Round 2? York ?facing decline as heritage saved at expense of enterprise?

[BAJR]

BUSINESS leaders have issued a stark warning that one of Britain’s most historic cities is facing major economic decline as heritage is preserved at the expense of enterprise.


A prolonged period of uncertainty in York with swingeing job losses stretching back to before the credit crunch has promoted fears the city is up against its biggest challenges for two decades.
Senior executives from some of York’s biggest employers have maintained a culture shift is vital to ensure the city can compete effectively in an increasingly cut-throat global market.


And they have warned stringent planning regulations which have been put in place to protect York’s world-famous heritage are actually stifling long-term growth and competitiveness.


The Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce warned research has shown the city faces “substantial challenges” in the aftermath of the recession.


Read on:: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at-a..._1_3662904


I am of course, not one for conspiracy - however, it is interesting that the next appearance of "archaeology is bad for saving our economy" argument is in York. York, where the CBA are based, York, where for decades, the economy of the city is based on Heritage, York, where archaeology is the first item to deal with on the planning. Take York and the anti Bunny Huggers will have an easy time taking out the rest of England.

Beware - Be Vigilant -

ps Lets not forget that one developer..Hungate (York) Regeneration Ltd. saw great benefit from Heritage, and both kindly and cannily, backed it to the hilt. Cue HUNGATE> http://www.dighungate.com/

[GnomeKing]

SOME CORRESPONDENCE: will add replies later




Thank you very much for your rapid reply,

However, having looked through the links (and further links in them), i can find no discussion at all about how heritage protection is negatively impacting economic growth.

Are there some figures/research to demonstrate this, as the Yorkshire post seems to imply?

Is there further document/memo/press release which indicates The Chambers evidence and beliefs in this matter?

Or has the Yorkshire Post just made the story up?

Kind Regards,



--- On Fri, 12/8/11, Hayley Johnson <hayley.johnson@yourchamber.org.uk> wrote:

From: Hayley Johnson <hayley.johnson@yourchamber.org.uk>
Subject: research
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Friday, 12 August, 2011, 10:33

Afternoon xxxxxxx

Please see attached the research referred to in the Yorkshire Post article - "Exclusive: City ‘facing decline as heritage saved at expense of enterprise"

The research is by Yorkshire Forward. However, there other studies which highlight the challenges in York and its reliance on public sector job creation. These are:

1. Yorkshire Futures: York and North Yorkshire Full Economic Assesment
a. Shows that the sub-region has been reliant on public sector job creation
b. Unemployment is a problem in parts of York
c. % increase in GVA for York is below the Yorkshire and Humber average (2009 -2025)
d. % increase in employment in York is below the Yorkshire and Humber average (2009 – 2025)
http://www.ynyeconomy.org.uk/images/docu...20v1.1.pdf

2. Centre for Cities – Prioritizing Prosperity
a. York’s highly skilled workforce, quality of life and well respected university – provide York with the potential to achieve sustained economic success. However, the underlying fragility of some of these assets, the economic weaknesses of the wider Yorkshire region and the severity of the recession, mean that the city has no room for complacency.
b. York is a reasonably strong city economically.
c. York has high employment in a number of sectors that are vulnerable during the recession
d. The Council must embrace the need for managed change in the city and deliver the infrastructure needed to support economic growth.
e. Standing still is not an option, particularly for cities like York seeking to carve out a niche in the knowledge economy. York needs to continue to match the opportunities offered in other competitive locations, or businesses and highly skilled individuals will start to re-evaluate the extent to which York meets their needs.
http://www.centreforcities.org/assets/fi...perity.pdf


Many Thanks

Hayley Johnson
Press & Corporate Communications

Leeds, York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
White Rose House, 28a York Place, Leeds LS1 2EZ

Tel: +44 (0) 113 247 0000
Email: hayley.johnson@yourchamber.org.uk
Web: www.yourchamber.org.uk

[GnomeKing]

[FONT=&quot]REPLY:
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[FONT=&quot]This is the original press release that we sent. We make no reference to heritage [/FONT]
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Chamber: Ambitious Development Is Crucial to Success of York Economy

Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber is warning that York’s cautious attitude to development threatens the city’s long-term growth and competiveness.

The Chamber believes that York, despite its current affluence, will face substantial challenges if it prohibits development plans that will generate jobs and wealth for the local economy and that objections to ambitious construction projects are symptomatic of the city’s desire for preservation.

The announcement from the Chamber is in reaction to the opposition surrounding the expansion of York St John. Whilst the business group supports plans for further consultation into the sale of the car park, it believes that there must also be a wider-debate into how York reforms its approach to development and planning to support projects that deliver substantial employment and economic benefits.

Two of the city’s major employers, CPP Group and IOKO, also support the Chamber’s calls for more ambitious development plans to take place in York.

Shaun Watts, director of Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber, says:

“Studies show that York faces substantial challenges in the aftermath of the recession in terms of employment, economic output and household income and the city is expected to be disproportionately affected by the spending cuts in comparison to the rest of the region. Whilst places like Leeds, Harrogate and Wakefield will see an increase in net employment between now and 2015, York is currently forecasted to experience a decline, which is largely due to the city’s reliance on the public sector for job creation.

“As a result, we cannot afford to become complacent. We have to show the rest of the UK and the world that we are open for business and an excellent place to invest. It is fundamental that the city grasps ambitious development opportunities that will act as a catalyst for economic growth and future job creation, as well as benefit the local construction industry. We need to aim towards bigger and better things and put aspiration before preservation”.

Stephen Kennedy, chief operating officer at CPP, says:

“York is a fantastic place to work, live and own a business, but in order to remain competitive we have to demonstrate that we are pro-business, pro-development and pro-growth”.

Allan Dunn, chief financial officer at IOKO, says:

“In challenging economic times, cities need to be able to take bold decisions to secure long-term economic growth. York is no longer just competing on a regional and national level. We are now rivalling places such as China for investment and attracting skilled workers. As a result, York has to progress and expand and take proactive decisions to achieve this”.

ENDS

For more information please contact Hayley Johnson on 0113 247 0000/07812 346082

Notes to Editors

The challenges facing the York economy are raised in the Yorkshire Forward report Rebalancing the Yorkshire & Humber Economy - Challenges and Opportunities
Key findings from the Report include:

? [FONT=&quot]Public sector job growth and the proportion of the workforce employed in that sector varies greatly across the region. Thus the impact of spending cuts will not be uniform and some local authority areas, like Sheffield, Hull, York and Hambleton, could be disproportionately affected.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
? York, alongside Hull and Sheffield, performs the worst the Yorkshire in terms of district output.

? York fares the worst in terms of income change per household based on job cuts, forecast growth and household income – almost ?600.

? York would lose the highest amount of household discretionary income at ?8 per week,

? Total employment change (full time equivalents) will fall 2% between 2009 – 2015 in York

? [FONT=&quot]Overall, the private sector in areas like Craven, Richmondshire, North Lincolnshire, Selby, Rotherham and Leeds is expected to create enough jobs to more than offset the contraction in the public sector. However, this will not be the case in areas like Sheffield, York, North East Lincolnshire, Barnsley and Hull.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Hayley Johnson[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
Press & Corporate Communications [/FONT]

[GnomeKing]

To:
yp.editor@ypn.co.uk

Dear Sir/Madam

Your recent article:
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at-a..._1_3662904


Here it is implied that the Chamber of Commerce believes Heritage protection to be damaging to economic growth.

This is at odds with the Chambers press release (copied below)

What is the basis for this story? Have you made it up? Will you apologise to The Chamber, for implying that they have expressed beliefs which they evidently have not?

Is there some additional information or background to this story?

Yours Sincerely,

[GnomeKing]

the offending Yorkshire Post article appears to now be inaccessible ! (and then back again!)

[GnomeKing]

TO: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Thanks again for the swift reply,

The confusion arises as to what is meant by 'preservation' and 'aspiration'

If Shaun Watts is not referring to heritage protection and economic growth, then what is meant by "aspiration before preservation".

Is it possible for the Chamber to confirm or deny that it believes 'aspiration' is held back by 'preservation'?

Have the Chamber specific policies regarding the repositioning of 'aspiration' before 'preservation' ?

Will Shaun Watts clarify this matter?

Kind Regards,

[GnomeKing]

[FONT=&quot]"There is a Chamber op-ed article coming up in the Yorkshire Post – probably in tomorrow’s or Monday’s paper – which will explain our position on this further. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The Chamber view is that York’s heritage is undoubtedly an asset to the city and development shouldn’t compromise the city’s offering. However, we feel there is the need for the city to adopt a more ambitious development to growth. York has to remain competitive and we need to show the rest of the world that we are a business city not just a tourist destination. The city’s cautious attitude to developing business-purpose sites and housing risks deterring investment into the city. Successful cities are open to change and it is clear that York has to build on its successes as opposed to stand still and admire what is now. [/FONT]"
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]

[GnomeKing]

Thank you for the info.

However, I am still unclear as to the research/reports/figures that support this view. Documents you kindly linked me to in previous email do not indicate "preservation"/heritage protection have negative effects on York. In fact the reverse.

Are there specific recommendations/areas/projects of concern, or recent examples that illustrate the problem as Shaun Watts/The Chamber perceive it?

[GnomeKing]

[FONT=&quot]OH - THEY DID NOT MEAN HERITAGE (exclusively) AFTER ALL (PHEW):[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]"The reports say that York faces challenges in terms of employment. Development leads to job creation, which is why the Chamber issued its statement. The use of the word preservation wasn’t referring exclusively to the city’s heritage, it was used in the context that the city cannot afford to stand still and simply safeguard what it has, rather than aspiring to bigger and better things. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I hope this clarifies the issue"[/FONT]

[BAJR]

You are a star Gnome...

I look forward to what happens next. !