Memorandum submitted by @Bristol
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 @Bristol is a £95.3 million landmark
Millennium project on Bristol's Harbourside. Creating the heart
of a new cultural quarter, it focuses on science, nature and the
arts. A range of new facilities have been constructed.
1.2 Explore@Bristol, a new science centre,
combines the latest in multi-media technology, with hands on exhibits.
Within four themes, people can explore themselves and in particular
their brains, the dreams people have had for technology over time,
as well as investigate the potential impact of digital technology
on their lives and take a closer look at the phenomena in the
world around them. A planetarium and laboratories provide further
opportunities for learning.
1.3 Wildscreen@ Bristol takes people on
a journey through the story of life on earth, by presenting a
unique combination of live small animals, video techniques for
observation, multi-media presentations, interactive exhibits and
botanical houses all combined as part of the story. An Imax theatre,
education spaces and a video archive completes the facility.
1.4 Open Spaces@Bristol creates a new urban
environment, the heart of the new cultural quarter, reaching out
to adjacent attractions such as the Arnolfini, the Watershed Media
Centre and the Industrial Museum. A public art programme enhances
the environment, including works by William Pye, David Ward, Nicola
Hicks, Cathie Pilkington and Lawrence Holofcener. Millennium Square
is the biggest new public square to open in the UK for many decades.
1.5 The area is also serviced by an underground
car park, in itself an innovation, as the top-down construction
techniques with visible steel walls were used for the first time
in this country in this site below the water table. The car park
is enhanced by the installation of light works by Webster and
Noble.
1.6 Harbourside is a 55 acre derelict site.
@Bristol renovates and extends two original buildings on 11 acres
in the heart of Harbourside. World class architects have integrated
existing old buildings into new facilities, as well as creating
a series of open spaces and public squares which will provide
the framework for the new cultural quarter.
1.7 Education is at the heart of @Bristol:
all its activities are targeted to introduce people to science,
technology and the environment, through offering experiences to
whet their appetite. These are reinforced through in-depth learning
facilities to enable them to develop and prolong their interests.
The facilities have been designed to be accessible to all and
to appeal to young and old, the specialist and the visitor looking
for a good day out.
1.8 @Bristol focuses on people; themselves,
the impact of science and technology on their lives, their relationship
with the environment. Art as a means of expression and interpretation
adds an additional richness to the experience. The @Bristol team
believes that people can be encouraged to enjoy learning in a
quality environment which provides inspiration and stimulation,
in a range of styles and contexts designed to appeal to a wide
range of people.
1.9 @Bristol builds on local strengths.
Bristol was the home to the UK's first hands on science centre,
the Exploratory and Explore@Bristol continues to develop this
tradition, combining this with the latest multi-media techniques.
Bristol is also the home to the Wildscreen Festival, a biennial
festival of natural history and wildlife film, and the BBC Natural
History Unit. Wildscreen@Bristol builds on this expertise.
2. THE ORGANISATION
2.1 @Bristol is a charitable company limited
by guarantee. A separate trading company, At-Bristol Enterprises
Ltd has been set up to operate the trading aspects of the operation.
All profits from trading are covenanted to the charity, which
has educational aims.
2.2 The Board of @Bristol has both constituted
the bidding body and carried out the construction programme. It
is continuing as the operating body.
3.3 @Bristol is a public-private partnership,
with representatives from Bristol City Council, the Exploratory
Trust, the Wildscreen Trust, the Bristol Chamber of Commerce and
Initiative and the Bristol Cultural Development Partnership. A
number of prominent individuals complete the board. A representative
from English Partnerships, one of the major funders, was also
on the Board during the development phase.
3. CELEBRATING
THE MILLENNIUM
3.1 @Bristol celebrates the Millennium by
the creation of a new cultural quarter, on dockside inner city
land which has been derelict for over 20 years. Putting science
and the environment at the heart of activities in the area gives
culture a new and appropriate meaning for the twenty first century.
3.2 This is an investment in the future:
new high quality leisure attractions which offer at the same time
engaging opportunities for education. Designed to appeal widely,
these are high quality, accessible, enjoyable and thoroughly worthwhile.
3.3 @Bristol has also invested in a wide
band width network and is part of the BCTN city wide infrastructure,
permitting video quality links to the regional leaders in television,
film and media. This will facilitate continuous update and provide
additional opportunities to develop electronic outreach.
3.4 @Bristol has set 10 year targets which
include creating the premier cultural attraction in the UK outside
London, a centre of excellence for learning, particularly in the
informal sector and acting as a showcase for the creative industries.
3.5 @Bristol is ideally placed to act as
the forum for business, education, the scientific community and
the public to meet. It aims to foster debate and encourage people
to find out more about science technology and the environment,
offering opportunities to learn and to express their opinions
on issues which will have an impact on their lives.
3.6 @Bristol has acted as a catalyst for
private sector development. The remainder of the 55-acre formerly
derelict site is under development. The land prices have risen
considerably and Bristol is undergoing a construction boom with
over £1 billion of construction underway at present.
4. THE ROLE
OF THE
MILLENNIUM COMMISSION
4.1 The Millennium Commission is the grant
awarding body for the project, providing £44.3 million or
46.5 per cent of the project budget of £95.3 million.
4.2 It is unlikely that @Bristol would have
taken place without the support of the Millennium Commission.
Indeed, over the previous 20 years, several attempts had been
made to develop a viable scheme for the site, but all had failed.
The high cost of reclamation, the complexity of the landholdings
and the necessity of a public private partnership had made the
site difficult to develop. The funding available from the Millennium
Commission provided the incentive to create a viable scheme.
4.3 The Millennium Commission has been supportive
throughout the project phase. There were some initial difficulties
in setting up the framework which enabled the finance to be released.
As @Bristol was one of the early ones to be awarded a grant, the
internal systems of the Millennium Commission were being developed
in parallel. Initially, some of the requirements of the Commission,
in parallel with those of English Partnerships, for details and
verification of expenditure caused serious cash flow difficulties.
Once the transfer of land from Bristol City Council to @Bristol
has been completed, the cash flow problems diminished.
4.4 Some difficulties have been experienced
following accepting advice at the start from the Millennium Commission
as to how the overall budget was initially presented. This resulted
in £5 million being included as capital allowances and reduced
the grant below 50 per cent. The subsequent change in taxation
meant that these allowances were not available at this level and
resulted in a net loss to @Bristol. If 50 per cent of the total
project costs had been provided by the Millennium Commission,
then the funding position of @Bristol would be much more favourable.
4.5 An increase of £3 million in funding
from £41.3 million to £44.3 million was agreed, which
has assisted in completing the project. However, the Millennium
Commission made the receipt of this grant conditional on completing
the total project, for which £5.5 million was required and
requested. As a result, @Bristol still has a £2.5 million
shortfall. The negotiations over the increase in grant caused
some delays.
4.6 Given a recent more favourable opinion
from a specialist recommended by the Millennium Commission, the
question of capital allowances is being re-examined. This may
resolve the funding shortfall.
4.7 Some potential problems are currently
arising with cash flow, as the Millennium Commission have currently
suspended payment of £1.7 million of the additional £3
million, while agreement is sought as to the final elements of
the scheme.
4.8 Several key stages have proved protracted,
which has caused delays and a consequent increase in costs.
4.9 Overall, the Millennium Commission has
administered fairly and been supportive. The individual project
officers have been as helpful as possible within the bounds of
their options. The duplication of monitoring with the Millennium
Commission and English Partnerships is wasteful and unnecessary.
5. PROJECT
BUDGET
5.1 The original project budget was set
at £81.6 million, including a reduction of £5 million
for capital allowances, ie a total cost estimated at this early
stage as £86.6 million. A grant of £41.3 million was
awarded, representing 47.68 per cent of the £86.6 million.
This included £4.1 million in overall contingency.
5.2 When the project was awarded the grant
in November 1996, it was at an early stage, before costs could
be firm. Following a more detailed development of the project,
the costs were revised, in September 1997, to £97.3 million.
This included £6.1 million of contingency, and an enhancement
of £1.4 million from the Wellcome Foundation for an exhibition
with a high level of multi-media.
5.3 The grant was subsequently revised to
£44.3 million in October 1999, representing 46.48 per cent
of the agreed budget cost of £95.3 million. This was granted
on condition that the total project would be completed.
5.4 Bristol does not qualify for ERDF, @Bristol
has, however, received £17.1 million from English Partnerships,
now taken over by SWRDA. Part of this is in cash underwriting
of the development surplus for Harbourside.
5.5 Bristol City Council has provided £11
million in land and buildings and £5 million in cash out
of the development surplus for Harbourside, as a 50 per cent partner
in the underground car park. This car park was intended and designed
as a joint car park for @Bristol and the Harbourside Centre, a
centre for the performing arts which was planned and designed
for the adjacent site. This was cancelled at a late stage by the
Arts Council, after it had been given the go-ahead.
5.6 The Harbourside Sponsors Group, the
landowners of the 55 acre Harbourside site of which @Bristol is
a part are providing ancillary works to a value of £3.2 million,
linking the core @Bristol site to the city centre and the rest
of Harbourside. Due to planning difficulties, some of these works
are delayed, which may potentially cause cash flow problems. The
total funding for the project is shown in Appendix A.
5.7 A further £9 million has been raised
from the private sector. A schedule is attached as Appendix B.
5.8 A funding gap of £2.5 million remains.
The extent of the funding gap is dependent on final outturn costs
and the settlement claims from contractors. Active fundraising
is underway and the possibility of a reduced capital allowance
option is being considered.
6. PROJECT
TIMETABLE
6.1 The project was forecast to complete
for Spring 2000, initially working towards a date of 31 March
2000.
6.2 The underground car park opened in January
2000.
6.3 The IMAX Theatre opened in April 2000.
6.4 Explore@Bristol opens on 6 July 2000.
6.5 Wildscreen@Bristol opens on 20 July
2000.
6.6 The delays have largely been caused
by delays in agreeing funding. The costs of the delays are estimated
at £900,000.
7. LONG TERM
VIABILITY
7.1 @Bristol's business plan is based on
520,000 visitors in stable year 4. The business plan has been
reviewed on a regular basis by Vantage Point, the consultants
appointed by the Millennium Commission. Their report is available
for consultation.
7.2 The business will prove viable if the
visitor numbers are sustained and estimates of costs prove accurate.
7.3 Wherever possible, supporting budgets
have been identified as part of the development of the business
plan. Several key sponsors are providing a cash payment to the
operational budget each year over the five year period, in addition
to the capital payment. Similarly, the management contract for
the car park includes the provision that the costs of maintaining
the open squares and spaces are covered to the level of £150,000
pa prior to any distribution of profits to the two partners. Adjacent
landowners are also being persuaded to contribute to the maintenance
of the open squares and spaces.
7.4 @Bristol is a substantial educational
resource. This can only be made available on payment as @Bristol
is not in receipt of any central or local funding. It will not
be possible to offer access to disadvantaged groups, unless funding
is provided. This is the focus of a revenue fundraising effort
and to date £110,000 has been raised to assist disadvantaged
groups.
7.5 @Bristol is one of a group of substantial
science centres which are all opening in the next two years. These
represent a considerable investment for the Government and the
lack of funding for the educational activities in them is a wasted
opportunity. The science centre sector should at least be on a
par with museums and other informal educational activities. Given
its ability to attract a wide range of people and the importance
of science and technology for the future prosperity of the country,
there is a case that the educational activities in them should
receive substantial governmental support. This is also an area
where discrepancies are arising, due to the regional governments:
in Wales substantial funding is available for Techniquest, the
only major science centre. A similar situation is developing in
Scotland.
7.6 In parallel with efforts to obtain funding
for educational activities, @Bristol maintains an active fundraising
plan both to cover some of the basic operational costs and to
enhance activities. A target of £400,000 per annum has been
set for fundraising.
7.7 At the same time, new business opportunities
are being explored to augment the commercial income from ticket
sales. These include corporate hire, commercial events, retail
and publications in the first instance. Other opportunities being
considered include the electronic outreach, temporary exhibitions
and media library.
7.8 @Bristol is on target and within budget:
it is a high quality project and will provide an outstanding range
of facilities. With support, it will create the flourishing centre
of a new cultural quarter and, to quote from the Times, be "South
Ken, Bristol fashion."
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