APPENDIX A Full Business Case (FBC) 1. General Information Directorate Economy Portfolio/ Transport and Roads Committee Commercialism, Commissioning and Contract Management Project Title Birmingham Cycle Revolution: Project CA-02714-10, Phase 2 & 3 Green Routes Code CA-02752-10 and CA-02752-05-6 Project Description Introduction This document represents the Full Business Case (FBC) for the remaining Green Route schemes under the Birmingham Cycle Revolution (BCR) programme, including associated on-road ‘Local Link’ measures to maintain route continuity, for delivery in 2017/18 at an estimated total capital cost of £1.650m. Details of the individual schemes are given below and on the plans in Appendix E, F and G. The schemes are funded through the Department for Transport’s Cycle City Ambition Grant (CCAG), the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) Local Growth Fund (LGF), Section 106 developer funding (S106), and the City Council’s Integrated Transport Block (ITB) capital allocation as a local contribution. Further details are given in Section 2 of this Appendix. Background Birmingham Cycle Revolution Programme The overall BCR programme was updated and revised under a ‘Progress Update and Programme Revision’ report approved by Cabinet on 13th December 2016. The programme is being delivered in three phases. All three phases include a combination of highway infrastructure, off road routes, and supporting measures. An FBC for BCR Phase 1 Green Routes was approved by Cabinet in January 2014, and a second tranche of Phase 1 Green Routes was then approved by Cabinet in May 2015. These approvals were funded through the first tranche of Department for Transport (DfT) Cycle City Ambition Grant (CCAG) capital funding. The works have been delivered successfully and are now complete. An FBC for the first Green Route under BCR Phase 3, in Sheldon Country Park, was approved by the appropriate Cabinet Members on 28th April 2016. This scheme has been delivered over Summer 2016. The FBC’s for Woodgate Valley and Hatchford Brook have been approved and the works are substantially complete. Some further green route schemes may come forward for approval later in the BCR programme, subject to sufficient funds still being available, as part of measures to encourage cycling in and around the Green Travel Districts. Any additional Green Route Schemes will be covered in future Phases. Proposed Measures This new approval covers three Green Route schemes and their associated on-road ‘Local Link’ measures. Further details are given below. Subject to approval of this FBC it is expected that the majority of work can be completed in 2018/19, but as the final ‘spray and chip’ dressing is weather- dependent it is possible that this would be held over until Spring 2018. The highways element would also be delivered during the same timescale. APPENDIX A Bournbrook Bridge (£0.452 inc S106 contribution) Selly Oak Ward: The proposed scheme comprises of construction of a new 2.5m wide walking and cycling route linking the existing Bourn Brook Walkway to Harborne Lane including a new bridge over Bourn Brook. To comply with Environment Agency minimum flood level requirement ground modelling and construction of new retaining walls will be required either side of the proposed bridge. Section 106 funding is available from ‘Bournbrook Account, Queen Elizabeth Medical centre, Edgbaston Ward, S/04585/03/OUT’. Castle Bromwich Hall (£0.716m) Hodge Hill & Shard End Wards: This scheme links the Cole Valley Route to the area around the Jaguar Land Rover Castle Bromwich; it starts north of Newport Rd crossing into Solihull and then back into Birmingham finishing at Brook Meadow Road. The proposals for this scheme include; a toucan crossing at Newport Road, improvements to the ramp connecting Newport Road and Chester Road, proposed mandatory cycle lane on both sides of Hall Road, proposed cycle phase on traffic signals at the junction of Bradford Road and Hall Road, Shared use footway/cycleway from Bradford Road to Brook Meadow Road with uncontrolled crossing at Hernefield Road, Heath Way, Moorfield Road and Brook Meadow Road. The proposals on Hall Road and Bradford Road are being delivered by Solihull MBC at their cost. The ramp connecting Newport Road and Chester Road is acquired by Highways England for a side road order and forms a side road, and the side road is the responsibility of the Local Authority. As long as the side road is used as a Highway, the local Authority do not require permission from Highways England to carry out any works or make any changes. The (Birmingham City Council) BCC and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) boundary runs through the ramp, however SMBC have agreed for BCC Contractors to complete the works on their section of the ramp. Yardley / Lyndon Playing Fields (£0.482) South Yardley & Sheldon Wards: This scheme links the existing cycle route from Birmingham City Centre via the Grand Union Canal to Birmingham Airport; it starts at Eaton Wood Drive and crosses Clay Lane into Lyndon Playing Fields, through Solihull and back into Birmingham finishing at Coventry Road. It will then connect to the existing cycle route through Sheldon Country Park. The proposals for this scheme include; shared use footway/cycleway on Eaton Wood Drive, un-controlled crossing on Clay Lane, shared use footway/cycleway on Brindle Close, cycle track through Lyndon Playing Fields, uncontrolled crossing on Wagon Lane, on road cycle route along Keswick Road, shared use footway/cycleway along Wagon Lane and Coventry Road. Planning & other consents. Local Links / Highways elements The uncontrolled crossing on Wagon Lane and the on road cycle route along Keswick Road will be delivered by Solihull MBC at their cost. Capital Implications The total capital cost of this work is estimated to be £1.650m, including supervision fees and contingencies. The expenditure will be funded through a combination of the Department for Transport’s Cycle City Ambition Grant (CCAG), the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) Local Growth Fund (LGF), the City Council’s Integrated Transport Block (ITB) capital allocation, and Section 106 funding from ‘Bournbrook Account, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Edgbaston Ward, S/04585/03/OUT’. Further details are given in the Financial Table in Section 2 of this Appendix. The works within the Solihull area will be funded by Solihull MBC. APPENDIX A Revenue Implications The scheme will deliver new and improved paths in parks and green open space managed by Parks and Nature Conservation. The majority of the resultant cycle route will be the responsibility of the Place Directorate, and will be maintained from their existing revenue maintenance budgets where existing paths have been utilised or where path reductions have been made to compensate. This has been confirmed with the relevant Parks Managers. The proposed investment in existing assets will increase their natural life thereby reducing current maintenance obligations, and new assets will be designed to be low maintenance and revenue neutral. Although the Lyndon Playing Fields are within the Solihull MBC boundary, they will be maintained by Birmingham City Council. Solihull MBC will remain responsible for future maintenance of the highway measures within their boundary. Maintenance of the Bournbrook Bridge will be funded as a commuted sum of £19,060 from Parks Commuted Sums Reserve account. A commuted sum has been set aside within the Parks commuted sum reserve, as Parks will be carrying out the ongoing maintenance works. These schemes will create assets that will form part of the highway upon completion of the project; as such they will need to be maintained within the overall highway maintenance regime. The estimated net cost of including these newly created assets within the highway maintenance regime is £3,339.28 per year. This cost will be funded from the provision for Highways Maintenance held within Corporate Policy contingency. A Maintenance Finance Statement is included at the end of this Appendix. Consultation Details Internal and Other Main Stakeholders The Cabinet Member for Clean Streets, Recycling and the Environment has been consulted on the contents of this report and is supportive of the proposals. The Corporate Director of Place has also been consulted on the proposals. The District Parks Manager has been involved in the development of the scheme and is in full support of the improvements. The Traffic Manager will be consulted on the details of the on-highway ‘Local Links’ work. Ward Councillors and the District Chair, District Lead Officer, District Engineer and District Lead Officer for the area have been consulted by e-mail on the proposals, including a reminder e-mail before the consultation closing date. All schools along the route have been informed regarding the proposals. Further details of the response received from Heathland Academy are given in Appendix I. Disability Groups, Residents Groups, and Other Organisations Groups representing people with disabilities and visual impairments have been consulted on the green route proposals; no responses or adverse comments have been received. These organisations will be specifically consulted on the proposed ‘shared use’ footways as part of the statutory Highway Notice process. Cycling and Walking Groups Cycling and Walking groups, including Pushbikes, Sustrans, CTC and Living Streets, have been consulted on the proposals through the monthly BCR Cycle Stakeholder Meetings, and will continue to be consulted through the design and delivery process. APPENDIX A Local Stakeholders and Others (via Be Heard and letter-drop) Bournbrook Bridge, Selly Oak Ward Majority of the comments received were positive and welcomed the wider path Castle Bromwich Hall, Hodge Hill & Shard End Wards All comments received were positive and in support of the scheme with some queries and minor change requests. Some comments were regarding the proposals being delivered by Solihull MBC and have been passed on to the relevant officers.