Hampshire County Council

Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel

5 April 2005

Executive Member - Policy and Resources

14 April 2005

Project Appraisal: Havant Bus Station

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 6

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

BUILDINGS, LAND AND PROCUREMENT PANEL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - POLICY AND RESOURCES

ITEM 6

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

HAVANT BUS STATION

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

JULY 2005

COMPLETION DATE:

OCTOBER 2006

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2005/06

1.

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

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at Dec 04

(at Dec 04

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

-

-

Construction

1,350

1,350

Fees

305

305

1,655

1,655

Less developers/

80

80

other contributions (Havant Borough Council)

1,575

1,575

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

1,575

1,575

(b) Other - Havant Borough Council

80

80

1,655

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

1,655

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

n/a

n/a

Capital charges

n/a

n/a

TOTAL net expenditure

n/a

n/a

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

With over 450 buses and up to 5,000 passengers using the station daily the existing bus station in Havant is the second busiest in Hampshire, both in terms of passenger numbers and bus movements. It also acts as an important interchange for local and inter-urban bus services. However the public waiting area is a collection of run-down bus shelters, exposed to the weather and poorly lit. There are no nearby toilets or public telephones, inadequate journey information display and it is lacking in facilities for cyclists and the disabled. In operational terms there are currently insufficient bus bays for the number of buses serving the station and no on-site facilities for drivers.

In order to provide robust supporting evidence for the proposals, Atkins were commissioned to undertake a study to assess the current bus station, including an audit of current facilities, and quantitative surveys of the usage of the bus station by buses, coaches, pedestrians, cars and taxis. This study also included a consultation exercise summarised later in this report. The recommendations of this study produced a set of requirements for the new station that have been incorporated into the submitted proposals.

By providing a new bus station it is intended to enhance conditions for existing customers and encourage greater use of public transport. This will build upon the success of the Service 23 Quality Bus Partnership corridor in Havant which has increased bus patronage by 33%, and contribute towards achieving Public Service Agreement and Best Value Performance Indicator targets on bus patronage and service standards. The new station is expected to produce a further 10% increase in passenger numbers from the 2002 baseline figures over the next five years. Current monitoring regimes of the patronage on the quality bus routes 23 and 21, which both call at Havant en-route to Portsmouth, will provide regular feedback on the success of these improvements. It is also intended to replicate the Atkins usage survey after the opening of the new station.

Under the existing arrangements bus drivers have to be transported from the Farlington depot between rest periods and cashing in. The efficiency of bus operations will be improved with the drivers' rest and control room being located within the new station, reducing operational costs that can be reinvested in further service quality improvements.

3.

IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

The proposed new bus station accords with county and national policies and will contribute to achieving targets on bus patronage and service standards.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

Havant Bus station is situated off Elm Lane in the centre of Havant, close to the St Faith's Conservation Area (see attached location plan). It is proposed to replace the existing bus shelters with a new purpose-built, two-storey bus station. This will comprise booking/information office, supervisor's office and public toilets on the ground floor, with drivers' rest room, toilets and plant room on the first floor. The pedestrian area around the bus station will be paved with the same finish as the internal concourse, with seating internally and externally. The proposed main building is faced in brick in keeping with existing buildings in the area and is fronted by an enclosed, glazed waiting area. A `real-time' bus journey information display screen is to be incorporated within this area (for further details see drawing No. 0477 - Havant Bus Station - to be displayed at the meeting).

The revised layout of the main bus concourse area will comprise seven bays for buses in operation, plus three further 'layover' bays and a coach stop to the west of the main station site (for further details see drawing No. Hi36-382D - Havant Bus Station Landscape Design/Composite Plan - to be displayed at the meeting).

The design of the new station and concourse area has been progressed by the County Council in partnership with Havant Borough Council, in consultation with Stagecoach as the main bus operator in the area.

Construction of the new bus station and exterior area, which will require the existing bus station to shut, are scheduled to start in July 2005 and will take up to 15 months. Project construction is programmed under three distinct phases let under separate contracts:

(i) Advanced works on the layover area commenced in February 2005 for 12 weeks. These works were designed and are being supervised by Havant Borough Council Engineering Services.

(ii) The building construction, programmed to commence in July 2005, has been developed and the detailed design undertaken by Alexander Design Consultants on behalf of County Council architects. It is anticipated that the building will take 30 weeks to construct, completion being March 2006.

(iii) Design and construction of the bus concourse and exterior pedestrian and landscaped areas is to be undertaken by Havant Borough Council Engineering Services. This phase is programmed to follow the building construction in April/ May 2006 for 26 weeks.

The timing of this programme has been adjusted to spread the spend profile evenly over two financial years for budgetary reasons, with allowance for seasonal aspects of the construction. During the station closure buses will pick up and drop off on-street in Market Parade and North Street and utilise the completed layover area.

These measures have been designed in accordance with appropriate and most recent design standards, including guidance from the Environment Agency.

The total scheme cost for the new station is estimated at £1.850 million. The removal of contaminated soil from the site and construction of the layover area to the value of £195,000 has already been approved in advance of the main building phase (Executive Member for Environment on 7 December 2004). These advanced works are scheduled to be completed by May 2005. Therefore funding approval is sought for the remaining balance of £1.655 million.

This represents an increase from earlier cost estimates, which is due to more accurate detailed estimates being made as the scheme nears construction, inflation due to delays and the requirements of the Environment Agency on decontamination of land and construction methods in keeping with the catchment of the nearby River Lavant.

Environmental Impact

Removal of the decontaminated soil in accordance with Environment Agency guidelines will improve the quality of groundwater flow in the catchment area of the nearby River Lavant.

The new bus station and exterior landscaped areas will add to the townscape environment of this part of Havant, benefiting both local residents and visitors to the town.

Land Requirements

No land acquisition required. All works to be confined either within land owned by Havant Borough Council or the adopted highway boundary.

Statutory Procedures

Planning permission for the new station was granted by Havant Borough Council as local Planning Authority on 3 February 2005.

Public Consultation

The design principles have been guided by the recommendations of the Atkins study that assessed the current bus station and determined the requirements for the new station. This study included a consultation exercise comprising an interview survey of bus users and non-users, with more formal consultation with bus operators, the local residents' association, Havant Access Group and other interested parties.

The following table lists the top three priorities for the new bus station, as envisaged by current bus station users, non-users and interest groups.

Bus Station Users

Non-Bus Station Users

Interest Groups

1. Better Shelter

54% said this was what they wanted to improve most

1. Better Shelter

76% rated improved shelter as very important

1. Better Shelter

Current weather protection is inadequate

2. Information

83% wanted the travel office to be at the bus station

2. Information

Improved information would encourage non users to use buses

2. Information

Provision of travel office and Real-Time information is essential

3. Security

Users wanted more staff on duty and a better sense of security

3. Security

Improved security was rated as very important by 75% of non users

3. Toilets

Toilet facilities are required

Havant Borough Members fully support the scheme and have been involved in the development of the proposals to fulfil the planning and operational requirements for the new station.

The proposed scheme was presented at the recent Havant Area Committee on 16 March 2005.

Local Member's View

The local Member, Councillor Jenny Wride, fully supports the scheme.

Equalities

The new station and exterior area have been designed in accordance with latest Building Regulations incorporating requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act. Representatives of the Havant Access Group have also been consulted on developing proposals.

Maintenance Implications

It has been agreed that the bus station will be handed over to Havant Borough Council ownership on completion of the capital works, with the Borough Council assuming responsibility for operation and future maintenance of the bus station in its entirety.

The handover arrangements, general level of service and maintenance standards are in the process of being agreed by the County Council and Havant Borough Council by legal agreement. Approval for scheme funding is sought, subject to this agreement being in place.

Havant Borough Council is entering into a separate agreement with Stagecoach, as the main bus operator, on the detailed operational issues such as opening times, level of staffing and financial recompense by bus operators for use of the station.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

Closed circuit television coverage, linked to the 24-hour Havant control room, is proposed for both the station interior and outside areas of the new station. Provision is made for a linked push button `HELP' console which will also provide security benefits for those passengers using the station outside opening hours.

Sustainability

It is envisaged that by providing this new facility more potential passengers will be encouraged to use public transport rather than less sustainable modes. Efficiency of bus operations will also be improved, with drivers no longer being required to be transported to and from the Farlington depot.

Where possible sustainable materials and construction methods are incorporated into the design of the building and exterior areas. However, due to the low level diesel/oil spill contamination of much of the existing paving, opportunities for recycling materials from this site are limited.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

Alternative options considered and discounted as being unable to meet the passenger and operator requirements identified in the study, include:

(i) A smaller, lower specification building housing the main passenger facilities with a lower cost canopy, preliminary cost estimate £900,000.

(ii) A simple structure providing a roof but no walls for the passenger waiting area and a `portacabin' type structure to house the bus supervisor's office and information booth, preliminary cost estimate £400,000.

(iii) A basic option of an additional bus bay but no passenger building or shelter, preliminary cost estimate £120,000.

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

Havant Bus Station Working Files

Havant Bus Station Study (Atkins 2002)

PA: Advanced Works, Havant Bus Station - Executive Member for Environment 7 December 2004

PA: Havant Bus Station - Executive Member for Environment 22 March 2005

Environment Department