CP2207-22 One Public Estate Opportunity Development

Tender description

The Devon and Torbay OPE Partnership has been working together since round 6 of One Public Estate. During this time, it has been developing relationships across the public sector in order to create a shared working model and develop a longer-term aspiration of collective strategic partnering based on the public sector estate in Devon and Torbay. Devon is the third largest county in England and is predominantly Rural and Coastal. Although blessed with immense natural beauty, it still has its challenges with poverty, deprivation, and disadvantaged communities. Torridge, Mid Devon, Torbay, and Teignbridge were identified by central government through the Levelling Up Fund as being particularly affected by these issues. More recently Devon and Torbay have also received Future High Streets Funding from Central Government recognising the challenges that the loss of retail in rural key towns such as Barnstaple, Newton Abbot and Paignton are facing. When considering all of this information Devon and Torbay OPE Partnership have taken the view that a more nuanced approach to developing Brownfield Land Renewal Fund (BLRF) and OPE through the Opportunity Development Fund is our preferred approach. Three significant strategic challenges have changed the landscape for One Public Estate and the public sector. These are Covid Pandemic, Housing Crisis and Cost of Living Crisis. These Business Cases will provide the pipeline for future bids to Brownfield Land Renewal Fund and OPE funding opportunities that we expect to be coming in the near future. Devon & Torbay OPE partnership must consider the key partnership opportunities and how they can be harnessed more effectively to work alongside those activities already created such as the Devon Deal, How We Work Programme - created by DCC to understand the changing needs of their staff - and other similar projects across the public sector. In addition, we need to look at new and emerging trends, including flexible working, IT and digital to offer remote working, and public sector collocation in other areas of the country. This also needs to be considered in the context of low carbon development opportunities and retrofit. We require an overall understanding of how those key asset opportunities could aid regeneration in terms of infrastructure, public amenities and facilities and town centres.