JOB NUMBER: 5040717 DOCUMENT REF: Burton to Swadlincote Regen Corridor Study.Doc
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REPORT TO: Environmental & Development AGENDA ITEM: 9 Services Committee DATE OF 1st February 2007 CATEGORY: MEETING: DELEGATED REPORT FROM: OPEN Deputy Chief Executive MEMBERS’ Gill Hague DOC: CONTACT POINT: 595742 SUBJECT: Burton to Swadlincote (A38-A444- REF: A511) Regeneration Corridor WARD(S) Linton, Seales, Stanton & Newhall, TERMS OF AFFECTED: Church Gresley, Swadlincote, REFERENCE:EDS03 Woodville 1.0 Recommendations That Members: 1.1 welcome the report of the consultant’s study into the Burton – Swadlincote (A38-A444-A511) Regeneration Corridor; 1.2 strongly support the undertaking of further work by the appropriate bodies; 1.3 arrange a presentation on the study findings through Derbyshire County Council; and 1.4 seek a Member meeting with Derbyshire County Council to discuss the implications for the District and the Local Transport Plan. 2.0 Purpose of Report 2.1 To inform Members of the consultant’s study and gain support for necessary further work. 3.0 Detail 3.1 For a number of years there have been proposals to develop land south of Burton located both in Staffordshire and Derbyshire that is constrained by the existing highway network. A short investigation into the development potential of the area, particularly the land around Drakelow, was undertaken by consultants Ancer Spar. Their report concluded that a Page 1 of 47 link road between the A38 and A444 would be key to unlocking the development potential and that the level of developer contributions would make the scheme viable. 3.2 In order to progress the matter Staffordshire County Council took the lead role and commissioned Akins with funding from the West and East Midlands Development Agencies to undertake a more detailed study of such a route. A steering group was set up that involved officer representatives of the respective County and District Councils, the Highway Agency, the two regional development agencies and the National Forest. It was as a result of an early meeting that the study area was extended to continue the link from the A444 to the A511 to take into account the Council’s proposed Swadlincote Regeneration Route. 3.3 The Atkins study looks at a potential road corridor (see Appendix A) that includes an indicative alignment. It does not include detailed road layouts and should not to be confused with the Proposed Walton Bypass. 3.4 The study concludes that it would be worthwhile preparing a more detailed business case and that the work should be taken forward by the two regional development agencies as a regeneration led project. 3.5 It is understood that the assumptions in the study findings are now being tested. 4.0 Financial Implications 4.1 None at present. 5.0 Community Implications 5.1 There could be long term economic benefits to the local community in terms of jobs brought forward by the redevelopment of brownfield sites and potential environmental benefits due to a reduction in congestion. 6.0 Conclusions 6.1 Further work to develop the link road scheme should be supported as to do so is in line with the Council’s response to the draft Regional Spatial Strategy. 7.0 Background Papers 7.1 None other than those referred to in this report. The Executive Summary of the Burton to Swadlincote (A38-A444-A511) Regeneration Corridor Study is available to view on Staffordshire County Council’s website under the pages relating to the Local Transport Plan for Staffordshire 2006-2011 (LTP2). Page 2 of 47 Appendix A Burton to Swadlincote (A38-A444-A511) Regeneration Corridor Summary Report JOB NUMBER: 5040717 DOCUMENT REF: Burton to Swadlincote Regen Corridor Study.doc 29th Vers 6 Revised Final Report APT NDM August 2006 1st August Vers 4 Final Report APT 2006 22nd June Vers 1 Draft Report APT APT 2006 Originated Checked Reviewed Authorised Date Revision Purpose Description Page 3 of 47 Contents Section Page STUDY OVERVIEW 1-3 1. Introduction 1-4 Background to Corridor Proposals 1-4 Study Objectives 1-5 Study Approach 1-5 Report Structure 1-6 2. Corridor Description – Existing Situation 2-7 Section 1 – A38 to the Birmingham to Derby Railway 2-7 Section 2 – The Birmingham to Derby Railway to Drakelow Power Station 2-7 Section 3 – Drakelow Power Station to A444 2-7 Section 4 – A444 to Swadlincote Ski Centre 2-8 Section 5 – Swadlincote Ski Centre to Moira Road (B5004) 2-9 Section 6 – Moira Road (B5004) to A511 / Butt Lane 2-9 3. Description of the Indicative Alignment Studied 3-7 Introduction 3-7 Section 1 – A38 to the Birmingham to Derby Railway 3-7 Section 2 – The Birmingham to Derby Railway to Drakelow Power Station 3-7 Section 3 – Drakelow Power Station to A444 3-8 Section 4 – A444 to Swadlincote Ski Centre 3-9 Section 5 – Swadlincote Ski Centre to Moira Road (B5004) 3-9 Section 6 – Moira Road (B5004) to A511 / Butt Lane 3-9 Alignment Speed Restrictions 3-10 4. Summary of Environmental Aspects 4-11 Introduction 4-11 Planning 4-11 Landscape 4-12 Land Use 4-12 Pedestrians, Cyclists and Community Effects 4-13 1-1 A38-A511 Exec Summary vers 6 ndm.doc Page 4 of 47 Biodiversity 4-13 Water 4-14 Cultural Heritage 4-14 Noise 4-14 Air Quality 4-15 Summary 4-15 5. Scheme Costing 5-16 Assumptions 5-16 cost estimate 5-16 6. Highway Modelling 6-20 Model Background 6-20 Forecasting Approach 6-21 Growth 6-22 Forecast Traffic Effects 6-22 7. Economic Assessment 7-24 Introduction 7-24 Economic Assessment 7-25 Summary 7-26 8. Economic Regeneration 8-28 Introduction 8-28 Option 1 8-30 Option 2 8-31 9. Viability Assessment 9-33 Summary of Findings 9-33 10. Summary 10-37 List of Tables Table 6.1 – Development-Related Trips (Scenario A, Vehicles per Hour) 6-22 Table 7.1 –Scheme-Specific Parameters used in the Appraisal 7-24 Table 7.2 – Scheme Costs (£000, 2002 prices) 7-25 1-2 A38-A511 Exec Summary vers 6 ndm.doc Page 5 of 47 STUDY OVERVIEW For a number of years there have been proposals to develop land, for employment purposes, to the south of Burton upon Trent in East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire. Furthermore the closure of Drakelow Power Station has made a substantial area of brownfield land available for development. Further to the east, there are two additional employment sites and a potential housing site in Swadlincote. A number of these proposed development sites suffer from poor access. The Burton to Swadlincote Regeneration Corridor Study has, therefore, focussed on investigating the viability of potential development options along the A38/A444/A511 corridor and includes estimated costs associated with the provision of the necessary access and link road infrastructure to support such regeneration. The conclusions of this study have identified that it would be worthwhile preparing a more detailed business case for corridor highway improvements. It is proposed that this work should be taken forward by the two Regional Development Agencies, namely Advantage West Midlands (AWM) and the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA), as a regeneration led project. The development of the detailed business case will need to encompass appropriate discussions with relevant landowners and Network Rail. 1-3 A38-A511 Exec Summary vers 6 ndm.doc Page 6 of 47 1. Introduction BACKGROUND TO CORRIDOR PROPOSALS 1.1 The Regeneration Corridor study area is illustrated in Figure 1.1 1.2 The Second Local Transport Plan for Staffordshire submitted in March 2006 includes proposals for a link road as part of a potential major scheme. Similar references are made in the Derbyshire Local Transport Plan. 1.3 There have been proposals to develop land south of Burton-on-Trent both in East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire for employment purposes for a number of years. Outline planning consent for B1, B2, and B8 industrial development of Branston South was originally granted in September 1991. 1.4 The A38 highway junction scheme and site development proposals at Branston South have been designed with the aim of allowing the connection of a new access and link road (Branston/Drakelow Access and Link Road) eastwards from the A38 to the A444 at Swadlincote and on to the A511 via a route passing to the south of Woodville. This link road would facilitate the procurement of significant potential regeneration benefits in terms of either opening up or bringing forward development sites either along or at the end of its route. The employment created by these developments would create jobs for the residents of Burton-upon-Trent and Swadlincote and consequently provide a boost to the local economy. 1.5 The Branston / Drakelow access and link road is an integral part of realising the objective to link two key strategic employment development sites. The proposed developments are located on land to the south of Branston (Branston Park) and the Drakelow power station site in East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire. 1.6 Ancer Spa carried out a short investigation into the development potential for the Study Area particularly the land around Drakelow. Their report proposed that the development of Branston South should make provision for a link road between the A38 and A444. Ancer Spa concluded that the level of developer contributions generated from such a development proposal would make the scheme viable Further studies were commissioned to examine the role of the link jointly funded by Advantage West Midlands (AWM) and East Midlands Development Agency as a “Midlands Way” inter regional initiative. This report concluded that the link road would be the key to unlocking a number of potential development sites in the area and would potentially generate up to 8,500 jobs.