brownfields in uk and czech republic an engineer’s experience presentation for cobraman training...
TRANSCRIPT
Brownfields in UK and Czech RepublicAn Engineer’s Experience
Presentation for COBRAMAN Training Programme5th Training, 21st – 22nd September 2010
Dr. Martin Duris
Introduction
PBA – Engineering Consultancy 500 staff in total 400 staff in UK, 100 overseas Prague Office since 1999 Brownfields Regeneration and Land
Development are the main business areas HQ located in Reading, former industrial
centre in SE England
Reading
History – industrial city: brewing, biscuits (Huntley and Palmers), bulbs, bricks
Dull, undesirable place to live in or visit
Reading
Regeneration over the past 20 years has changed Reading out of recognition
Production changed to high tech IT companies (Microsoft, Oracle) with offices in the centre, leading to pedestrianisation
Huntley & Palmers demolished, just one building left
Reading
City centre regeneration included construction of a major shopping centre – The Oracle
Reading
New business was also attracted with extensive regeneration of edge of town sites:
- Thames Valley Park, former coal-fired power station
- Green Park, former landfill & other low grade land
- Madejski Stadium, former landfill, now home to a Premierships team
Reading
Reading
Reading
Reading is now one of the top SE destinations for retail (The Oracle Centre)
The Reading area is one of the best performing regions in the country
It has become a desirable destination
Prague & Czech Republic
Has not benefitted from the post-WWII growth as UK Many old factories, dilapidated industrial estates Poor maintenance, poor quality of construction,
heavy pollution Sometimes arrogant decision-making by the ruling
party left big scars Proper regeneration activities started only 10 to 15
years ago Issues identical to UK, but delayed, some issues
more prominent, lack of public funds
Prague
Zizkov Cargo Station redevelopment Former cargo station, full of old tracks, buildings and
contamination Massive size – 55 ha Two private developers – Discovery and Sekyra
Group Discovery – northern part, 30 ha, 1st phase 6 ha Future uses – residential, office, retail (300m x
120m), hotel Project value CZK 6 billion
Zizkov Cargo Station
Zizkov Cargo Station
Zizkov Cargo Station
Prague
Laser Centre Dolni Brezany ELI – Extreme Light Infrastructure (laser) Former wood processing plant Site 8 ha, buildings 35,000 m2 EU-funded, supported by Ministry of
Education & Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Four buildings: laser hall, labs, offices, lecture halls, library, gallery
Project value CZK 1 billion
ELI Laser Centre
ELI Laser Centre
Engineer’s role
Developments can be Engineer - led Green Park – PBA were approached by the
landowner 25 years ago for advice on how to develop the land
Opportunities identified, PBA approached Prudential as a potential investor
Green Park has become one of Pru’s flagship projects
Same story with Thames Valley Park PBA still look to introduce potential investors to land
that needs another use (quarries, landfill sites, etc)
Brownfield vs. Greenfield
Often high clean-up costs, public funding often necessary (gas works, heavy metal manufacturing particularly onerous)
Service diversions and tight access frequent issues Advantages in town centre – connectivity to public
transport and well served by the utilities Greater attention now given to retain & restore
industrial buildings – more sustainable, retains character of the site
Greater emphasis placed on retaining or establishing communities through mixed use developments, even business parks
Some recent redevelopments were too sweeping, removed character & critically damaged or destroyed communities
Image & Wealth
Regeneration stimulates growth, but: Needs to be supported by local availability of
skills Businesses need to be willing to relocate
and/or expand (attractive image) New communities must be created Mix of old character and new imaginative
landscaping Public money needed for clean-up
Image Change