Les Waters Manager, Licensing Railway Markets and Economics E-mail [email protected] Telephone 020 7282 2106 12 April 2016 Company Secretary Network Rail Infrastructure Limited 1 Eversholt Street London NW1 2DN Network licence condition 7 (land disposal): Obridge Yard, Taunton Decision 1. On 26 February 2016, Network Rail gave notice of its intention to dispose of land located north of Taunton Railway station (the land) in accordance with paragraph 7.2 of condition 7 of its network licence. The land is described in more detail in the notice (copy attached). Network Rail also provided additional information at Annex B. 2. We have considered the information supplied by Network Rail including the responses received from third parties you have consulted. For the purposes of condition 7 of Network Rail‟s network licence, ORR consents to the disposal of the land in accordance with the particulars set out in its notice. Reasons for decision 3. We are satisfied that Network Rail has consulted all relevant stakeholders with current information. No alternative reasonably foreseeable railway use for the land was identified and no material issues or objections were raised. We note that: there is no evidence that railway operations at Taunton station would be affected adversely; this disposal forms part of the deliverables of the Taunton station Master Plan which is driven by the need to meet incremental passenger growth at Taunton station as identified by Network Rail‟s Western Route Study; Network Rail‟s maintenance depot at the eastern section of Obridge Yard will be relocated with improved access and security; Network Rail confirmed that it would continue to provide and maintain the watering facilities for steam engines and the associated road access rights; and Network Rail will require its developer to keep Kilkenny car park fully operational until the 600 space multi storey car park is built and that there will be no net loss of car parking associated with the implementation of this proposal. Head Office: One Kemble Street, London WC2B 4AN T: 020 7282 2000 F: 020 7282 2040 www.orr.gov.uk 4. Based on all the evidence we have received and taking into account all the material facts and views relevant to our consideration under condition 7, we are satisfied that there are no issues for us to address. 5. We have had regard to our decision criteria in Land disposal by Network Rail: the 1 regulatory arrangements, December 2013, 0F and balanced our section 4 duties given to us under the Railways Act 1993. In doing so we have given particular weight to our duty to exercise our functions in a manner which we consider best calculated to “protect the interests of users of railway services”. 6. We have therefore concluded that the proposed disposal is not against the interests of users of railway services and that our consent should be granted. Les Waters Duly authorised by the Office of Rail and Road 1 Available from www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.150 13864044 Page 2 of 28 13238791 Annex A: Notice given by Network Rail to ORR on 26 February 2016 Proposed Property Disposal Application by Network Rail Infrastructure Limited to dispose of land in accordance with the Land Disposal Condition of the Network Licence 1. Site Land at Obridge Yard and Kilkenny Car Park (part) adjacent to Site location and description Taunton Railway Station 1. Plan number 82708. The disposal site is shown coloured Plans attached: blue. (all site plans should be in JPEG The route of access is shown coloured brown. format, numbered and should clearly show the sites location 2. Taunton Station Master Plan (Link) approximate to the railway) 3. Extract from Master Plan showing revised car park sites. CR/23896 Clearance Ref: S02417 Project No. 323066: 125552 Ordnance survey coordinates Photographs (as required) View looking eastward into Obridge Yard from the north side of Taunton Station. 13864044 Page 3 of 28 13238791 View of Obridge Yard showing the residential context immediately to the north View showing the access route into Obridge Yard from Station Road (Kilkenny is to the left behind the trees) 13864044 Page 4 of 28 13238791 View looking north to rail over road bridge (access to Obridge is immediately to the north of this on the right). 2. Proposal Freehold disposal and a permanent grant of access to the disposal Type of disposal (i.e. lease / area together with all necessary short term licences or leases required freehold sale) to facilitate development works. The party taking ownership will be determined after marketing and Proposed party taking disposal negotiation. A mixed use (residentially led) development scheme is promoted Proposed use / scheme by the Taunton Station Master Plan which was developed in collaboration with Taunton Deane Borough Council, Somerset County Council and Great Western Railway (attached) The access arrangements for the disposal land are as follows: Access arrangements to / from the disposal land Vehicular access to the disposal site will be via the existing northern station approach road from the highway junction at Station Road. The station approach road will remain within railway ownership and control. There is also potential to create a further access onto Winckworth Way at the eastern end of the site (subject to Highways Department approval). There is further pedestrian and cycle access to the site is via the existing footpath/ cycle way which runs along the northern boundary of the site from Kilkenny Car Park to Winckworth Way. There are a number of railway related facilities which will need to be Replacement rail facilities replaced including: (if appropriate) 1. A Network Rail Maintenance Depot on part of Obridge Yard. It is planned that this will be re-located either to accommodation on West Yard Taunton (as envisioned by the Master Plan) or to another 13864044 Page 5 of 28 13238791 site on the Western Route under the current maintenance accommodation review. 1. The continuity of provision of maintenance accommodation will be maintained via the project delivery programme to be agreed with the party eventually taking disposal of the site. 2. The lower 1/3 of Kilkenny Car Park This is owned by Network Rail and sits within the franchised station lease. The area is sub-let by the Station Facility Operator to Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC) for car parking as it is immediately adjacent to TDBC owned land which also used as a car park. The Network Rail owned car parking spaces will be re-provided within the multi-storey car park to be constructed on the south side of Taunton Station under the Station Master Plan. Parking on the upper 2/3 of Kilkenny Car Park will remain unless an alternative suitable location point is identified and implemented under Taunton Deane Borough Council‟s current car parking review. There will be no net loss of parking associated with the implementation of this proposal. Note: The Station Facility Operator is building the new multi-storey car park to meet their identified future incremental passenger demand. Construction of the new multi-storey car park is funded and is currently programmed to complete by December 2017 The anticipated railway benefits associated with this matter include: Anticipated Rail benefits 1. Improved Maintenance Accommodation: The maintenance accommodation at Obridge Yard is considered to be sub-optimal. Restricted access into site for larger vehicles (road width and access under the railway bridge 4.2 metre headroom) and security are all issues raised by the Maintenance Operations Manager. The proposed re-location site at West Yard on the south side of the railway would have direct vehicular access onto the new Northern Inner Distributor Road (NIDR). 2. Operational and Financial Efficiency for Maintenance A move to more appropriate accommodation for the maintenance operations at Obridge Yard (whether at West Yard or elsewhere) is also considered to deliver future operational cost savings to the local Maintenance Delivery Unit. The ongoing maintenance accommodation review is driven by operational and financial efficiency considerations. Alternative location points for the maintenance function at Obridge Yard will also be considered by Network Rail within that context. 3. Delivery of the Taunton Station Master Plan/ Meeting Passenger Needs at Taunton Station This proposal forms part of the deliverables of the Taunton Station Master Plan. The Master Plan is driven by the need to meet the incremental passenger growth at Taunton Station identified by the Western Route Study. 13864044 Page 6 of 28 13238791 Anticipated Non-rail benefits The non-rail related benefits anticipated from this matter include: 1. Improved Sense of Arrival at Taunton Station The current location of maintenance operations at Obridge Yard immediately adjacent to Taunton Station provides a poor sense of arrival to Taunton town by rail. 2. Improved environment around Taunton Station The delivery of a well-designed residentially led development at Obridge Yard is supported by the Taunton Station Master Plan to help improve the environment around Taunton Station. 3. Delivery of the wider regeneration aims of Taunton Station Master Plan It is envisaged that this will support delivering the wider aims of the Taunton Station Master Plan including an improved sense of arrival, inward investment to Taunton and associated regeneration benefits. 4. Supporting the delivery of Government Housing Targets. The proposed delivery of residential units at Obridge Yard and Kilkenny car park will support the Government target for delivery of housing on brownfield public sector land under the draft Housing and Planning Bill 2015-16 3. Timescales Comments on timescales Depending upon the party taking ownership this may be by 31 March 2016 4. Railway Related Issues History of railway related use Some parts of the site are currently in railway use and others are former railway buildings: The eastern section of Obridge Yard is currently used by Network Rail Maintenance and consists of a yard, storage buildings and huts used for office accommodation.