Northampton Bus Interchange – Appraisal Report Northamptonshire Highways June 2011
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Northampton Bus Interchange – Appraisal Report Northamptonshire Highways June 2011 QM Issue/revision Issue 1 Revision 1 Revision 2 Revision 3 Remarks Date 22/6/11 23/6/11 25/6/11 29/6/11 Prepared by A Hames A Hames A Hames A Hames Signature Checked by M Hammon M Hammon M Hammon M Hammon Signature Authorised by K Gowenlock K Gowenlock K Gowenlock K Gowenlock Signature Project number 10581737 10581737 10581737 10581737 File reference file://ser02cam1uk. file://ser02cam1uk. file://ser02cam1uk. file://ser02cam1u uk.wspgroup.com\ uk.wspgroup.com\ uk.wspgroup.com\ k.uk.wspgroup.co development\Deve development\Devel development\Devel m\development\D lopmentCam2003\ opmentCam2003\1 opmentCam2003\1 evelopmentCam2 10580939Northam 0580939Northampt 0580939Northampt 003\10580939No ptonBusStation\TE onBusStation\TEX onBusStation\TEX rthamptonBusSta XT\REPORTS\WN T\REPORTS\WND T\REPORTS\WND tion\TEXT\REPO DCDraftReport\Fin CDraftReport\Final CDraftReport\Final RTS\WNDCDraft alReport\Northamp Report\Northampto Report\Northampto Report\FinalRepo tonBusInterchange nBusInterchangeM nBusInterchangeM rt\NorthamptonBu MGWSPJune2011 GWSPJune2011A GWSPJune2011A sInterchangeMG AMHv1.doc MHv1.doc MHv2.doc WSPJune2011A MHv3.doc MGWSP Northamptonshire Highways Riverside House Riverside Way Northampton NN1 5NX Tel: +44 (0)1604 654659 Fax: +44 (0)1604 654699 http://www.mgwsp.co.uk May Gurney Ltd, Registered Office: Holland Court, The Close, Norwich, NR1 4DY Registered Number 00873179 England WSP Management Services Limited Registered Office: WSP House, 70 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1AF Registered Number 02454665 England Contents Executive Summary 4 1 Introduction 6 2 Background 8 3 Scope / Brief 10 4 Bus Interchange Locations and Appraisal Process 13 5 Site Options Evaluation – Deliverability and Economy 16 6 Site Options Evaluation - Social 29 7 Site Options Evaluation - Operational 53 8 Appraisal Outcomes 60 9 Conclusions and Recommendations 62 Drawings 66 Figures 68 Appendix A – Appraisal Framework 70 Appendix B – Cost Estimates 72 Appendix C – Pedestrian Survey Data 74 Appendix D – Pedestrian Survey Summary Graphs 76 Appendix E – Existing Traffic Flows 78 Appendix F – Walking Assessment and Accessibility Analysis 80 Appendix G – Fruin Assessment 82 Appendix H – Pedestrian Crossing Assessment and LINSIG Analysis 84 Appendix I – English Heritage Response 86 Appendix J – VISSIM Model Report 88 Appendix K – Appraisal Results and Presentation to WNDC 90 3 Northampton Bus Interchange Version 1.1 [ Executive Summary This report summarised the technical work and outlines the appraisal process used to determine a preferred bus interchange location. It provides a recommendation to West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) for delivery of a new bus interchange to replace the existing facility at a location agreed by all the following parties: x Northamptonshire County Council (NCC); x Northampton Borough Council (NBC); and x Legal and General (L&G). The bus operators and English Heritage have also inputted into the process. The bus operators have agreed with the location and English Heritage have also provided useful guidance on taking a new bus interchange facility forward. An extensive range of background technical work has been completed by MGWSP since early 2010. More recently the following parties have provided technical input into an agreed joint appraisal process to confirm a preferred location for a new bus interchange in Northampton. Ŷ NCC; Ŷ MGWSP on behalf of NCC; Ŷ NBC; and Ŷ L&G and its advisors (Cyril Sweett and WSP). The prior technical work identified possible locations for a new bus interchange facility. The following 5 location options were appraised: Ŷ Lady’s Lane On-street; Ŷ Lady’s Lane integrated with the expanded shopping centre; Ŷ Fish Market (entire site); Ŷ Fish Market (NBC owned land only); and Ŷ Upper Mounts car park. The appraisal process focused on three main areas relating to deliverability / economy, social aspects and operational parameters. The appraisal process involved all the parties jointly agreeing scoring against criteria. The scoring was also weighted to reflect the importance of certain aspects of the interchange, such as deliverability versus social aspects. 4 Northampton Bus Interchange Version 1.1 The appraisal has provided a robust and transparent process to determine an agreed location for the re-located bus interchange. The Fish Market site scored the highest through the appraisal and the recommendation is therefore that a new bus interchange is provided on the Fish Market site. Upper Mounts scored well for some aspects of deliverability, but less well for social and operational aspects. The other locations on Lady’s Lane did not perform well through the appraisal due to significant challenges for delivery and also they provided less benefit for social aspects. The Fish Market location is therefore the preferred option due to: x Access and location within the town; x Alignment with town centre development strategy; x Availability of the site and avoidance of temporary solutions; and x The reduced stand numbers could be supported by on-street provisions The shape of the site does result in some awkward geometries, and a more efficient layout could be achieved by using the entire site, yet this would require the acquisition, possibly by CPO. This could add significant delays to relocating the interchange, as well as additional costs. However, this could be mitigated by a delivery strategy that focuses on effective and early land acquisition. The recommendation is therefore to progress the opportunities on developing an interchange on the Fish Market site. However, there are a number of challenges that will need to be addressed, including: x Relocation of Arts Collective; x Design of interchange in relation to available land; x Test possibility of acquisition of privately owned sites to enable the whole site to be utilised; x Design of the Sheep Street frontage in discussion with English Heritage; and x Delivery risks. These will addressed through a NBC delivery strategy that sets out risks and identifies suitable mitigation. 5 Northampton Bus Interchange Version 1.1 [ 1 Introduction 1.1.1 This report has been produced in order to provide a recommendation that identifies a preferred location for a new bus interchange in Northampton. MGWSP have produced this report and led the appraisal process to provide an independent assessment. 1.1.2 Northampton Borough Council (NBC) has entered into a development agreement with Legal and General (L&G), to regenerate the town centre through the re-development and expansion of the Grosvenor Centre. This regeneration requires the demolition of the existing bus interchange, which whilst still providing a valuable function is now very tired, is operating at a loss, and has a significant (£5million) obligation in general maintenance and repairs. The benefits of relocating the interchange are: x Allows major private sector investment in the town; x Allows the regeneration of the Grosvenor Centre; x Provides a new quality facility for those travelling to and from Northampton by bus, interchanging between bus services and for bus operators; and x Relieves NBC of financial obligation for repairs. 1.1.3 Under the Agreement, NBC is obliged to provide L&G with vacant possession of the existing bus interchange, and to do so, a new facility needs to be provided. 1.1.4 L&G are ready to commence the development of a planning application for the Grosvenor Centre development. L&G have committed to commence with this application, once NBC have demonstrated that there is a viable and deliverable solution, agreed by all relevant parties, including Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) and West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC), to the relocation of the bus interchange. 1.1.5 The key remaining issue that needed to be resolved to achieve this agreement was the finalisation of a location strategy that has the buy in from key stakeholders, is deliverable within required timescales for funding, agreed by all relevant parties, and with finance available to deliver the new bus interchange. The purpose of this report is to outline the technical work undertaken to assess the impacts associated with a number of alternative locations for a new bus interchange culminating in a recommendation on a suitable location that satisfies these criteria through a transparent and robust appraisal process. 1.1.6 This recommendation is based on agreed multi-criteria appraisal process that all parties, as set out below, have inputted into as part of a joint assessment for the new interchange location. The appraisal provides an audit trail of how the technical work and 6 Northampton Bus Interchange Version 1.1 consultation has fed into the shortlisting and final selection of the most suitable location for the new bus interchange. Parties involved in the appraisal decision making process: x NCC; x MGWSP on behalf of NCC; x NBC; and x L&G and its advisors. 1.1.7 WNDC have also been party to earlier meetings on the development of a preferred bus interchange location and agreed to an appraisal process for determining a recommended location for the new bus interchange. 7 Northampton Bus Interchange Version 1.1 [ 2 Background 2.1.1 When proposals emerged from L&G and NBC from the development agreement to regenerate the town centre through the re-development and expansion of the Grosvenor Centre and the need to relocate the existing bus station, NCC appointed MGWSP to undertake a range of technical work