Agenda Item 4

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Report to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport

23rd April 2008

Owen Street Level Crossing Relief Road - Transfer of Land

1. Summary Statement

1.1 This report seeks approval to the transfer of land on terms to be agreed in relation to a new car park as part of the Owen Street Level Crossing Relief Road, , currently under construction.

1.2 The land in question lies adjacent to Tipton Rail Station and was purchased by the Council by agreement, prior to Compulsory Purchase and after approval was granted by the Cabinet Member on the 19th July 2006 (see Decision No. 85/06).

1.3 The existing Centro Park and Ride car park in Owen Street is required for the route of the new relief road and is included within The Borough Council of (Owen Street Relief Road) Compulsory Purchase Order 2004 and The Borough Council of Sandwell (Owen Street Relief Road) Supplementary Compulsory Purchase Order 2006 which was approved by the Secretary of State for Transport on the 7th January 2006.

1.4 It is proposed to transfer the land forming the new car park to Centro on terms to be agreed, by the Head of Corporate Property, in conjunction with the acquisition of the existing car park land.

1.5 The Council has previously managed to secure funds from its own resources to contribute towards the scheme costs and this figure is £1.4m.

1.6 On 15th March 2007, Department for Transport informed the Council that Ministers had agreed to give Full approval to the scheme and to provide a maximum funding contribution of £18.317m.

1.7 Other contributions to the scheme consist of £2.283m from Network Rail and £0.4m from Centro. The total cost of the scheme assuming no landfill tax is £22.4m.

1.8 The course of action recommended in this report has been included in the budget for the scheme.

Further details are attached for your information

2. Recommendations

2.1 That the Head of Legal Services be authorised to acquire by agreement the land comprising Tipton Railway Station car park, Owen Street, Tipton, as shown on Drawing No. CPD/36160/44, on terms to be agreed by the Head of Corporate Property.

2.2 That the Head of Legal Services be authorised to transfer land adjacent to Tipton Railway Station, Alexandra Road, Tipton, as shown Drawing No. THOSRD/HWY/013, to Centro on terms to be agreed by the Head of Corporate Property.

In accordance with the authority delegated to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, the following course of action has been agreed, which will be set out in the formal record of the decisions taken by the Member:

(1) the recommendation(s) above is/are approved.

(2) the recommendation(s) above is/are approved as now amended.

(3) the recommendations above are not approved.

______Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport 23rd April, 2008

Robert A. Lee Director of Planning and Transportation

Contact Officer John Hawkins Transportation Planning Directorate of Planning & Transportation 0121 569 4221

Owen Street Relief Road - Transfer of Land

3. Strategic Resource Implications

3.1 The Council has previously managed to secure funds from its own resources to contribute towards the scheme costs in the sum of £1.4m.

3.2 On 15th March 2007, Department for Transport informed the council that Ministers had agreed to give Full approval to the scheme and to provide a maximum funding contribution of £18.317m.

3.3 Other contributions to the scheme consist of £2.283m from Network Rail and £0.4m from Centro. The total cost of the scheme assuming no landfill tax is £22.4m.

3.4 The course of action recommended in this report has been included in the budget for the scheme.

4. Legal and Statutory Implications

4.1 The proposed course of action is in line with the Council’s transport policies as set out in the Local Transport Plan

4.2 The Council is able, pursuant to the Confirmation of the Compulsory Purchase Orders by the Secretary of State for Transport to acquire the current Centro car park. It has not exercised its powers of Compulsory Purchase as acquiring by agreement in conjunction with the disposal of the land to Centro is considered to be the appropriate course of action, as they are partners to the scheme.

5. Implications for the Council’s Corporate Priorities

5.1 The scheme, currently underway, will improve a major bottleneck on the highway network and help regenerate the main shopping area of Tipton. The new car park will help to deter unnecessary car journeys and therefore improve the environment. The new car park will encourage better use of Tipton Station and has been built to the latest design standards for sustainability and safety, including full surveillance by CCTV cameras.

6. Background Details

6.1 The Owen Street level crossing is located on (WCML). The level crossing is located north east of Tipton’s local shopping area. The WCML crosses the B4517 by Tipton Station.

6.2 The scheme layout incorporates a new length of 7.3 metre width highway for a distance of approximately 400 metres from Owen Street, immediately south of the level crossing between Canal and WCML through a new underbridge under the railway and ties into Alexandra Road near its junction with Watery Lane

6.3 As part of the scheme a new Centro Park & Ride car park is being constructed on land adjacent to the station to replace the existing facility opposite the station.

6.4 Construction got underway in Autumn 2007 and is expected to be completed in Summer 2010

Source Documents 2003 West Midlands Local Transport Plan 2006 West Midlands Local Transport Plan Planning & Transportation Sub Committee on the 18th January 2008 and Settlement letter from Government Office for the West Midlands – 27th November 2007.