Decision details
Feasibility and Development Funding Application - The Coach House
Decision Maker: Chief Executive, West of England Combined Authority
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
A Feasibility and Development Funding
application (see Appendix A) was received seeking development
funding to take forward the business case for a new Enterprise and
Cultural Hub at the Coach House. The lead organisation for the
project is Black South West Network.
The proposal involves undertaking a refurbishment of the Coach
House, located in St Paul’s, Bristol, and transforming it
into a Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups Enterprise, Social
Enterprise, and Cultural Heritage Hub in the heart of that
community in the West of England. The development of a high
specification, flagship facility for these sectors in the context
of the region’s Covid-19 recovery is highly significant as it
will provide a focal point for delivering inclusive economic growth
across the region, and will also provide an environment and a
facility through which the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 and
the lockdown on Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and
communities can be addressed.
Over the course of the next 18 months, Black South West Network
have committed to undertake the following pieces of work to take
this project forward:
1. Revise and reframe the existing Business Plan to better take
into account the post Covid ‘building back better’
agenda and embed its regionality into all aspects of its
business.
2. Undertake increased regional consultation with relevant
stakeholders to ensure the plans are appropriately designed and
embed widespread buy-in to the vision for the Coach House.
3. Undertake detailed planning and design processes for the final
configuration of the refurbishment process.
4. Submit pre-planning applications and, if required, full planning
applications to Bristol City Council.
5. Undertake fundraising to secure the capital investment required
for the refurbishment process.
To assist taking forward this work, Black South West Network will
establish an Advisory Group to help develop the Business Plan, with
the anticipated involvement of representatives from the West of
England Combined Authority, University of Bristol, University of
the West of England, Bath Spa University, University of Bath,
NatWest, the African and Asian Heritage Business and Innovation
Network and existing funders.
The Business and Skills lead officers and Chief Executives of the
West of England constituent councils were consulted on this
proposal and were in agreement with the decision.
Decision:
To approve the Feasibility and Development
Funding Application - The Coach House - Black, Asian and minority
ethnic groups Enterprise and Social Enterprise Hub (as at Appendix
A), noting the above commitments given by the Black South West
Network and to allocate £96,860 of development funding to
support the proposal.
Alternative options considered:
Not applicable in relation to this specific
decision, i.e. this was the option considered.
Publication date: 23/07/2021
Date of decision: 01/07/2021
Accompanying Documents: