Issue details

Decision:

The Cabinet Member for Highways & Transport is asked to give approval to take the Gravesend Bus Hub scheme through the next stages of development and delivery.

Specifically:

i)       Approval to enter into the Local Growth Fund and EDC Grant funding agreements subject          to the approval of the Corporate Director of Finance & Procurement.

ii)      Approval to undertake the detailed design and surveys for the project, including          development control and land charge disclosures. This work will be undertaken by          appointing a consultant through the KCC Professional Services Framework Contract.

iii)     Approval to progress all statutory approvals or consents required for the scheme,   including transfer of land and rights.

iv)     Approval to carry out any additional consultation required for the scheme.

v)      Approval to enter into construction contracts as necessary for the delivery of the scheme            subject to the approval of the Capital Officer Group to the recommended procurement            strategy.

vi)     Approval for any further decisions required to allow the scheme to proceed through to          delivery to be taken by the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment & Transport under          the Officer Scheme of Delegations following prior consultation with the Cabinet Member.

Background:

The Gravesend Bus Hub scheme is one of the enhancements to interchange facilities and will deliver a bus interchange in Gravesend Town Centre to improve the transport connections between rail, bus, cycling and walking, linking with the recently completed Rathmore Road improvement LGF scheme. Initially the Gravesend Bus Hub scheme was to deliver a new interchange provision in Barrack Row for local buses using the Local Growth Funding only. KCC officers have investigated an enlarged scheme which would include Garrick Street and improvements to the existing Fastrack interchange utilising underspend from the completed Rathmore Road scheme (using remaining Strategic Transport Infrastructure Programme funding) and a contribution from the Fastrack programme. The enlarged scheme will provide additional benefit and overall cost savings by delivering the two elements at one time through a single procurement exercise.

The Gravesend Bus Hub scheme was made possible with the completion of the Rathmore Road scheme, which implemented a re-routing of the one-way traffic system traffic flows along the new Rathmore Road. This was separately delivered through the LGF programme and creates the road space for the building of the interchange at Barrack Row.

For the Garrick Street improvements, KCC Public Transport require a high-quality product that enhances the premium bus service offered by Fastrack.  A Kent based architect was commissioned to work up canopy designs for Fastrack in Garrick Street.  The style and type of canopy will then be used along Barrack Row to give a similar quality feel and look for the local bus stops. The building of a transport interchange also represents the final phase of the delivery of the Gravesend Transport Quarter (GTQ) master plan which originates from 2005. Gravesham BC as an active stakeholder are also keen to see the interchange constructed homogenously to complete the GTQ. Early plans for the GTQ saw the construction of the Barrack Row bus hub as part of a multi-story car park development by Network Rail but the car park scheme was abandoned by Network Rail further to a 2011 Planning Application.