Multi-million pound scheme set to transform Worcester's railway arches

January 18 2019
Multi-million pound scheme set to transform Worcester's railway arches

A multi-million pound project is set to transform Worcester’s railway arches into a major new cultural destination for the city.

The scheme is intended to provide a hub for business and creative skills development.

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Wright, has awarded £3 million in funding to the £4.5 million project from the Cultural Development Fund.

The new DCMS/Arts Council England fund focuses on developing the economic impact of creative industries, arts and heritage.

The funding will be used to create a new key gateway for the city, following the line of the Victorian arches from Foregate Street railway station to The Hive and the river Severn.

Eight of the arches will be refurbished, becoming work and creative spaces and a cultural destination for tourists and local communities. 

A leadership and entrepreneurial skills programme will be developed to encourage graduates and others to seek pathways into employment and business start-up, with 67 new jobs being created and more than 500 training places.

A Festivals Hub will be established in the arches, delivering festivals and cultural events across Worcester. It will support festival organisers, encouraging skills development and volunteer opportunities in the creative industries.

The arches will also host an information point for tourists visiting the city and continue to house independent retail and food offers. 

The project will include improvements to the environment of the arches area, including new lighting and surfacing of the walkway, as well as key infrastructure, including electricity and plumbing to the spaces that will be created within the individual arches.

The funding bid was successfully prepared by Worcester Cultural Partnership, which will match it with a further £1.5 million.

The Partnership is led by Worcester City Council and comprises The University of Worcester, Severn Arts, Network Rail, Worcestershire Arts Partnership, Worcestershire County Council and local businesses including Burger Shop, A Rule of Tum, Method Roastery and The Hive.

Conservative councillor Marc Bayliss, Leader of Worcester City Council, said: “Revitalising Worcester’s historic arches is a key part of our vision for the city centre and I welcome this funding that will help us unite our city’s heritage and its vibrant future.

“The arches will become a key skills training base for the city, a cultural hub, tourist destination and a new pedestrian key route.”

Laura Worsfold, Chief Executive of Severn Arts, said: “We are delighted that Worcester has been awarded this funding in recognition of our aspiration and ambition to become a centre for excellence in creative skills and to deliver a high quality, innovative festivals programme that encourages new and existing audiences to participate in the arts.

“This will have a significant impact on transforming this part of the city into a vibrant new artistic quarter for everyone.”

Derek Brace, Portfolio Manager at Network Rail, landlords of the arches, said: “We are committed to working with partners to deliver a diverse use for railway arches across the country and we believe they can play an important role in economic regeneration.

“This imaginative project will turn Worcester’s arches into one of the city’s top destinations and help our existing tenants there to grow their businesses.”

Revitalising the arches to provide a new pedestrian walkway from Foregate Street railway station is a key part of Worcester’s draft City Centre Masterplan, which is currently under consideration by the City Council.

Photo caption: From left, Laura Worsfold, Chief Executive of Severn Arts, Elaine Knight, Arts Director at Severn Arts, Professor David Green, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Worcester, Anne Hannaford, Chairman of Worcestershire Arts Partnership, Cllr Marc Bayliss, Leader of Worcester City Council, Tre Chislett, co-founder of Method Coffee Roasters and Rupert Davison, joint director and proprietor of the Burger Shop.