Please provide a clear description of your project proposal – including your outcomes and objectives

 

Executive Summary

Ascent seeks CIL funding to support Baths first and only public climbing (bouldering) wall and improvement of supporting infrastructure. Funding will enable the creation of a community facility that has climbing at its core but also community values focused on health and wellbeing for all as its foundation. The project will bring a popular activity to the City of Bath within a growing population and service demand environment; work with local business, voluntary and charity groups to improve community greenspace access, activity levels and wellness beyond the facility itself, whilst reducing social inequalities in B&NES by coordinating free (and concession) entry to targeted high need groups and children on FSMs and SEN plans.

 

Overview

The project will include and seeks funding for an Association of British Climbing Walls (ABC) standard installed and managed, all abilities, bouldering (initially) facility with a café and other multi-use spaces; as well as improvements to the existing parking area (~100 spaces). The site is within an underutilised building and estate on Claverton Down (Sulis Centre). Once a thriving sports club but now, having not been in full use for circa 15 years, in a state of partial dilapidation. The facility will create both a much-needed home for B&NES’ already booming climbing community and an opportunity for the curious-many to try a growing, popular and accessible year-round sport, with proven social, physical and mental health benefits. The supporting spaces will make available wellness focused activities, including yoga, meditation and a treatment room (freely available for local business to book and use). A Café will create a safe and open space to rest and socialise between activities. Disabled access, facilities and an adaptive climbing capability will be included. Through an innovative parking management system we will reinvigorate use of the parking infrastructure to support the area in reducing congestion (funnelled from the A36 onto Claverton Down Road); to incentivise car sharing, walking, cycling and alternative travel (EV and bus); facilitate alternate onward travel into the city centre and to enable access to the facility, sports fields and the surrounding green infrastructure for the local community. Ascent also has broader aspirations to facilitate conversion of the other disused spaces on the estate for community projects and use.

 

Critically, funding support will allow Ascent to commit to delivering the above whilst offering targeted free access to vulnerable, less socially mobile, as well as local youth/school cohorts and charity groups. See below.

 

Reasons for supporting this project

 

Big picture

Population growth

Bath is an ever-growing city with an expected 3,346 extra houses by 2026 (not including student housing provision) and a forecast of 8,400 over the next 15 years. This will include a significant number of families with children as well as single and couple households over 65. A corresponding investment in leisure activity will be required to match this population growth as well as reverse the negative trend in activity and wellbeing scores across B&NES.

 

Inequality

Despite investment in housing Bath is the third least affordable location to own or rent in the UK. Within some areas, inequality is widening and deprivation remains significant. Twerton West and Whiteway remain in the 10% most deprived areas nationally. 1 in 11 children and young people in B&NES are estimated to be living in relative poverty (approx. 3000 0-15 yrs). The current cost of living crisis is likely to force more people into this space over the coming fiscal downturn resulting in less disposable income and corresponding access to recreation and wellness activities, especially for those in most need. 

 

The above factors create measurable issues and further risks across a number of areas including transport Infrastructure, environment, education, health and wellness. The impact is often greatest on those in deprived areas and in low-income families, who we are seeking support for.

 

The Impact

 

Transport, Infrastructure & environment

Transport is the largest contributor to carbon emissions and the congestion caused, in an already stressed infrastructure, costs our Region an estimated £300m per year. With limited central transport funding investment should be partnered, where possible, with commercial lodgers of the city who can focus on local solutions not punitive restrictions. B&NES’ strategy recognises the need to manage innovation in transport to increase the positive impact of emerging technologies. CIL funding will enable regeneration of our parking facilities and technological innovation through an app based ANPR system. The site will be managed to optimise parking use in line with transport strategies (see 3.4). Coordination with local community stakeholders (Ralph Allen School and Wessex Water) will facilitating off street parking support to reduce congestion during rush hour, School times and significant city centre events. Schemes to incentivise car sharing, cycling, walking, EV, public transport can encourage more sustainable travel and access to surrounding green infrastructure. Through this technology targeting travel inequality can also be addressed. Ascent will work with local companies to improve our sustainable offering e.g. parking management company,Trust, to install EV charging (grid capacity dependent) and local CIC, Bath and West Community Energy, to instal a solar power capability. We are also scoping the potential of a large disused space at the south side of the estate for broader use for a number of potential community projects e.g. community urban garden or allotment.

 

Education

B&NES has over 32k pupils and is the third highest issuant of Statement or Education Health Care Plans. Approximately 6000 are on Free School Meals (FSMs) and a further 1000 on Special Educational Needs (SEN) programs, with consistent increases year-on-year. FSM and SEN status are sadly predictors of poorer school performance and higher incidences of disciplinary events leading to school absences. B&NES strategic evidence base notes that the IFS comments that educational inequalities are a cause and consequence of wider societal gaps but that educational inequalities cannot be solved by the education system alone.

 

Regular activity and wellness practice such as climbing, yoga and meditation, have been proven to promote cognitive function and wellbeing whilst reducing incidences of school absence and antisocial behaviours. Through CIL funding and working with local charities and schools will support education inequality by coordinating free access to school children on FSM and SEN plans (approximately 7000 between KS2-4 across B&NES). In addition to this access Ascent aspire to create a tailored employment pathway for local young adults who wish to work in the climbing or outdoor industry.

 

Wellbeing

Risk factors to wellbeing can include socio-economic disadvantage, social isolation, stressful life events, bereavement by suicide and mental health problems. Young people with ADHD, children who spend time away from school (either through exclusion or absence), Girls with FSM status and looked-after children are also identified as at particular risk.

 

Statistically, whilst B&NES residents report a high level of wellness, these figures have shown a decline over time and there is still evidence of poor mental health with figures suggesting around 25,000 adults and 5,750 children and young people with Common Mental Disorders (CMD).

 

Worryingly the rate of self-harm in young people has been consistently higher in B&NES compared to the National average. Twerton, Radstock, Moorlands, Westfield, Weston, Keynsham North, Combe Down, Peasedown, Keynsham South and Midsomer Norton Redfield being the most affected.

 

Our facility offers accessible activities to all in an existing open and welfare focused community framework i.e. the climbing community (who just need a local home). Both the activities and the community will nurture the development of individuals’ healthy lifestyles that supports living in positive mental health. Funding will enable us to commit to work with B&NES, local charity groups and other business to offer free targeted support to those in need, as well as advocate other activities supporting mental wellness and signpost to further support.

 

Health & Activity

Typical risk factors for health, amongst other things, include, air pollution, overweight/obesity, diet, exercise and deprivation.

 

In B&NES the latest figures suggest 49% of children & young people and 70% of adults are physically active, just above the national average, notwithstanding a decreasing trend after a peak of 80% in 2017/18. Furthermore, whilst B&NES also has lower than the national average obesity numbers (from 20% in young children rising to 55% in adults), the fact remains this is an unhealthy figure. Deprivation is a significant factor in the number of children living with obesity and so the averages hide a disturbing trend of higher obesity and risk of in the most deprived areas. Childhood obesity is indicative of adult obesity and obesity increases the risks of asthma, early onset type-2 diabetes, and cardiovascular risk factors.

 

On the contrary, regular physical activity, like those in our facility, provides a range of physical, mental, and social benefits. Many of these issues, highlighted above and below, are increasing issues for individuals, communities and society. Regular activity reduces and helps manage many long-term and existing conditions, ensuring good musculoskeletal health, develops & maintains physical and cognitive function, supports independence and social inclusion, helps maintain a healthy weight, reduces inequalities for people with long-term conditions and is linked to lower risk of all-cause mortality and major non-communicable diseases. In addition, to our own activities we will facilitate the use of the broader Sulis estate to enable other community activities on site (see 3.3).

 

Summary

Climbing is an all-abilities and all-inclusive sport that has a proven broad popularity and usership where available. The activity is physically, cognitively and socially stimulating; fosters a positive, open and inclusive culture and so creates positive holistic wellbeing outcomes. Despite an established local community which already travels (a minimum of 30 minutes but up to an hour each way) outside of Bath to climb, the city remains without a public facility. This Facility will provide a home to those who already climb but more importantly, for those without means, an opportunity to try. Funding will also provide an activity for the whole family with low barriers to entry and high reward, regardless of age, gender or ability. Coordination with B&NES and local charity groups will expand the reach and impact to deliver the greatest opportunities to those in most need. (See sections 3.2-3) delivering local social (and fiscal) value well beyond the walls of the centre. We are currently discussing with Data Hub how to best predict, forecast and monitor the social Return on Investment to clearly track and demonstrate the aggregated social value to B&NES.

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 How does the project address the specific impacts of the new developments from which the funding has been generated? (You may consider this on a ward basis, a locality basis, or a city-wide basis.)

  

Background Context

Bath Has been in need for a public climbing wall venue for several decades, however, due to the unique condition of Baths property and planning landscape the environment is not permitting. The strict planning rules which, justly, protect and conserve Baths heralded cultural and environmental status’; prioritisation of housing and protection of industry; a scarcity of appropriate space and inflated costs, compound to make gaining an appropriately commercial property extremely difficult. This is all despite huge community support, demand and burgeoning national profile of climbing as a professional Olympic sport and accessible activity for all.

 

Detail

Baths population in particular is outstretching its concentrated service resource. Accordingly, this whole City/ County sport project capability aims to be accessible to all, in the city and beyond, whether affected by recent development, or lack thereof! This is enabled by access for targeted high need groups and can be facilitated by partner charity groups (see 3.3). the offering has been shaped and informed by extensive discussion with many charity and volunteer groups (and B&NES council), which ensures the support through Ascent access is available to numerous different high need groups throughout B&NES geography.

 

Furthermore, we are always open to new information and advice and happy to work together with B&NES and local groups to continue to identify and prioritise individuals and groups who are in most need of the social, physical or mental health support this activity can provide. (see Sec 3.2-3)

 

New developments

Whilst we believe our infrastructure is meeting a B&NES wide need and will respectively provide a B&NES wide free offering, the following developments are of immediate local significance:

 

- Mulberry Park, Curo. 700 dwellings – Combe Down.

- Sulis Down, Bloor. Phase 1, 300 dwellings – Odd Down.

- Scala, Regen. 99 dwellings - Oldfield Park

- Hawthorn Rise, Curo. 51 Homes – Peasdown St John

- Roseberry Place. 171 flats - Riverside

- Western Riverside over 2,000 Dwellings. A further 350 confirmed recently.

- Chivers House on Lower Bristol Road (95 dwellings).

- Former garage, Lower Bristol Road (up to 700 units),

- Jubilee Centre on Lower Bristol Road (120 units of PBSA).

- OctoHaus, Rush hill, (8 units)

- Wells Road, 25 apartments. 

- Lower Bristol Road, Bath Quays/ Newark Works

- Chivers House, Windsor bridge. 95 apartments.

- Bath Press site, 244 dwellings

- Lansdown Academy/ Culverhay site, Entry Hill. Pending consultation

- Former Homebase site, TBC

 

We may have been unable to capture all development above but suffice to say, at the time of writing, with 4 cranes visibly up and working in Bath and numerous other smaller sites being built, there is a lot of development happening locally. 

 

Impacts

Many (not all) of these new developments provide a minimum input to community facilities which are constrained by the size of their site. Any community facility come at a commercial cost to the “purpose” of their development, whether residential or otherwise. In this respect there is unlikely to ever be a significant leisure offering from commercial developers much beyond a flexible community space. These spaces undoubtable have a place and an important offering but are limited. Without direct investment in community facilities the trend of population growth with consistently reduced availability and breadth of services, welfare and leisure facilities per capita continues and exacerbates the impact of many of the issues covered in previous sections.

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 How does the project provide links to the locality in the area where development has taken place? (If your project has city wide impact you will need to demonstrate how the broader community in the city will benefit)

 

 

Local business links

We are constantly engaging with and intend to cohere business partners to support local communities and initiatives. Currently including but not limited to the below:

 

Trust (formerly Newpark). A local parking provider who will manage the sites (~100 space) car park. We will work with this team to incentivise and improve transport inequalities through the Ascent site as well as their other Bath sites and the, soon to be coming, National Parking Platform app scheme.

 

Bath Business Improvement District. Bath BID is a business-led and business-funded body formed to improve the local area. Whilst Ascent sits outside the boundaries of the BID we have reached out to coordinating with the businesses within the BID in order to facilitate additional business opportunities and access to a new market businesses include; local arts and crafts producers, restaurants and cafes, coffee manufacturers etc. We are keen to ensure local business can collaborate and benefit from a new customer community and market place.

 

Toot Bus. A sightseeing, hop-on-off bus service in Bath. The Service runs from the centre of town and passes Ascent on its journey across Claverton Down. Toot have confirmed that the bus service would be available for local journeys. We will work with Toot to promote the use of this and other bus services.

 

Wessex Water. WW HQ sit to the East of the Ascent site. We are coordinating with WW, who wish to utilise the car park for overflow of their growing site. Through our parking management operator we will ensure both the Ascent and the WW car parking site systems are interconnected. This will enable better management of parking, including incentivising the use of public transport and or car sharing.

 

Bullfrog Yoga: A local business focusing on sustainability but also delivering free yoga to school children. Ascent and Bullfrog have discussed being able to coordinate efforts to support school children and provide space for yoga.

TIER (WestBike/ WestScoot). TIER will operate the new WESTscoot, Bike and Cargo e-bike fleet across Bath and Bristol, under contract from the West of England Combined Authority (WECA). Ascent will communicate with this provider (as well as WECA and B&NES) to ensure that, as this service becomes accessible to the planned cycling infrastructure to the South of the City, the Ascent site becomes available to operate from.

 

Residents

Curo. A major developer of local housing (over 10,000 in B&NES) and of local significance the Mulberry Park site. Mulberry Park has 600 homes (with 100 more planned) of which around a quarter are social housing. We are in communication with The Hub (and Curo more broadly), a community building at the heart of Foxhill, Mulberry Park and Combe Down, about coordinating support to their residents in social housing as well as providing support for their vulnerable young adults and older residents. They in principle, are very happy to work together to facilitate this should CIL funding be forthcoming.

Bloor. A major land developer, significantly the Sulis Down site. We are currently linking with Bloor, in order to open a dialogue about coordinating support in a similar manner.

 

We have and will continue to reach out to the developers of all major projects in Bath to ensure we can inform and coordinate with them about our offerings, should it become a possibility.

 

Also see below.

 

Education

 

University of Bath. A joint membership option will be available. This is likely to encourage more local joint memberships, circulating money back into the B&NES economy whilst improving joint members value for money and disposable income. Links with the University may also be utilised to network local initiatives into their community support partnerships. Liaison through the Student Union Sports office is underway to ensure coordination of parking space to optimise use of sports pitches but minimise congestion impact on Claverton Down Road.

 

Ralph Allen School. In addition to coordinating our offering with B&NES charities and the School Sports Partnership (See below), we will also work closely with our neighbour, Ralph Allen School. Ascent Car park will be available for free to access for pick up and drop off to ensure as few cars as possible park on Claverton Down road, which would contribute to the congestion, delayed public transport and deterrence to cyclists or other micro-mobility options.

 

 Please provide evidence which shows how the community has been listened to and what support exists for your project?

 

Ascents Public consultation

Upon launching the concept in 2018, we were overwhelmed by the reception the idea received. On Facebook we received nearly 1200 follows and likes within a week of launching. A similar amount of people signed up to our mailing list to receive more information with nearly 900 responding to our question of “what do you want us to provide”, either writing to use through FB or direct mail to express their excitement and thoughts. Below summarises the results of said consultation:

• Replies appeared to be from a wide range of B&NES society, including students, teachers, business owners, families, individuals, independent climbers and non-climbers alike, with broadly an equal gender split.

• Requests for the facility to include Bouldering were unanimous but also top roping (& auto-belay) and lead climbing were popular. A café, strength area and facilities for the whole family were mentioned.

• A location with enough parking and being outside of the city centre, to avoid congestion, were consistent themes.

 

Youth

The Bath Rugby Foundation. BRF is a well-established and respected organisation for positive change, not only in Bath but throughout the SW. They run numerous programmes which support Schools, Alternative Learning, SEND children and young adults, and developing positive cultural change. BRF and Ascent have identified numerous areas across their programmes where they could work together as well as potential for new ideas and opportunities. Both organisations are excited about the prospect of working together to discover what’s possible.

 

Bath Recreation Trust/ Glass house Academy. The Glasshouse Academy is part of Bath Recreation’s mission to sustainably provide opportunities for B&NES’ community to lead healthy, active and happy lives. The Glass House Academy run numerous programs from years 7-13 with local schools. They, in principle, have agreement that they would be able to utilise Ascents climbing wall to support these schools and their activities aimed at nurturing positive lifestyles.

 

Activate: Are excited about a climbing centre in Bath and have opened the opportunity for Ascent to provide HAF activities through their program. But also open to coordinating efforts to improve their direct HAF offering through non-HAF activity “walk-ins” who qualify from FSMs. In principle, all activities would be provided for free by Ascent, allowing Activate to redistribute more funding elsewhere. Assuming holiday provision only this equated to nearly 90 days of activities and up to 2000 children supported, for free.

 

Bath Area Play Project: Perhaps the most well know and longstanding of Baths voluntary organisation, who support the child’s right to play by facilitating a range of play opportunities for children of all ages and abilities. Ascent have a good dialogue with BAPP and have identified ways to work together to ensure both in their broader community ventures and other targeted activities can be accommodated at the facility, funding dependent. Ascent have agreed with the university of Bath (landlord) in principle that they would support BAPP community play events on the broader site.

 

Mentoring Plus: Mentoring Plus operate in B&NES and support young people who are facing challenges. Across the 5-25 years range, their mentors regularly spend one-to-one time, often whilst pursuing positive activities that they have an interest in. By creating a feeling of connection they offer a chance to talk, explore issues and find ways to cope. Mentoring Plus’ award-winning schemes, youth clubs and inspiring activities programmes get their mentees out and about, trying new things and connecting with the community. Ascent and Mentoring Plus have discussed the many opportunities which would be opened to those they support, should CIL funding be available to make free access possible.

School Sport Program: Ascent have engaged with the B&NES SSP. The lead for the program has many years of experience in coordinating efforts to support sport and physical activity from numerous organisations across educational establishments in B&NES. The SSP has prospectively messaged Ascents proposal for free climbing for FSM and SEN children to over 30 schools in the Bath area, including Primary, Secondary and independent settings. Numerous schools have responded positively and continue to engage to ensure the benefit is grasped by their schools, if the funding is forthcoming.

 

OTR: Off the Record Bath and North East Somerset (OTR) improves the emotional health and wellbeing of young people. provide a range of free services for anyone aged 10-25 living, working or studying in B&NES, including counselling, listening support, youth participation, advocacy, support for care leavers and a LGBTQ+ focused youth group. Ascent have reached out to OTR to discuss the potential of utilising free climbing access as part of a wellbeing offering.

Bath University Mountaineering Club: Facilitated by club members, BUMC asked their membership about what they would like to see at the centre. The results from which have been used to inform our decisions. A good relationship continues to be had with BUMC.

 

Bath Spa University Climbing Society: Ascent and BSUC Society are in communication and will continue to liaise to ensure their needs are represented.

 

Other 3rd Sector

Sporting family Change: Sporting Family Change are a well-established B&NES based, passionate Charity Team, with decades of experience in the sector. Their use of sport to empower, inspire and motivate local families to make positive long-term lifestyle changes, creates opportunity for all. SFC are keen to see a new and popular sport come to Bath with an operator who shares their values. SFC agree, in principle & should Ascent receive funding, that they could use the climbing facility routinely to conduct a range of activities as part of their core business. Whether in conjunction and supporting local school, through their Whole Based Mentoring program; supporting families facing daily challenges and struggle through their H.O.P.E (health opportunities through physical education) programme; their social activities program that support young people with disabilities or one of the many other areas they work to support the B&NES community in need.

 

3SG: is a membership network of over 200 charities, social enterprises and community groups in B&NES. 3SG have been helpful in signposting to organisations who may benefit from Ascents offering and be able to coordinate their support to various target groups.

 

WESport: Is supportive and connecting Ascent with wider community support groups in the region. They are facilitating a meeting with other relevant groups to cohere a consortium of beneficiary 3rd sector groups whose schemes will benefit from the FSM and SEN free allowance.

 

Age UK: Are excited about a climbing wall In Bath and a provision for their community, which Ascent is happy about. Age UK are happy to coordinate with Ascent as a delivery partner.

 

Bath Mind: Bath Mind, provide mental health and wellbeing support to individuals across B&NES. Ascent has reached out to discuss how it can support their work and community.

 

Bath Fit Fam: Bath Fit Fam is keen to encourage the broadest possible uptake of activity, whatever the ability. Ascent will be able to facilitate a location to base more FitFam outdoor activities from and green infrastructure access for their growing community.

 

Bath Skyline, parkrun: parkrun is a free, community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate the 5km scenic route around the famous Bath Skyline and Rainbow Wood. Taking place every Saturday morning, Ascent are delighted to be able to facilitate use of our nearby car park for free for those participating in this community event and afterwards access to the centre, should funding be made available. 

 

Service and Veterans

NAAFI: Support activity for Service personnel. They are positive about the centre and are awaiting updates in order to provide support to local student cadets.

 

Armed Forces Covenant: Potentially supporting with a grant for Armed Forces Veterans access across the region.

 

Forces Connect, South West: B&NES is the only Country not signed up to Forces Connect SW, who work to coordinate Armed Forces Covenant funding throughout the region. We have invited a dialogue with them aimed at improving the provision and support received.

 

SSAFA: Open support of the Ascents above concepts and agreed in principle to work more closely should we receive funding.

 

B&NES Council

Odd Down Leisure Centre Public Consultation

In addition, to our own research, as part of our engagement with GLL (locally known as Better Gyms & Leisure), to test the feasibility of a partnership at their proposed expansion at the Odd Down leisure facility, a council lead public consultation was also taken for this site. This consultation included, amongst other activities, climbing. The concept was supported broadly by many due to there being nothing else comparable nearby, with some specific local caveats due to the building height and loss of parking. Neither of which would be an issue at the Ascent site.

 

B&NES Public health and Prevention

Ascent have been working in conjunction with the Head of Leisure and Physical Activity within the Public Health and Prevention Team for several years to help shape the project and will continue to coordinate efforts to ensure our direction supports the B&NES (and aligned national strategy) to support health and Wellbeing.

 

B&NES Behaviour and Attendance Panels. Amongst other things, these Panels operate to ensure a collaborative approach between schools, the LA and commissioned providers to support learners with social, emotional and mental health difficulties, who are disaffected or experience attendance difficulties. Ascent has reached out and intends to work within this framework to contribute to improved outcomes.

B&NES Virtual School. The Bath & North East Somerset Virtual School provides educational support to vulnerable children in care, children open to social care, Children on EHC plans and using Alternative Provision (AP), from nursery to the end of full-time education. This equates to over 2000 children. They work with carers, social care, SEND, a multitude of organisations as well as over a 300 different schools and colleges across B&NES to generate this AP framework. B&NES VS and Ascent have discussed opportunities to support AP in the future by offering the centres us pending the CIL app outcome. B&NES VS is linking Ascent into with the SEND Team and Connecting families Team and, in anticipation, Ascent will complete its Alternative Provision application, needed to become a registered provider.

HCRG Care Group: On behalf of B&NES council, NHS Bath and NE Somerset Integrated Care Board; HCRG Care Group partner to deliver a joined-up community health and care service to the region. Ascent are in discussion with both their Wellbeing and Occupational Therapy services to facilitate climbing as a prescribed rehabilitation activity.

 

Summary

Ascent continue to reach out to the community and its supporting organisations (including the LA and individual Ward and Board representatives), to develop new cooperative relationships. The above list of potential partners continues to grow on a regular basis. Ascent have agreed in principle with a number of charity partners above to create a consortium to seek Grant Match Funding to any CIL funding made available. Should Ascent receive funding, delivery and output would be monitored through own registration system as well as those charities we have in principle agreements with. We would coordinate with Data Hub to create Social Value figures. 

 

 

The project must show that it either:

 

  Supports the development of the relevant area by funding the provision, improvement, replacement, operation, or maintenance of infrastructure  Or

 

  Anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places on the area.

 

Important Note: 

This section is the key test that must be met for neighbourhood CIL funding to be allocated. 

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You will need provide an explanation of whether this project relates to infrastructure or to something else that is concerned with addressing the demands arising from development 

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An explanation is needed to show of how this project supports development of the area of in planning terms

 

Through the above application we hope to have demonstrated the clear benefits in the following areas:

 

-Local travel infrastructure support.

-Access to local green infrastructure and environmental benefit.

-Provision of a new activity for B&NES residents that supports health and wellbeing for all.

-B&NES wide provision of sport, recreation, and wellness facilities to targeted groups.

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Supporting transport infrastructure

B&NES Economic Strategy and Joint Local Transport Plan (JLTP4) highlights the need for sustainable connected communities, including the need to recognise and address the below points:

-The need to provide sustainable transport options.

-Reduce congestion on the A36 corridor (funnelling through Brass knocker Hill and past our site).

-Reducing energy use and help the local economy by putting more money in local people’s pockets.

-Contribute to meet the aim of reducing district wide carbon emissions 45% by 2026.

 

We believe our project positively contributes directly to the above aims but also delivers on their principles beyond the scope, as outlined in the above application. 

 

In addition to the above we believe we align strongly with numerous themes throughout B&NES Transport Delivery Action Plan. Throughout the Plan and in alignment with the above and numerous other national, regional and local Plans, there are a several policies relating to the promotion of walking; improvement of cycling infrastructure and increasing availability of off-street parking capacity; in order to improve population health through greater activity, better air quality as well as creating more accessible & sustainable means of transport. Ascent plans to encourage sustainable travel by providing EV charging, coordinating with Micro-mobility solution providers, encouraging use of the bus network (whether public, Toot or Wessex Water transfers), installing bike parks and improving the provision for disabilities. We believe our goals support and aligns with policies GABP1, 2, 4 & 5 as well as L3, L1, W3, ST1, St3, ST6, DM16. Ascent would be happy to contribute to the future Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).

 

In addition, by coordination with local businesses, community and education we will reduce on-street parking at peak times; maximise parking use for onward travel into the city; incentivise car sharing we believe we will contribute to the success of policies GABP4, 7 & 8.

 

Support to the Joint Green Infrastructure Strategy (JGIS)

Within the JGIS our project falls into the Bath and Environs – Bathscape area. As highlighted by the document, GI provides a wide range of evidenced economic, social and environmental benefits including:

- Improving mental and physical health, and the cohesion of local communities.

- Maintaining and enhancing cultural heritage, landscapes and natural resources.

- Improve people’s access to and use of high-quality green spaces for better public health and wellbeing.

 

A key outcome of the JGIS under health and wellbeing for all includes:

- To Improve the network of active travel routes and accessibility to green spaces

- To support healthy lifestyles and mental wellbeing

- To provide more opportunities for people to connect with landscape and nature

- To address inequalities in its provision.

- It was noted that this should be achieved through local authority collaboration.

 

Our project will positively contribute to improving access to the GI and the subsequent measurable health and wellbeing benefits.

 

Health & Well-being; sports & recreational; Youth & supporting education infrastructure and provision. 

 

B&NES Economic Strategy, Strategy for Behavioural Emotional and Social Difficulties, as well as the recently released Health and Wellbeing Strategy, supported by the Strategic Evidence Base, identifies and recognises the following:

- A historical lack of engagement in leisure activities from certain communities (typically the most deprived) and a downward trend in active lifestyles pushes a need to widen and encourage participation in B&NES.

- In its role as a commissioner of services the Council can seek to address this issue through targeting activities and resources.

- This can also be done through seeking opportunity to secure investment in new leisure facilities and deliver an increase in the numbers of residents using local leisure centres.

 

The recently published national Get Active scheme also identifies the need for intervention and cooperation with the private sector to make it easier for people to get physically active. We believe Ascents goals align with both DCMS’ national Get Active scheme and B&NES Strategies. Nonetheless, Ascent would be happy to coordinate with the Health and Wellbeing Panel wherever required as it would its partners; where, we believe, we could significantly contribute in a positive way.​