Staffordshire Water Parks

The overarching objective of this commission is to review the aftercare arrangements of current and former strategic scale sand and gravel mineral extraction sites in the south-eastern rural area of Staffordshire (Uttoxeter and down to Tamworth/North Warwickshire) with a detailed regulatory, financial and economic (i.e. GVA uplift) evaluation of the Water Parks model established in the Cotswolds, alongside consideration of complementary high value employment and residential use through innovate planning.

Primary Focus (the main effort)

The Council would like to commission a review of the Cotswold Water Parks model and consider the potential for something similar in Staffordshire.

In particular, detail is sought around the potential economic value (GVA, jobs/sectors, etc), governance, landownerships, aftercare arrangements between mineral operators, local authorities and bodies such as the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and Midlands RSPB.

Secondary Focus

As part of this section you are also asked to consider the A38(T) as a Growth Corridor and advise on, how to ensure non-sterilisation of land post extraction of sand and gravel at sites along corridor, fit with planning policy and high level technical considerations for the use of secondary aggregates / inert landfill to create development platforms.

Tertiary Focus

The review should also provide a general commentary on any relevant opportunities highlighted within the primary and secondary aspects of the brief. In particular, how do we provide suitable alternative natural greenspaces for Staffordshire and the wider sub-region of the Midlands to take the pressure off the Cannock Chase AONB; what is the role of the Water Parks in terms of its contribution to the rural/urban fringe area and alignment with Green Belt policy designations for innovation in agriculture, energy generation and climate change mitigation.

Link to eTender - https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Default.aspx