Natural England

A £30 million regeneration scheme spearheaded by the South Humber Bank Partnership has won a prestigious national award for excellence and innovation.

The partnership stood out against 150 regeneration schemes from all over the UK to receive the 2007 British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA) Award for Best Practice in Regeneration, for a range of projects along the south bank of the Humber Estuary around Barton upon Humber.

The Partnership includes North Lincolnshire Council, the Environment Agency, Natural England, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, English Heritage, Queen Street School Preservation Trust and the Waterside Artists’ Co-operative. It has received valuable support from Yorkshire Forward and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Today partnership spokesperson Tim Allen, of North Lincolnshire Council, said: "This award is testament to the enthusiasm, commitment and co-operation of the partners over the past nine years. It has not only revitalised buildings and land, but also the hopes and expectations of the people who live and work along the south Humber bank.
The partnership’s work continues to consolidate the area’s growing status as a centre of excellence for environmental and cultural tourism and as a vibrant place to live and work."

The BURA awards recognise projects that demonstrate ‘best’ rather than good practice, which act as a catalyst for further regeneration in the area, have a track record of success and make a positive economic, environmental and social impact on the area. Their aim is to promote pioneering approaches and exemplary practices across the UK.

Since the late 1990s the South Humber Bank Partnership has capitalised on the environmental and cultural assets of the south Humber bank to revive an area once marred by deteriorating buildings, contaminated land, low employment and social exclusion, and threatened with sea level rise.

The BURA Award recognises its work across a range of projects, including:

• The reclamation of one of the most contaminated sites in the north of England into the Waters’ Edge country park with a visitor and business centre recognised as one of the UK’s ‘greenest’ buildings, which has recorded more than 150,000 visitors.
• Transforming the redundant Grade II Listed former ropeworks factory into a vibrant centre for the creative arts.
• Extending the Far Ings nature reserve and turning a redundant watersports building into an Education Centre.
• The South Humber Bank Wildlife and People Project, which has involved 2,500 local people to date in wildlife education and training activities.
• Restoring St Peter’s Church at Barton and creating an exhibition on burials in the community dating back to the Norman period.
• Restoring the Victorian Queen Street School.
• Improving access and creating an exhibition at the historic Thornton Abbey.
• The flood risk management and habitat creation project at Alkborough Flats.

As a result of the projects employment and skills levels have improved, business confidence and investment increased and property prices have risen above regional averages. The area, to be known as the South Humber Collection, North Lincolnshire, is now firmly on the tourism map with a dramatic increase in visitor numbers.

The BURA award will be presented to the partners on Thursday 29 November at River Park Plaza Hotel, London.

Among them will be Liz Bennet, Development Officer for the Waterside Artists’ Co-operative and a resident of Barton. Liz said: "The regeneration has produced the right environment for creativity and confidence, making the area a magnet for artists and craftspeople."

The Waters’ Edge reclamation project was commended as "an excellent example of a very major project to restore degraded lands to community use with a high quality end result" in the 2007 Remediation Innovation Awards, Most Sustainable Remediation Project category.

The Alkborough Flats Project received a national BURA Waterways Award for innovation in 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT TIM ALLEN ON 01727 297387 or 07717 587387 or at tim.allen@northlincs.gov.uk

More follows…

Some more responses to the BURA award…

Councillor Mark Kirk, Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Markets, North Lincolnshire Council:
"The BURA award is known to be the most sought after accolade in the field of regeneration. It is a real achievement for this award to be received for regeneration in North Lincolnshire. The South Humber Bank Partnership really deserves recognition.
All of the work we have carried out together is a benefit to the area. The SHWAP project has given residents the opportunity to learn about wildlife, built heritage and archaeological assets in North Lincolnshire. The base for this project, Far Ings Nature Reserve, is a National Nature Reserve and attracts many visitors to our area.
Together with the flood defence scheme at Alkborough flats the partnership is making real strides in helping regenerate North Lincolnshire and recognise the rich and diverse natural heritage."

Jan Anderson, Executive Director, Environment for Yorkshire Forward:
"Yorkshire Forward’s work has always been based on the development of strong working partnerships, and this award demonstrates what can be delivered by working together to achieve a common goal."

Jeremy Reed, English Heritage Visitor Operations Director for the North:
"This award is fantastic news for the region and for everybody who took part in the scheme. English Heritage is proud to be part of such a successful partnership, which shows you can really make a difference by working together and sharing expertise to revitalise the historic, cultural and natural environment."

John Walker, Chairman of the Queen Street School Preservation Trust: "The Award recognises the efforts of a range of organisations and individuals that continue to work together to capitalise on the town's built heritage and the natural landscapes around it.
Queen Street School is one of a cluster of Victorian public buildings, which is rare for a town of this size and the school’s restoration will improve the streetscape and hopefully act as a catalyst for similar regeneration efforts."

Jeff Lunn, Natural England Area Manager:
"We are thrilled with this award and delighted that the vision for the South Humber Bank is now being nationally recognised. Natural England is proud to support the partnership and we are pleased to have played a part in safeguarding wildlife and habitats for future generations and in creating the magnificent opportunities now available across the South Humber Bank for people to enjoy and learn more about their environment, culture and heritage "

Toby Willison, Environment Agency Area Manager:
"We are delighted to be part of such a successful partnership and to have won such a prestigious award. The Environment Agency is committed to making the environment a better place and the work on the South Humber Bank is great testament to this."

Stuart Crooks, Director of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust:
"It is wonderful that the achievements of the partnership have been recognised in this way. Working closely with partners has greatly aided the success of the projects and we are delighted with the results at the Far Ings National Nature Reserve Centre, which was formally opened by Professor David Bellamy in June."

Fiona Spiers, Regional Manager for the Heritage Lottery Fund:
“It is wonderful to see the variety of North Lincolnshire’s heritage and the regeneration in this area being recognised nationally.
The commitment and hard work that has been put in by all of the partners and projects involved have helped to open up the heritage of the area and reinforce a sense of pride and belonging in the local community."

Notes to editors:

About BURA
The British Urban Regeneration Association has provided a forum for the exchange of ideas, experience and information for the diverse regeneration sector since 1990. As the leading independent champion for those involved in regeneration, BURA’s unique strength comes from its diverse membership, which spans the private, public, voluntary, community and academic sectors.

BURA identifies and promotes best practice in regeneration, guiding and inspiring the sector’s evolution and exploring the social, economic and environmental issues involved for all parties. BURA’s dynamic cross-sector think-tank, the SDF, helps to shape and influence regeneration policy. The Association offers national and regional networks, pioneering and practical modular training programmes, diverse and constructive events and campaigns addressing key issues on the regeneration agenda, in particular the long-term development of the regeneration workforce itself.

www.bura.org.uk

For further press information about BURA’s awards please call Natalie Moorse (n.moorse@mncommunications.co.uk) or Ruth Johnson (r.johnson@mncommunications.co.uk) at M&N Communications on 01483 415 915.

Jpeg images of individual projects available from Maslen Environmental contact l.boocock@maslen-environmental.com