Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

15 January 2002

Project Appraisal: Regeneration of Older Urban Areas - Shore Road, Warsash

Report of the County Planning Officer

Item 21

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

REGENERATION OF OLDER URBAN AREAS - SHORE ROAD, WARSASH

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

APRIL 2002

COMPLETION DATE:

MAY 2002

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2002/03

1.

FINANCE (Client Department, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services [Estates Practice] and County Treasurer)

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at Dec 01

(at Dec 01

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

Construction (a) Works

70

200

Fees

10

80

200

Less developers/

other contributions

Nil

80

200

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

200

(b) Other

Nil

*200

2.

From other resources

(a)

Nil

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

200

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to

Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

Nil

Nil

Capital charges

Nil

Nil

TOTAL net expenditure

Nil

Nil

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

The lower end of Shore Road and the waterfront at Warsash are recognised as having significant townscape, nature conservation and historic interest. The area is protected by many national and international designations, including Conservation Area status.

The public Hard and adjacent car park are amongst the busiest destinations for visitors to the River Hamble and are important facilities for local residents and the business community. However, the external spaces lack the features usually associated with areas of this quality and there are fundamental problems relating to traffic management.

The public footpath along the river is an integral part of the Solent Way, management of the County Council's nature reserve at Bunny Meadows, and connects with the ferry crossing point.

The project provides an extension to previous improvement work funded by the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas programme. It is also part of the emerging Transport and Access Strategy for the river and developing partnership working with the Crown Estate.

The work is consistent with the targeting of actions in the River Hamble corridor included in the proposed bid by the County Council under the European Union Societe programme. The bid is being made jointly by the County Council and seven international partners, and proposes to research the social and economic benefits arising from investment in environmental actions.

3.

IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

This project will contribute to environmental improvements and enhance traffic management, including more effective use of car parking facilities, in the Warsash area.

Details of site - location

The scheme will occupy two locations within the Warsash Conservation Area. The junction of Lower Shore Road with Passage Lane adjacent to the entrance to Passage Lane car park, and at the junction of Shore Road with Passage Lane close to Stone Cottage.

Site area

The proposals cover approximately 0.1 hectare (see attached location plan).

Environmental impact

It is not expected that there will be any significant environmental impact arising from this proposal.

Land requirements

No land acquisition required. All works to be confined within existing public highway limits.

Statutory procedures

A Traffic Regulation Order will be advertised for the removal of 'one-way' working in Passage Lane and the reversal of the existing 'one-way' system in Shore Road. No other statutory procedures are involved.

Public consultation

The local Member - Councillor Estlin, Fareham Borough Council and the Police were fully involved in the preparation of the proposals. The scheme details will be publicised at the same time as the formal processing of the permanent Traffic Regulation Order.

Facilities for the disabled

The scheme will seek to improve access for disabled people wherever possible.

Maintenance implications

The completed scheme will be incorporated into the maintenance programme of the Highway Authority.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

No areas of concern have been identified.

Sustainability

The project demonstrates the advantages of investment in the principles of appropriateness, high quality and long life, and supports the County Council's corporate Urban Living Strategy.

4.

PROPOSED SCHEME

Project proposals

An integral part of the County Council's and Fareham Borough Council's aspirations for this area of Warsash is to:

(i) give a much higher priority to pedestrians along the waterfront area;

(ii) facilitate safe access to boats and trailors on the river in the Hard area; and

(iii) reduce the impact of car parking on local people by improving the use of existing facilities.

To achieve this it is proposed to reverse the existing `clockwise' one-way system between the junction with Passage Lane and the Passage Lane car park, thereby removing extraneous traffic from the waterfront area.

It is unusual for `one-way' traffic to flow in an anti-clockwise direction and officers consider it expedient to introduce the Traffic Regulation Order on an experimental basis in the first instance. This will enable the situation to be carefully monitored and adjustments to future phases made, if necessary.

The environmental improvements include:

(i) replacing concrete kerbs to the full extent of the improvements at the two locations with new stone kerbs and sett channels;

(ii) resurfacing tarmac pavements with high quality resin bound surface, and removing unnecessary paving and replacing with planting appropriate to the `village' character;

(iii) resurfacing the carriageway with high quality resin bound surface and stone setts to emphasise the traffic management provisions and the special character of the area; and

(iv) carrying out planting to verge areas and providing bespoke directional signs.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1.

Published works.

2.

Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE

LOCATION

None