Our work to evaluate the six projects of the Urban Renaissance Plan consisted of three stages of work: making an economic impact assessment for each project; developing an evaluation framework, which reflected the needs of funders and; undertaking interim and final evaluations for each of the projects. The work involved identifying baseline data and agreeing baselines for each project, researching impacts for similar projects and estimating economic and other impacts, consultation with stakeholders including developers and funders to undertake economic impact assessments for each project, to agree the evaluation framework and then undertaking the evaluations themselves.
Research & Evaluation
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Bishop Auckland Renaissance Programme
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Cross Lakes Shuttle
For its first three years we evaluated the Cross Lakes Shuttle (joint ticketing of transport modes between Bowness and Coniston and linked access network). Each year, a survey included core questions to monitor visitor profile, satisfaction, economic impact, reduction in car journeys and suggested improvements. In addition, other aspects were explored – one each year – promotion, provision for cyclists and route network information and signage. Our findings and conclusions were used to continually improve the project.
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Whitehaven Tall Ships
This project involved a questionnaire survey of visitors to Whitehaven during the Tall Ships Visit. The sample included general visitors to the town, people who paid to go on board ship and those who took cruises.
We combined the results from the survey (visitor profile, spending, party size, motivations, perceptions, etc) with visitor counts to estimate the additional spending and employment generated by the ships and the wider impacts on perceptions of West Cumbria.
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RSPB Saltholme: Economic Impact Assessment
Our independent assessment of the economic impacts of RSPB Saltholme was used together with our business plan and marketing strategy to help the RSPB obtain approximately £3 million of public sector funding to put towards the cost of their new flagship reserve.
Who we work with
- The National Trust
- RSPB
- Forestry Commission England
- Lake District National Park
- One North East
- Cumbria Tourism
- Northumberland National Park
- Natural History Museum
- Countryside Council for Wales
- Northumberland Coast