government for grants or funding will need to make sure their application is consistent with the new guide. AMION Consulting are market-leaders in the preparation of economic appraisals and business cases, especially techniques mandated in the Green Book.
AMION HELP SECURE £163 MILLION OF LEVELLING UP FUNDS FROM GOVERNMENT
In the Budget, the Chancellor announced the first round of successful Levelling Up Fund (LUF) bids across the country. AMION Consulting cemented their reputation as market-leaders with this flagship government policy, with nine successful LUF bids across the United Kingdom. These projects brought in a total of £163 million grant to support local partners. Some of the highlights included AMION securing £20 million for Twycross Zoo to fund a new science and conservation centre in Warwickshire. In Sheffield, AMION helped with two successful LUF bids, totalling some £37 million for the Gateway to Sheffield and Attercliffe Regeneration projects. AMION also led two successful applications for Bury Council, securing £40 million for the Bury Market FlexiHall and Radcliffe Civic Hub schemes. LUF Round Two will open in Spring 2022 and further details can be obtained from Graham Russell, AMION Consulting on grahamrussell@amion.co.uk
AMION advises on successful Freeport bid
The 2021 Budget saw the announcement of eight new Freeport locations across the United Kingdom, with AMION supporting Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to develop their successful bid. More recently, our team have been advising on the development of Business Cases for their Freeport proposals. This article delves into the nature of the Government’s flagship Freeport programme and the latest developments. What are Freeports? Freeports are secure Customs Zones where business can be carried out within a country’s land border albeit with different customs rules. Businesses located within the Freeport Zone can benefit from reduced administrative burdens and tariff controls, relief from duties and import taxes, and eased tax and planning regulations. The UK’s Freeport model aims to achieve the following three objectives: Establish Freeports as national hubs for global trade and investment across the UK Promote regeneration and job creation Create hotbeds of innovation From Expression of Interest to Business Case In the midst of the second Covid-19 lockdown in November 2020, bidding coalitions across the country were invited to submit proposals demonstrating their suitability for Freeport status. The bidders were required to answer a series of questions related to defining the extent of the Freeport including the outer boundary and tax and customs site geographies. Proposals for the implementation and delivery of the Freeport were also developed. AMION was engaged with a consortium of partners in the LCR – including LCR CA, its constituent local authorities, industry bodies, further education providers and the wider local business base – to develop their Freeport bid. It was estimated that the LCR Freeport could contribute around £850 million GVA and create 14,000 jobs, as well as leading on solutions to meet net zero targets. Following the announcement of the eight successful bidders in March, including LCR CA, the bidding coalitions have been required to expand proposals further through the production of Business Cases. Business Cases are used extensively in the public sector to seek approval for new initiatives and spending decisions and are governed by HM Treasury’s Green Book. The purpose of Business Cases is to confirm the strategic context of proposals; to make a robust case for change; to assess a range of potential options as to the best way forward; and consider the deliverability and viability of these options. Business Cases are typically prepared in stages according to how far project proposals have been advanced. To date, Outline Business Cases have been prepared for the Freeports, with more advanced Full Business Cases pending. AMION have advised LCR CA and Thurrock Council on the development of their Freeport Outline Business Cases. We have been able to add value particularly through developing the ‘Economic Case’ and a cost-benefit analysis model, which ensures that the intervention will provide value for money. Looking ahead The bidding coalitions will now be looking to develop Full Business Cases for their Freeport proposals. The Freeport Bidding Prospectus has outlined that, depending on the content of the Outline Business Cases, Full Business Cases will be either assured locally or by central government. Provided assurance is successful, a Section 31 grant will be made to the supporting local authority and necessary legislative changes will be made, allowing the Freeport benefits to then materialise. For further information, please contact Tim Johnston (timjohnston@amion.co.uk) or Peter Alford (peteralford@amion.co.uk) at AMION.
Levelling Up Fund: AMION advising bidders
Announced at the Spending Review, the Levelling Up Fund will invest in infrastructure across the UK. The £4.8 billion allocation will support town centre and high street regeneration, local transport projects, and cultural and heritage assets. The Fund is jointly managed by HM Treasury (HMT), the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Transport (DfT). This cross-departmental Fund represents a new approach to local investment and will aim end siloes in Whitehall that make it difficult to take a holistic approach to the infrastructure needs of local areas. AMION is currently advising a number of local authorities on the bidding process, in particular around the need to submit a “Green Book” Business Case. For an informal talk, please contact Graham Russell at AMION on 0151 227 5563 or grahamrussell@amion.co.uk
AMION helps Blackpool Council secure first Towns Fund award
The first towns selected to receive support from the government’s £3.6 billon Towns Fund have been announced with funding allocated for improvements including a revamp of Blackpool’s illuminations. AMION Consulting helped Blackpool Council prepare their submission to government, helping it become the first award announced nationally with allocated funding of £39.5 million. The bid included for a major overhaul of the town’s famous illuminations, funding to relocate Blackpool’s courthouse from a prime central location to make way for a new tourism and leisure development and support for the further development of the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone. For more information, please contact Graham Russell at AMION on 0151 227 5563 or grahamrussell@amion.co.uk
Homes England Panel: AMION appointed
AMION Consulting has been successfully re-appointed to the national Homes England Economics Panel. This means AMION remains the only firm to have been on the Panel since its inception over twenty years ago. To give the Panel its full name, the Homes England Strategic Research and Economic Analysis Professional Services Framework has been projected to have an overall value of £70 million. It provides strategic economic research, analysis, advice and modelling, economic appraisal and associated research and analysis, and impact assessment and evaluation. This Panel is also available for use by other Public Bodies. Please contact Graham Russell at AMION on 0151 227 5563 or grahamrussell@amion.co.uk
Future High Street Funds: AMION-supported bids approved by government
In a significant boost for local high streets, up to £830 million from the Future High Streets Fund will be invested across the country, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick announced. AMION Consulting advised a number of the successful local authorities, including Derby, Dudley, Great Yarmouth, Winsford, Wolverhampton, Worcester and Wigan. In a key milestone for the government’s “Levelling Up” agenda, this investment will help areas to recover from the pandemic while also driving long term growth. For further information, please contact Graham Russell at AMION on 0151 227 5563 or grahamrussell@amion.co.uk
