Where

West Midlands

What

The project is a mapping and gap analysis of strategic cultural assets in the West Midlands for the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (Phase 3 revisions).

Why

The work aims to identify the West Midlands' cultural assets of international, national, regional, sub-regional and city-regional significance and to identify any strategic gaps in the current and future provision of those assets.

The regional context

The West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (WMRSS) was published in June 2004. It covers subjects ranging from housing, economic development and the built, historic and natural environment, to renewable energy, minerals, waste and transport. The strategy also guides the preparation of local authority development plans and local transport plans.

The revision process is in three phases:

• Phase One was an early review of emerging planning policy, issues and research, particularly in relation to the Black Country.
• Phase Two, launched in November 2005, covers housing, employment land, retail, transport and waste. It proposes a net supply of 365,600 new dwellings for the 2006-2026 plan period at an annual rate of 18,280. The National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU) in June 2008 suggested a figure between the lower range annual net addition of 19,000 and the upper range annual net addition of 22,600.
• Phase Three will look at critical rural services, strategic culture, sport, and tourism assets, various regionally significant environmental issues and the provision of a framework for gypsy and traveller sites. Preparatory work for phase three is underway.

Cultural businesses are playing an increasingly important role in the region’s economy. The cultural sector represented 10.1 per cent of all employment in the region in 2004 (236,000) and accounted for 14.5 per cent (25,195) of all businesses in 2006. Culture is one of the most dynamic and growing economic sectors.

The Regional Economic Strategy recognises that tourism and leisure businesses not only employ high numbers and encourage people to spend money, but also that they contribute to an attractive environment, raise the region's international profile and attract international investment.

Who

The work is led by a partnership between Culture West Midlands and the West Midlands Regional Assembly. The regional Culture and Place Group/Living Places Group steers the project.

When

The mapping and identifying gaps project began in November 2007 and will run until 31st March 2009.

How the project was carried out

This region-wide project was undertaken in response to one of the revision topics required by the Secretary of State following the production of the 2004 edition of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy. 

Principally, the project was commissioned to provide technical evidence for the cultural topic within Phase 3 of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy Revision*. It was also originally intended to provide useful information for a review of the West Midlands Regional Cultural Strategy. However, it will also now provide part of the evidence base being developed for the new West Midlands Single Regional Strategy. Project findings have also been used to underpin the development of a culture plan for the Birmingham, Coventry and Black Country City Region.

The work was split into four stages:

1) In November 2007 Burns Owen Partnership (BOP) Consulting was asked to identify, measure and classify the region’s most significant cultural assets. Based on the definition set out within the ongoing technical work, the team came up with a list of significant cultural assets. These include:

• 10 assets of international significance
• 39 assets of national significance
• 56 assets of regional significance
• 78 assets of city regional significance

2) The West Midlands Regional Observatory completed the second stage. It used GIS to map the assets against a range of different contexts, such as changing demographics, population change, future housing growth and transport links. The following were spatially mapped and represented in GIS form on a regional and City Regional basis:

• All cultural assets
• Current population and demographic characteristics (such as age, ethnicity, health, migration and skills)
• Projected changes in population density to 2026
• ultural employment
• Transport links to the assets
• Area-based initiatives, for example regeneration zones, Housing Market Pathfinders and growth points

3) In the third stage, BOP Consulting combined the baseline list from Stage 1, with the data work from Stage 2. It attempted to identify strategic gaps in current provision, potential gaps in future provision. It advised on revised policies or delivery mechanisms that could help ensure there was enough cultural provision in future

4) Finally, BMG Consulting was commissioned to investigate residents’ and visitors’ perceptions and what they wanted from the cultural sector in the West Midlands. The research used focus groups with West Midlands residents and in-depth telephone interviews with visitors.

* The project has developed a methodology for assessing significance and gaps in provision, and this has been applied across a wide range of cultural assets. In representing the view of English Heritage, however, this methodology may not be appropriate to every type of cultural asset – for example those in the natural and historic environment where there are widely recognised and understood designations that should apply in the first instance. 

Lessons learnt

Methodology

• Many indicators and evidence do not exist in readily available form therefore important to collect baseline data from outset.
• The view of regional stakeholders on the quality of provision is really important. In the case of the Birmingham, Coventry and Black Country city region, the Quality of Life Steering Group (QLSG) informed the cultural baseline. However, regional stakeholders tend to have greatest awareness of public sector assets.
• External perceptions are also vital, for example news archives and benchmarks, as a check and challenge to the views of regional experts.
• Grading the significance of assets is controversial. It is important that regional policymakers and stakeholders have ownership of the process and the eventual outcome.

Policy

• Cultural mapping goes only so far but allows policy to focus on existing strengths and build on these to establish future offer.
• Cultural mapping is crucial for promoting identity of place, image and attractiveness of sub-region through cultural provision.
• Planning for new cultural facilities is not straightforward.
• Supply often leads demand in cultural provision.

What happens next

The final stage of the study was completed in December 2008 and the results are currently being evaluated in the context of the previous work. The outcome will provide an evidence base for the forthcoming Phase 3 revisions to the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy.

Publications and information links