Woodend Creative Workspace, Scarborough

Woodend Creative Workspace

This former council-owned museum and Grade II* listed marine villa is forging a new life for itself as Scarborough’s creative hub. Allen Tod Architects’ design has breathed a contemporary elegance into this nineteenth-century building, whilst maintaining many of the original features, to create 52 distinctive studio offices, nine artist studios, an incubation unit, a public contemporary visual art gallery, a tenants’ lounge, two conference rooms and meeting rooms. A flowering sedum roof has been added to the new workspace to help maintain the internal temperature and it also changes colour with the seasons.

This £6 million project, funded by Yorkshire Forward, Scarborough Borough Council and the European Regional Development Fund, is expected to open its doors in April 2008. John Shepherd, Senior Urban Renaissance Manager, Yorkshire Forward says “The development of the creative industries sector in Scarborough was identified as a key element within Yorkshire Forward’s Renaissance Programme, arising chiefly out of a need to reposition the town in terms of future business development. Bringing together the three spheres of the Regional Economic Strategy; People, Place and Business in a sustainable manner, the project gives the communities of the borough new opportunities for prosperity, development and diversity, both for the renaissance of Scarborough and the region”.

Scarborough already boasts a large number of quality creative companies and is well known for Alan Ayckbourn plays, top clothes designers and the output of creative graduates from the University of Hull’s campus. “We need to harness and retain this talent; support them in starting their own businesses, by providing these incubator and networking facilities” comments Nick Taylor, Urban Renaissance Manager, Yorkshire Forward.

The centre brings together existing creative companies and start-up companies under one roof. The Director of Woodend, Andrew Clay, has made it known that the centre is already 65% full, which is a clear indication that this facility is needed. Indeed, this idea was generated from and driven by the people of the town. It is a credit in itself that someone of Andrew’s calibre came to live and work in Scarborough. He has witnessed a transformation in the town over the past 10 years and sees Woodend as a major contributor to the evolving diversified economy.

The other major benefit of the centre is the 10 Megabit pipe connection to the NYnet network, which allows large quantities of digital information to be sent quickly and easily. “This is an important part in our strategy to attract new business to this unparalleled business location,” says Andrew. It also ties in with the Wi-Fi points on the Marina; Wi-Fi points will be available at the centre too, creating alternative spaces to work from.

Local partnerships with BBC, Science City York, University of Hull, the Civic Society, local businesses and schools are all being formed and seen as integral to the success of the centre and its relevance to the local community. In the light of the diversification of the coastal town’s economy from fishing and tourism to knowledge transfer, the centre must embrace the community that has been so pivotal to its creation for it to succeed and have a wider impact on the town’s economy as a whole.

Already, we are seeing jobs being created – the newly formed Key Location Centre (KLC), housed at the centre, will provide over 20 jobs initially. This symbiotic relationship will benefit start-up businesses greatly, giving them thetrue business support they need to flourish. Woodend offers a practical and creative base combined with access to business advice and other inspirational entrepreneurs.