Next steps

Outline timetable

• Works on the public square and other public areas should be complete in spring 2012.

• The building of the new civic offices should be complete in September 2012.

• The new performance venue should be complete in spring 2013.

• The flagship development will take six to eight years to complete.

Key milestones completed

• Public roadshows and exhibitions providing residents across the borough with more information on the Civic and Cultural Quarter (CCQ) project took place in January 2008.

• Full council approved the CCQ scheme in February 2008.

• Consultation took place with residents on what the public square should look like and feature in June 2008.

• The Development Agreement was signed with the council's development partner Muse Developments in April 2009.

• The outline planning application for the CCQ scheme was submitted in August 2009.

• On-site preparation works including the demolition of the former Doncaster College and the old Beechfield School started in August 2009.

• Planning Committee approved the outline planning application for the CCQ in October 2009. (planning application number: 08/02535)

• The Yorkshire Forward Board agreed in principle to providing £15.8m of funding for the CCQ project in November 2009.

• Demolition and site clearance work was completed in December 2009. Items of historical interest, like the Clock Tower on the former Beechfield School were carefully taken down or removed. These artifacts have been saved for use in other building projects or for exhibitions.

• Cabinet approved the latest civic office designs and gave permission to start work on tendering contracts when appropriate to do so in January 2010.

• The funding agreement with Yorkshire Forward was signed in March 2010.

• The reserved matters planning application for the new civic offices was submitted April 2010.

• Planning Committee approved the reserved matters planning application for the civic offices on 8 June 2010. (planning application number: 10/00808)

• A reserved matters planning application for the new performance venue and public square was submitted to the local planning authority in July 2010.

• The reserved matters planning applications for the new performance venue (planning application number: 10/01866/REMM) and public square (planning application number: 10/01952) were granted planning permission on 31 August 2010.

• Wates Construction was announced as the contractor for the new civic offices in November 2010.

• The CCQ was given the go ahead despite the withdrawal of some of the funding from Yorkshire Forward in November 2010.

• The planning application to create a temporary surface car park on land occupied by the former Doncaster College was granted on 22 November 2010 (planning application number: 10/02587). This will be created on land behind the old girls school after the new civic offices have been built.

• The planning application to refurbish the Southern Multi-Storey Car Park was approved on 23 November 2010 (planning application number: 10/02672).

• The groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of building the new civic offices took place on Thursday, 9 December.

• A 'Meet the Buyer' event took place at Doncaster Racecourse on Thursday, 13 January 2011. Companies had the opportunity to discuss potential work during the building of new civic offices with Wates Construction and their sub-contractors.

• Changes to the road layouts around Waterdale and improvements to the public realm areas started January 2011. The new College Road/Chequer Road junction should be complete in July. North Midland Construction are the contractors.

• The refurbishment of the Southern Multi-Storey Car Park started in March 2011 and should be complete by the end of August. It remains open during the works and will be renamed the Civic Quarter Car Park. Morgan Sindall are the contractors.

• The phased closure of Waterdale Central Car Park began 16 May 2011. It will be permanently closed at the end of August. The car park is making way for the new performance venue and public square.

• A phased closure of Waterdale Central Car Park started in May 2011. The new performance venue and public square will go on this site.

• The new College Road/Chequer Road junction was completed and opened to traffic in July 2011.

• Work to turn Waterdale Road will become a shared space for public transport and pedestrians began in July 2011 after the new junction above was opened.

• Public realm improvements started in Waterdale Surface Car Park in July 2011. A section of the car park remains open.

• The creation of a new public square started July 2011.

• On site works for the new performance venue started Monday 12 September 2011. This coincided with the closure of the final part of Waterdale Central Car Park.

• The refurbished Southern Multi-Storey Car Park was fully open in September 2011. It is now called the Civic Quarter Car Park.

• An official breaking of the ground ceremony took place for the new performance venue on 11 October 2011

• In November 2011, the Civic Quarter Car park received the prestigious Parkmark award to show it is a safe and secure car park.

• A topping out ceremony for the new civic offices took place on 6 December 2011. A Christmas tree was displayed on the building to mark the occasion.

To view the planning applications above please go to: planning application search and enter the relevant application number. For more information about planning related matters visit: www.doncaster.gov.uk/planning