Archived decisions

Item 7

Report to the

Transport for South Hampshire Joint Committee

Date: 8 January 2008

Report by: Keith Willcox, Project Director (Hampshire County Council)

tel: 01962 846997 email: [email protected]

Subject: Transport Studies - Update

Purpose of the Report

This report provides an overview of the process for taking the results of the consultants' studies forward and seeks authority for officers to submit bids for funding, should opportunities arise, at short notice.

Recommendations

1. To note the progress on the transport studies and approve the process for taking them forward.

2. That authority be given to submit appropriate funding bids for sub-regional priority schemes when funding resources become available.

Current Position

1. Three studies were commissioned in the summer, using resources from the three authorities, together with £50,000 contributions each from Department for Transport, the South East England Regional Assembly and Development Control Leaders' Group (DCLG). A subsequent contribution has also been offered recently by the Highways Agency.

2. The studies were Access to South East Hampshire, undertaken by Peter Brett Associates; Access to the sub-region (Winchester to Southampton corridor) and Access to Southampton, undertaken as a joint package by Mott Gifford and MVA Consultancy.

3. In addition, a study into the options and access requirements for transport to the Strategic Development Areas (SDAs) North/North East Hedge End and North Fareham, together with the potential development at North Whiteley (the SDA study) was let to Mott Gifford and MVA in September. This study was funded entirely from DCLG Growth Point funding as part of the masterplanning exercise for the SDAs.

4. The studies are due to be completed in January, although the consultants studying the Access to Southampton have indicated that they may need more time and resources to complete their evaluation, as further options have required consideration.

The Way Ahead

5. Following delivery of the consultants' reports, officers of the transport authorities will consider the evidence and advice received, and consolidate this into a uniform Sub-Regional Transport Statement.

6. This Statement will cover the whole sub-region and will:

(i) be reported to gain support and acceptance from stakeholders, Government agencies, district councils and the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH);

(ii) inform the Regional Funding Allocation (RFA) refresh in Spring 2008;

(iii) inform the transport element of Local Development Frameworks of local planning authorities within South Hampshire;

(iv) form the basis of Transport for South Hampshire's (TfSH) work programme to develop the nominated schemes in more detail for programmed implementation in line with the development timescale; and

(v) provide a robust cost base for the purpose of raising appropriate funding for schemes from a variety of sources, eg RFA, Community Infrastructure Fund, Growth Point Fund, etc.

7. The SDA report will contribute local detail to the consolidated Statement in respect of these development areas. It will involve officers on the PUSH SDA feasibility working group and be made available to the interested developers as background to the masterplanning process.

8. Timescale

Early January 2008 - Consultants submit final reports.

January/February 2008 - Officers consideration, consolidation and stakeholder engagement.

February/March 2008 - Joint TfSH/PUSH member workshop.

March 2008 - Submission of application forms for prioritised schemes for RFA refresh for the period 2016-2018.

Funding Opportunities

9. Whilst the RFA will represent the main opportunity to demonstrate the importance and the implementation timescale for the schemes that emerge from the investigations, it is expected that other funding streams will be announced, which will be advantageous to bid for. These may well arise with little forewarning and may not necessarily mesh with the schedule of planned meetings for the TfSH Joint Committee. If such new funding opportunities become available, it will be necessary for the partnership to respond swiftly, if South Hampshire is to maximise opportunities for external funding. It is necessary, therefore, to request authority for officers to submit bids for funding at short timescales. In such circumstances, a report will be provided to Members of the Joint Committee at the next available opportunity.

9419Rpt/KW