Agenda item

Report of the Head of Planning Transportation and Environment (PTE/19/13) on the Proposed Long Lane widening and new link road on Silverdown Office Park (near Exeter Airport, Broadclyst), attached. 

An Impact Assessment is attached for the attention of Members at this meeting.     

(Councillors Way and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/19/13) seeking approval to proceed with the construction of widening on Long Lane and a new link road on Silverdown Office Park (near Exeter Airport, Broadclyst), the Report being circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Report highlighted that in relation to the widening of Long Lane (near the Airport), the section extended from the Airport Terminal entrance, past the hangers and the FlyBe Academy/Hampton by the Hilton hotel through to Harrier Court in the East, a length of approximately 1.25 km.  It was proposed to widen to a 6.5m width to provide sufficient access to develop the employment Enterprise Zone area known as Airpark. To facilitate the works, a diversion route would be required for traffic at the site which meant the construction of a section of road to connect Silverdown Office Park to the FlyBe Academy access road, known as the “Silverdown Link”.  Design and scheme works would be funded by the Enterprise Zone, supported by private contributions.

The scheme presented to Cabinet comprised four main sections:

·         Long Lane: Airport Terminal entrance, to Car Park 1;

·         Long Lane: Car Park 1 to Training Academy/Hotel;

·         Long Lane: Training Academy/Hotel to Harrier Court; and

·         Silverdown link.

The proposals for the four sections identified above were shown on drawing B23006BZ-01-017 included as an Appendix to the Report.

The scheme provided benefits to the area, ensuring that access could be maintained to key businesses and to facilitate growth at the Airpark site and the delivery of the France-AlderneyBritain (FAB) connector.

In order to ensure that the scheme had as wide support as possible, six meetings had been held with partners and stakeholders, as well as representatives of Airpark (e.g. Airport, Flybe, Airport Hotel, FAB project, Highways England and main landowners).

The scheme was estimated to cost £3 millions, to be constructed over two financial years 2019/20 & 2020/21. The Enterprise Zone Board had approval to borrow the funds (as part of a wider package of support within the Enterprise Zone) and additional approval was being sought from East Devon District Council’s Cabinet (6 March 2019).  There was currently no cost to the County Council to construct the scheme; however it would be expected to manage any cost overruns and recover these from East Devon District Council.

Construction would not commence until all funding and legal agreements were in place, including confirmation and sign up from landowners.

The Cabinet noted the financial risks to the Council (as well as East Devon District Council) should the scheme not proceed with the reduced ability to generate the anticipated business rates from the Airpark Development and also the other the risks identified which included the scheme programme and costs, the funding package, progression of the FAB project and landowner consent and the management of said risks.

The Head of Service’s Report contained an Impact Assessment circulated with the agenda for the attention of Members at the meeting.  The positive impacts were highlighted as improved access to the Airport area through an improved bus service that could circulate the business park area, providing additional carriageway width to improve highway safety and improved crossing facilities of Long Lane in the vicinity of the Training Academy. Additional economic impacts included unlocking the development of land in the Airpark Enterprise Zone and supporting the delivery of the France-Alderney-Britain (FAB) Connector project.

The proposals had no adverse impact on a specific audience, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation and religion / belief. The scheme would widen an existing road, whilst also creating a link road to facilitate travel by bus providing benefits to those travelling to the area. 

There would be loss of trees and hedgerows as a result of the scheme, which were necessary, but it was proposed that hedgerows would be replanted to maintain the character of Long Lane. Ecology surveys had been undertaken and all mitigation would be discussed with ecologists.

The matter having been debated and the options and/or alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability (including carbon impact), risk management, equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact) set out in the Head of Service’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

it was MOVED by Councillor Davis, SECONDED by Councillor Gilbert, and

RESOLVED

(a) that the scheme shown on drawing number B23006BZ-01-017 be approved for construction at an estimated cost of £3 millions, subject to funding and legal agreements being in place;

(b) that the land for this scheme be acquired through negotiation; and

(c) that the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Development and Waste, be given delegated authority to make minor amendments to the scheme design.

[NB: The Impact Assessment referred to above may be viewed alongside Minutes of this meeting and may also be available at:  http://new.devon.gov.uk/impact/].