Contact: Richard Hudson, ext 6900 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

(i) That approval be given for the Chief Executive to conclude appropriate legal agreements in relation to:

(a) the implementation, at no cost to the County Council, of the approved Highway Works. These include improvements to Solartron Road, a new site access off Invincible Road as a mini-roundabout, a signal-controlled crossing off Solartron Road for pedestrians and cycles and a pedestrian/cycleway along Invincible Road; and

(b) a financial contribution of £200,000 towards the North East Hampshire Transport Strategy.

(ii) That, subject to the completion of this Agreement, Rushmoor Borough Council be informed that there is no objection to the retail developments on Solartron Road, Farnborough.

2. Reason

2.1 To secure appropriate highway improvements along Solartron Road, and to provide improved access to the site on Solartron Road and Invincible Road to promote the use of walking, cycling and public transport through the North East Hampshire Transport Strategy.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 The County Council could opt not to enter into a legal Agreement. This option has been rejected as it would deny the County Council the benefits of the highway improvements. Alternative schemes have been considered and the preferred scheme layout is being put forward.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor J K Glen

7. Introduction

7.1 The site is bounded to the north by Invincible Road, to the east by Solartron Road and by the A327 Elles Road to the south. Sulzers roundabout is on the south-eastern corner of the site. It was previously occupied by B&Q, approximately 500 metres to the west of Farnborough town centre (see attached location plans).

7.2 Two detailed planning applications covering the site have been submitted by Key Property Investments (No 1) Limited to Rushmoor Borough Council, which are the subject of this report. One application is for the redevelopment of the old B&Q building, and it is mainly a re-cladding of the existing building and dividing into six units. This sees a small reduction in the gross floor area from 7,208 to 6,070 square metres. The second application is for three new retail units located on the garden centre part of the existing site and results in an increase in floor area from 298 to 2,495 square metres. The highway improvements are associated with this latter application.

7.3 The total gross floor area of the two applications will total 8,565 square metres which compares to the existing 7,506 square metres. The parking layouts are revised and a new site access onto Invincible Road is proposed which would function as the only exit for customers of the site. It is considered essential that highway improvements are carried out whichever application goes ahead and as such it is proposed that the Section 106 Agreement ensures that this takes place.

7.4 On 26 November 2003 Rushmoor Borough Council approved the planning application at the Planning Committee. Members were pleased with the extent of contribution negotiated as well as the highway improvement works. It may still have to be referred to the Government Office for the South East and/or be called in, due to the scale of the retail development. The Borough Council should hear about this by 1 December and an oral update will be given at the meeting.

7.5 The local Member, Councillor Mrs Devereux, has been informed of the proposals.

8. Transport Proposals

8.1 Solartron Road provides an important linkage from the strategic highway network, the A327, to retail sites and the town centre, with access to the new B&Q warehouse and the Asda car park. During peak conditions considerable delays take place along Solartron Road between Sulzers roundabout and Invincible Road and there is concern with regard to further traffic being attracted to the site. The site has an established retail use and the developer is offering a series of highway improvements, as identified below.

8.2 The on-site and site access transport proposals are indicated on Figure 2 and can be summarised as follows:

(i) the present site entry access which is a left in and left out at Solartron Road is altered so it is entry only.

(ii) a new mini-roundabout along Invincible Road will provide access to the site. All customers will exit at this location so traffic exiting will turn right at the Invincible Road/Solartron Road junction instead of the `U' turn that was required when previously occupied.

(iii) the internal site layout has been modified to provide 313 car parking spaces, 14 motor cycle spaces, and 40 cycle spaces. This level of provision is within the maximum spaces of the County Council standard. The site previously had 377 car parking spaces and the 313 spaces represent a reduction of 17%, some 64 spaces. On entering the site there is a longer access road so that cars are less likely to queue onto Solartron Road, which used to occur regularly.

8.3 Transport proposals external to the site are shown on Figure 2 and can be summarised as:

(i) widening of Solartron Road on exit from Sulzers Roundabout and the approach to the Invincible Road roundabout so there are two lanes northbound between Sulzers roundabout and Invincible Road. The Invincible Road/Solartron Road roundabout will also be enlarged to reduce delays.

(ii) a shared pedestrian and cycleway of 2.5 to 3 metres wide along Invincible Road between the existing cycleway crossing and the junction with Solartron Road and Invincible Road. This facility will link in and extends the cycle network in the area.

(iii) a new signal-controlled pedestrian and cycle crossing across Solartron Road, which will improve links with the town centre.

(iv) a £200,000 contribution towards the North East Hampshire Transport Strategy.

9. Financial Implications

9.1 In the event of planning permission being implemented the applicant has agreed, at no cost to the County Council, to implement the highway works as previously identified at a total estimated cost of £630,000. These relate to those works on Solartron Road and Invincible Road, and in addition to this will be the benefits of the £200,000 towards North East Hampshire Transport Strategy.

8412/RH