SCC PD Socio-Economic Impact Assessment - AWARD

Surrey County Council is currently developing an Asset and Place Strategy to establish how it will optimise the use of its assets and contribute to economic growth in Surrey. In support of that strategy it requires a study that will measure the socio- economic impacts of a number of the components of the strategy, and of the overarching impact of the strategy as a whole. INTRODUCTION Surrey County Council is one of the most vibrant Counties in England with the highest number of businesses and with residents that earn the highest average income per person in the country. At just over £40 billion, its economy is the largest in the South East. However, the rate of growth is slowing, and businesses and residents have identified a number of challenges to supporting the economy. There is: Traffic congestion Need for more housing, both market and affordable Need for extra care type accommodation Requirement for high end digital infrastructure Need for additional business and employment space At the same time the Council, in common with others has financial challenges and needs to develop an additional income stream. The County Council has over 5,000 property assets covering a wide range of property types. They fall into three categories: Operational assets Non-operational assets Investment assets In total they have a present value of £1.5 billion. Given the Council's ambitions and the financial challenges it is timely to review the contribution that the assets can make both to the transformation of Surrey County Council's services and to the development of Surrey's wider economy. The County Council is undergoing major challenge of the way it works and the way in which it delivers services to residents. As a result of this the Council's operational estate will change and it is likely that future services will be delivered from major hubs in various parts of the County with additional provision from satellite offices.The County Council is developing an Asset and Place strategy in response to the change that will deliver a modern operational estate and provide opportunities for the development of housing and employment space. In addition, the Council is considering moving its headquarters from Kingston to a location within the County of Surrey itself and disposing of the present County Hall for alternative use. In arriving at the strategy, the Council wishes to consider the socio-economic impacts of the options it is considering. SCOPE OF WORK The Council wishes to procure a study on the socio-economic impacts of its approach. This study will have the following components: Socio-economic impact of the existing County Hall on Kingston and the wider Borough, including appraisal of the impact of the options for future use. Appraisal of the socio-economic impact of locating the Civic offices and the operational hubs in one of up to...