This report seeks approval to appoint Mott MacDonald Group Limited to produce an outline business case and supporting trafflic modeling and environmental surveys in respect of the delivery of transport and active travel measures associated with removal of the tunnel flyovers (“Connecting Birkenhead”).

The Wirral Plan 2021-2026 sets out the Councils vision to secure the best possible future for our residents, defined by the community prosperity we create and supported by our excellent people and services. This proposal directly supports the following key themes within that plan:

·  A prosperous, inclusive economy where local people can get good jobs and achieve their aspirations

·  A cleaner, greener borough which celebrates, protects and improves our environment and urgently tackles the environmental emergency

·  Safe, vibrant communities where people want to live and raise their families

Town centre regeneration is a long-standing priority for the Council and is reflected in the Wirral Council Plan 2021-2026 through the requirement to deliver inclusive economic growth, working for a prosperous, inclusive economy where local people can get good jobs and achieve their aspirations.

The Director of Regeneration and Place has agreed to approve the appointment of Mott MacDonald Group Limited to produce an outline business case and undertake supporting trafflic modeling and environmental surveys in respect of the transport and active travel measures associated with removal of the Birkenhead flyovers, via the Fusion 21 Procurement Framework.

1.1  The direct award of the commission to Mott MacDonald to produce the outline business case and undertake supporting trafflic modeling and environmental surveys will enable the work to be undertaken in line with the required delivery timescales to meet the wider programme for the Hind Street area.

1.2  Mott MacDonald has a proven track record for supporting Wirral with grant applications and scheme design for transport infrastructure and they have confirmed capacity to meet the timescales at a time where this type of resource is being exhausted with numerous Government grant programmes.

1.3  Mott MacDonald has an extensive, in-depth knowledge of the Wirral regeneration and transport infrastructure programmes.  They are engaged on other projects which have been awarded competitively such as Mass Transit and Dock Branch Park and therefore this will assist to manage project interfaces and dependencies.

1.4  Removal of the flyovers is one of the catalyst projects with the Birkenhead 2040 Framework and the emerging Local Plan.  Funding for the project originally sat within the Transforming Cities Fund.  On 26^th February 2021 the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) approved £8.3million of Transforming Cities Funding (TCF) required for the demolition of both Birkenhead flyovers.  As part of this approval the Council was required to produce a preferred highways solution for the wider Birkenhead area that will manage the flow of traffic after the flyovers have been removed.  As it became clear that demolition of the flyovers could not be achieved within the funding window of the TCF, LCRCA moved to fund the flyover demolition from other sources and this work will support the urgent realignment of the project to the new funding stream of LCRCA’s Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS).

2.1  Use open tendering or a mini-competition as a procurement route.  This is not considered appropriate due to timescales for scheme delivery and evidence from recent market testing which has produced a poor return of tenders.