CREDENTIALS - Workspace/Industrial Zone Development

The consultancy has recently worked on the following:

UK - Sewerby Hall: Major feasibility and business appraisal work on this East Riding of Yorkshire Council owned facility. February 2006 to January 2007.

UK - Oswaldtwistle Mills, Lancashire - facilitation work with local stakeholders for the Oswaldtwistle zone of East Lancashire.

Other Assignments

2006 - UK

Preston City Council

Mentoring new team of economic development staff to build capacity and support. Includes post-funding project evaluation and development of Creative Quarter Group.

Manchester Enterprises - Bury town centre

Project value management scoping study to generate maximum local benefit from physical developments in Bury and Radcliffe town centre's.

2005 - UK

Community Action Rosendale/Mary Hindle Centre

Review of potential future direction, services and sustainability options for community resource workspace.

HMR/Hyndburn

Development of projects connected to Clayton le Moors zone, including establishment of a Development Trust to be the sustainable investment vehicle for the village and the wider area.

Oswaldtwistle Mills

Development of Zonal Master Plan for the next phase of the 2nd most visited tourist location in North West England, for LCDL

Yorkshire Forward/ East Riding of Yorkshire Council

Sustainability consultancy support for the Yorkshire Waterways Museum/Sobriety project.

City Fringe Partnership London

Development of a creative hub (LDA/City Fringe Partnership) for the largest cluster of creative business outside New York

Incubation Feasibility Study - Preston, Churchgate area.

For SBS/Preston CC. Design-centered incubation for 10,000 sq m site.

Feasibility Study of Withnell Fold Mill near Chorley, Lancashire

Conversion to mixed use and creative workspace along the Leeds/Liverpool Canal.

2004 - UK

NWDA Workforce Development Strategies - Engineering and Textiles Sectors

Part of the Alliance for Skills and Productivity

Impact Study on the closure of Imperial Home Decor Group

Commissioned by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, to access the impact of the closure of this major on the Darwen area. Usage of large industrial zone.

ERDF Priority 2 Implementation Plan, North West town

Construction of an Implementation Plan for EDRF approval. Priority 2 included Community Economic Development

Master Plan for the for the future Creative Industry Quarter in Preston

The assignment, which commenced October 2003, involved a consortium of key staff from Dearle & Henderson and Mallam & Co, with Meadowhead Projects Ltd as the lead company. Two public consultation exhibitions were held before the Master Plan for the new quarter was submitted.

2002/3 - UK

Lancashire Workspace Strategy

This 10-year strategy, carried out by John Murray was commissioned by Lancashire County Developments Ltd. It was to study te workspace supply and demand across Lancashire, to highlight gaps and opportunities.

Business Clusters Strategy for East Lancashire Partnership

The aim of this exersise was to produce a strategy for developing business clusters within East Lancashire, Existing clusters were mapped and identified and a series of Action Plans were produced.

Chester Canal Corridor Cluster Development Study

This study of the potential for creative industries development in the Boughton area of Chester was carried out by John Murray and Simon Ryder over a period of 2 months. Recommendations of actions to be carried out over a 10-year period were proposed.

Feasibility Study for Storey Institute, Lancaster, North England

Commissioned by Lancaster City Council, this study by Simon Ryder explored the Viability of the Storey Institute for creative industries workspaces. The sudy took place between March and June 2003 and created a new vision for the Storey Institute as the hub of a creative industry support network for the city and surrounding areas.

Lancashire West Partnership Creative Industries Strategy

This survey was carried out by John Murray and Simon Ryder and produced a summary of the current situation in the West Lancashire area, together with action Plans for each area.

Manchester Craft & Design Centre

Marketing plan for Workspace within Manchester's Northern Quarter (1,000 interviews of different groups)

2001 - UK

HIGHBURY 2 in Birmingham

Lead speaker at International 'think tank' on future of City.

North West Centre of Excellence in Regeneration

Lead Consultant in proposal to create a North West Centre of Excellence in Regeneration. Worked with CLES and the Inspiration Group to develop the initial Business Plan

Development of a Sculpture/Design Workspace, Preston, Lancs

A study by John Murray to assist in the funding of the development of The Watermark as a creative workspace area, in conjunction with Preston City Council

Birmingham Jewellery Quarter

Work for Birmingham CC and UCE in Birmingham to develop an urban village and further graduate enterprise initiatives within the Quarter.

Mapping and Action Planning for a Creative Industries Quarter in Preston, Lancashire

A database of 590 companies was examined, with questionnaires, focus groups and meetings with companies to assess the current level of creative industries operating in the Preston area, together with maps showing clustering of activities. The survey was primarily conducted by John Murray.

Planning a Creative Industries Quarter over the period to 2020

A continuation of the mapping exercise conducted to March 2001, this second stage provided a series of recommendations and proposals.