Agenda item

(To receive a report from the Executive Director for Environment and Economy, which seeks to gain approval for the length and type of carriageway, prior to the completion of the Outline Business Case.  The report also seeks approval of the proposed project funding sources and associated percentages/values)

(1)  That approval be given to a dual carriageway from the A46 (Pennells' roundabout) to connect with the roundabout at the A15 (currently being constructed as part of the Lincoln Eastern Bypass) as opposed to either a single or single + future-proofed carriageway as the Council's preferred carriageway option in all future development of the NHRR including the making of funding bids. 

(2)  That approval be given to seeking funding from governmental bodies such as the DfT in line with the percentages/values contained in the body of this paper.

(3)  That delegated authority be given to the County Commissioner for Economy and Place for approving the final form of the Outline Business Case (at the point when the bidding opportunity is announced) and submission of the same.

Consideration was given to a report by Mark Heaton (Programme Leader) and Sam Edwards (Senior Project Leader (Major Schemes)), which invited the Executive to consider recommendations relation to the proposed North Hykeham Relief Road.

The Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT introduced the report to the Executive, and advised that the proposed project would improve connections around and into Lincoln and form part of the Lincolnshire Coastal Highway.  The feedback from public engagement events had been positive.

The Programme Leader presented the report to the Executive and in doing so advised that the North Hykeham Relief Road would be a major infrastructure project aimed to complete the final phase of the circulatory around Greater Lincoln and North Hykeham by linking the Lincoln Eastern Bypass (at the A15 Sleaford Road) with the existing Western Bypass (at its junction with Newark Road).

The report sought approval for the length and type of carriageway, prior to the completion of the Outline Business Case.  The report also sought approval for the proposed project funding sources and associated percentages/values.  The Outline Business Case (OBC) would be key in justifying funding opportunities from governmental bodies, such as the Department for Transport.

It was highlighted that project funding was the next stage of the development of the North Hykeham Relief Road, therefore creating the need for the completion of the OBC for submitting to the Department for Transport (DfT). The DfT had advised that the next opportunity for submitting a funding bid would be in late 2018/early 2019. 

Page 35 of the agenda pack included a table which depicted what the Executive Project Board had decided would be the most efficient bid when balancing affordability and likelihood of success.  The requested project contribution from the DfT was proposed as 70% of the overall cost of the project, with the remainder being funded by Lincolnshire County Council and developer funding contributions.

It was highlighted that the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee had met on 10 September 2018 and had considered a report on the North Hykeham Relief Road.  The Committee had considered the length and type of carriageway, prior to the completion of the OBC and had unanimously supported the recommendations included in the report to the Executive.  Comments of the Committee were detailed on page 39 of the report.

RESOLVED

(1)  That approval be given to a dual carriageway from the A46 (Pennells' roundabout) to connect with the roundabout at the A15 (currently being constructed as part of the Lincoln Eastern Bypass) as opposed to either a single or single + future-proofed carriageway as the Council's preferred carriageway option in all future development of the NHRR including the making of funding bids. 

(2)  That approval be given to seeking funding from governmental bodies such as the DfT in line with the percentages/values contained in the body of this paper.

(3)  That delegated authority be given to the County Commissioner for Economy and Place for approving the final form of the Outline Business Case (at the point when the bidding opportunity is announced) and submission of the same.