LUF Programme Manager

Wrexham County Borough Council wishes to appoint a Programme Manager to lead the delivery of its exciting Levelling Up Fund Project at the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Canal World Heritage Site and the linkage through the Dee Valley in NE Wales. This is an exciting, cross-county Package Bid, developed by Wrexham County Borough Council (WCBC) and Denbighshire County Council (DCC) designed to maximise the potential of the post-COVID-19 visitor economy resulting from the health and wellbeing offer found at the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Canal World Heritage Site (from hereon WHS) and the linkage through the Dee Valley in NE Wales. Three coherent projects will ‘level-up’ the current deficiency of appropriate user / visitor infrastructure across heritage sites, which inhibits economic growth, wellbeing and prosperity otherwise expected from the presence of such internationally unique heritage and culture assets. The projects address access and connectivity within otherwise constrained locations, which will help ensure equitability of opportunity for both local residents and visitorsThe Programme Management Role is to ensure that there is co-ordination across the three distinct projects within the overall package and between the lead partners and delivery partners, to ensure that the stated outputs and outcomes are delivered on time and within budget, whilst satisfying UK Government’s Monitoring & Evaluation procedures.Background InformationThe Pontcysyllte Aqueduct & Canal World Heritage Site was inscribed by UNESCO in 2009, following the completion of an application process that commenced following the bicentennial celebrations of Thomas Telford’s engineering masterpiece in 2005. The inscribed World Heritage Site encompasses the aqueduct at Pontycysllte, a scheduled monument, as well as the 11-miles of associated canal that reach from Horseshoe Falls, the start of the canal in Denbighshire through to the aqueduct at Chirk and onwards into Shropshire.The WHS Strategic Board and its governance structure has implemented both a Management Plan (a requirement of the inscription) and more recently a Technical Masterplan for Trevor Basin. These plans have received universal support from the key partners and stakeholders. The documents are available at appendix 1 and 2.The priorities identified through stakeholder engagement that have shaped the Technical Masterplan include:- improve the sense of arrival at the WHS;- address parking, access, movement and impact on local residents;- create links with the wider area;- plan income generating activities to benefit the local economy;- encourage visitor spend and increase dwell time; and- maximise education opportunities within the WHS.The UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund has provided a significant opportunity to advance the delivery of the Trevor Basin Technical Masterplan. The criteria of the Fund determined that a bid could be developed for the Clwyd South constituency, which straddles part of both Wrexham County Borough and Denbighshire County. This has enabled focus to be drawn on the opportunities to develop the visitor economy both within the discreet area of inscription but also extend those through the wider Dee Valley to Corwen, effectively creating a new entry point to the WHS, through linkages between the town and the steam railway.The Levelling Up Fund Project therefore comprises a package of three complementary projects. There is a core theme throughout each project of visitor infrastructure and connectivity, that seeks to address the constrained nature of these locations and in turn catalyse economic activity around better managed visitor attractions. It is also critically important to address the importance that local communities place on the amenity of these locations and define a better balance between visitors and local people.Project 1: Trevor Basin Technical Masterplan (Phase 1) - User / Visitor Connectivity Networks Delivery.Investment within the WHS will enhance and protect an internationally significant, UK asset and stimulate post- pandemic recovery of NE Wales’ tourist and rural economies. Implementation of the Trevor Basin Technical Masterplan will ensure the WHS achieves its full potential on a national and international level to attract visitors and catalyse economic growth in neighbouring communities. Infrastructure investment will also ensure that the interests of those living in / adjacent to the Basin are safeguarded whilst maximising visitor economy benefits. A carbon sink will be created to support net-zero carbon aspirations.WCBC, The Canal & River Trust (CRT), Solutia UK Ltd & DCC have identified a linked package of visitor connectivity interventions that will1. Secure and safeguard the Trevor Basin Site for the future development of the full £41m Masterplan2. Address tension between the current visitor capacity of the site and the adjacent local communities through improved infrastructure3. Deliver a positive cost benefit resulting from the improved visitor offerProject 2: User / Visitor Movement Connectivity Improvements within the 11- Mile World Heritage Site.Although the Technical Masterplan focuses on one location, the development of an improved visitor offer depends on harnessing the value of the full eleven miles of the WHS, in the Dee Valley spanning 3 local authority areas and a national border. Project 2 is mainly focused in Denbighshire and supports the cross-border visitor connectivity / management offer in the Dee Valley at: Horseshoe Falls, The Four Great Highways and Plas Newydd in Llangollen; Wenffrwd to Llangollen Active Travel Corridor including the old Railway Line and Chirk.Project 3: Corwen Connectivity - New and Improved Western Gateway to the Dee Valley and World Heritage Site.This Project will improve visitor connectivity and infrastructure, Corwen town centre assets and public realm between the railway station and car park, including a new platform canopy. The project will enhance visitor experience, dwell time and spend, with onward linkage to Llangollen and Cynwyd, effectively creating a new, improved and complementary visitor entry point to the World Heritage Site.WCBC is the lead applicant for the Levelling Up Fund Project and is directly responsible to UK Government for the delivery and sound management of the project. The Programme Manager role will support this relationship and will assist the local governance arrangementsNOTE: The authority is using eTenderwales to carry out this procurement process. To obtain further information record your interest on Sell2Wales at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=122265

(WA Ref:122265)