Decision details

The Weston General Stores project was allocated £1.7m through the Getting Building Fund through the application process to government in Summer 2020. An Outline Business Case for this project was previously submitted by North Somerset Council seeking this funding towards the £1.765m project cost. This was approved by the West of England Joint Committee in January 2021 with the approval of the Full Business Case delegated to the Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the West of England unitary authority Chief Executives.

A Full Business Case https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Weston-General-Stores-FBC.pdf has been submitted for the project which will involve the refurbishment and repurposing of units within the Sovereign Centre, for which North Somerset Council owns the head lease, to support the regeneration of the town centre through diversification of use and creating an attractive space for work, collaboration and creativity. These uses include bookable workspace; events space; trading space for collective retail models, makers and micro manufacturers; a Weston-Super-Mare Cycle Hub offering cycle rental, storage and servicing; and a café and community space. The Business Case assessment summary table is shown in Appendix 1.

Advertising of planning consent for the external works to the building has been submitted. The landlord’s consent for the works is also being sought, aligned to the planning permission.

The Chief Executives of the West of England unitary authorities were consulted on this proposal and were in agreement with the decision.

To grant conditional approval of the Full Business Case for the Weston General Stores project and the award of £1.7m from the Getting Building Fund subject to planning consent being secured and to the landlord’s consent for the works.

Not applicable in relation to this specific decision, i.e. this was the option considered.