Decision details

SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT WORK PACKAGE 7

Decision Maker: Economy Regeneration & Housing Committee

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

This report seeks approval to enter into a Deed of Variation to increase the existing Grant Funding Agreement for Sustainable Urban Development Work Package 6, to accept a further £2.89m funding package from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and to undertake appropriate consultation, procurement and appointment of a contractor to deliver 6.65km of walking and cycling infrastructure upgrades and 5.15ha of habitat improvements as part of Phase 1 of the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) - the Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) Green Sustainable Travel Corridors Programme.

Decision:

Resolved: that,

 

1)  A Deed of Variation be entered into by the Council to accept £2.89 million of funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to deliver 6.65 kilometres of walking and cycling infrastructure upgrades and 5.15 hectares of habitat improvements as part of Phase 1 of the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan - the Sustainable Urban Development Green Sustainable Travel Corridors Programme;

 

2) Amendments be made to the individual phase programmes, if required, in consultation with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the Chairs and Spokespersons of the Economy, Regeneration and Development and the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committees, having due regard to any issues that may arise during design or consultation stages of projects; and

 

3) The necessary procurement process to appoint external contractors to undertake the necessary highway works associated with Phase 1 of the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan - the Sustainable Urban Development Green Sustainable Travel Corridors Programme to be carried out.

Reasons for the decision:

The Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) is a city region wide plan to develop a comprehensive cycling and walking network. Development of an LCWIP is a requirement of the Infrastructure Act 2015. Phase 1 of LCWIP is the Sustainable Urban Development Green Travel Corridors Programme. Work Package 7 (WP7) is the second Wirral element of the LCWIP Phase 1.

 

A new Local Transport Note (LTN1/20) was published by the Department of Transport setting out new standards for infrastructure design. LTN1/20 sets out five core design principles which represent the essential requirements to achieve more people travelling by cycle or on foot, based on best practice both internationally and across the UK. LTN1/20 set outs that networks and routes should be coherent, direct, safe, comfortable, and attractive.

 

WP7 will create walking and cycling links between the planned investment in Wirral Waters and Seacombe ferry terminal to the north, and Woodside ferry terminal to the south. The proposed routes will further improve accessibility for residents to Wirral Waters and increase the use of active sustainable travel modes, therefore reducing the reliance on the private car.

 

WP7 will support the Council by enabling access to significant funding to deliver active travel improvements and support the Council to address climate change. Improvements to active travel will support the sustainable regeneration of the Left Bank as identified in the emerging Local Plan.

Alternative options considered:

The Council could decide not to accept the WP7 funding and the Council could decline the grant of £2.89 million. This is not considered to be appropriate as delivery of active travel projects to support the regeneration of Birkenhead could not be progressed without external funding being secured. This would detrimentally impact the successful delivery of the Birkenhead 2040 Framework and the emerging Local Plan.

 

The Council could seek to use the funding for alternative purposes. This is not an appropriate option as the funding has been awarded on the basis of the identified scheme and the funding could not be utilised for any alternative schemes. 2.3 Further scheme options around Wirral Waters have been considered as part of the development of the WP7 package. These phases were removed from the final WP7 package due to various considerations including:

 

· Scheme designs being unable to achieve compliance with technical cycling design guidance LTN1/20;

 

· Insufficient funding; and

 

· Programme timeframe constraints.

Report author: Julie Barnes

Publication date: 26/01/2022

Date of decision: 26/01/2022

Decided at meeting: 26/01/2022 - Economy Regeneration & Housing Committee

Effective from: 02/02/2022

Accompanying Documents: