Looking Back on 2022
Projects and People in 2022
In the final few days before Christmas, its a time to reflect on the year gone and what’s ahead in 2023.
Our skills and work on Place Making strategies and Place Plans continues to grow with our studies in Towyn and Kinmel Bay completed in July. You can view the final Plan here: https://www.tkbvoice.wales/_files/ugd/54e415_7a1c43bfbae344589f214a0bded84b06.pdf . Welsh Government’s requirement for place making strategies has had a focus in Chepstow with lots of local residents attending our community consultation events back in October. Our final draft of the Plan is to be released in the New Year and will help the town pick itself up especially around its High Street.
The path of creating a place brand for Haverfordwest continues with a stakeholder sign off and launch in the Spring of 2023. The brand will help the County Council with its town centre regeneration programme which is underway with a substantial Levelling Up Fund investment and hopefully more from Heritage Lottery and others. Watch this space for the brand reveal. Its been great to work with Giles Davis of Sensible Ltd and Lee John Phillips our amazing designer and spoon carver LEE JOHN PHILLIPS.
Creating active and healthy communities as a practice continues with our work with Roberts Limbrick on the Maindee District Centre Renewal project focussing on transforming Chepstow Rd from a road into a street and enhancing nearby car parks, public space and more. In Caldicot we continue to provide support with further active route development across the community with a new commission to look at the link to the train station and onwards to Severn Tunnel Junction.
Supporting the pipeline of investment in communities has also played a large part of our year with an intense few months of funding preparation as part of the Levelling Up Fund bids for Caldicot and Monmouth. As I type UK Government has updated local authorities on an expected decision in late January 2023. Fingers crossed. Each of the Monmouthshire towns has differing needs but requires a significant stimulus to help with its sense of purpose. Caldicot’s quality of environment has impacted on investor confidence and thereby on its local offer, with Monmouth seeing rising vacant rates as it tries to rediscover itself, post-covid. In Monmouth we are supporting Roberts Limbrick with a street design process for Monnow Street. Its been a sensitive time for the town as it faces challenges with the team having lots of on-street conversations with local businesses and other town groups on how the street can support commerce, well-being, climate change and more. In 2023, we’ll be organising extensive community consultation on the emerging design which will lead to future detailed design development.
We also evaluate. As place practitioners and project deliverers we understand the client side of delivery so come to evaluation with the some of the wounds and lessons learnt. In 2022, we provided a mid term evaluation of the beautifully restored Newport Arcade as a requirement of Heritage Funding and Newport City Council. We continue to provide evaluation services to Torfaen County Borough Council as part of their Blaenavon Townscape Heritage project as it enters its final year of implementation. At a local heritage level, we are helping Plas Gunter Mansions in Abergavenny by connecting people to the project and opportunities and we are providing in-kind support to Village Alive Trust with Llanarth Church.
Other evaluation services have included a strategic review of UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund for Monmouthshire County Council which has helped facilitate cross project discussions, development of a toolkit and helping those who are venturing into the Shared Prosperity Fund.
Next year we return to Wrexham after our successful work on the Henblas area to support the local Council with a civic building. Plus more…
The highlight of the 2022 has been us winning the Royal Town Planning Institute Cymru award for Welsh Small Planning Consultancy of the Year. The judges commenting on the award, said
“Chris Jones is a chartered town planner and place practitioner based in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, with a focus on making things happen in towns and communities. He has worked for over 30 years on place-making, town centre and community regeneration and delivering sustainable solutions. He is currently working on a diverse range of projects across the UK including Place Plans, Strategic Visions and Action Plans and the delivery of physical projects whether this be town centres, active travel, green infrastructure and more. The practice supports local community activities and has represented planning on a number of Welsh task groups.”
It was great to win the welsh award, but then to be shortlisted for the UK RTPI Awards in late November held in London was a bonus. Competing against 10 other small practices, we came second with a commendation, which was heart warming and a proud moment after 33 years in the profession. It also made me reflect on our collaborative approach over the years…
So thank you to my clients, some who I have got to know well over the years, learnt together but also loved the spirit of working towards an outcome that supports their own organisational development as well as their local community, town and place. To those fellow place practitioners, thanks for making the life of a sole practitioner human and full of energy and team work. Special mention to Roberts Limbrick (Chris and Aled) who provided support and helped nurture our joint working relationship over the years. Thank you all.
In 2022 we have also helped Abergavenny and the people living in it with our free hot desk still being used, provided work experience, helped people with career’s advice and more. As a business on Nevill Street we also helped organise a Christmas Market on the streets below the office, with over 30 traders, local bands and choirs all raising funds for local charities including Abergavenny Food Bank. Town was buzzing with a lovely atmosphere with lots of smiles. Thanks to all who came.
“Looking into 2023, we enter into our 10th year of being a place based SME in Wales. It has flown. Its been bumpy at times. But rewarding. Thanks to my wife Miranda, our three girls ((Isabella, Gabrielle and Leonie) all in main pic) for their support and belief, as well as dogs Spud and Pickle for the long walks to clear the head.”
I wish you and your families a peaceful and happy Christmas. Come together, laugh and hold each other close. Hope 2023 brings you good health and happier times ahead.
Happy Christmas - Nadolig Llawen
Chris
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