Agenda item

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/1) seeking approval to progress to tender and subsequently construction for Cullompton Higher Bullring public realm enhancement, attached.

An Impact Assessment is attached for the attention of Members at the meeting and is also published at https://www.devon.gov.uk/impact/higher-bull-ring-heritage-action-zone-improvement-scheme-impact-assessment-december-2022/.

RESOLVED

(a) that the public realm enhancement design (developed as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone project) for the Higher Bullring area of Cullompton, as set out in Appendix 1, at a cost of £828,016, to proceed to tender and construction be approved, noting there is no cost to Devon County Council;

(b) that the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport, in consultation with the Local Member and Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport be given delegated authority to make minor amendments to the scheme design; and

(c) that an increase to the 2022/23 capital programme by £96,711, funded by developer contributions, be approved.

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

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/1) which sought approval to progress to tender and subsequently construction for the Cullompton Higher Bullring public realm enhancement, 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 High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) programme (being delivered by Historic England) was a £95 million programme to unlock the potential of high streets across England, fuelling economic, social and cultural recovery and breathing new life into high streets for future generations.

The Cullompton Higher Bullring public realm enhancement project, delivered as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone, had the following objectives:

·         enhance the heritage setting of the town centre;

·         reduce the dominance of motor vehicles; and

·         provide an extended space for community events and cultural activities while providing a focus for civic pride.

The streets and spaces in the town centre were currently dominated by traffic, narrow pavements, poor quality surfacing, and little planting or street furniture.

The design has been developed with a consultant led concept approved by Mid Devon District Council and was built on the Town Centre Masterplan. Key considerations in the design included the War Memorial, the street trees, the bus stop, facilitation of loading and unloading and the parking in the area.

In summary the key changes were:

·     carriageway width – reduced to enable the creation of the enhanced public realm whilst remaining sufficient to maintain the current traffic flows;

·     bus stop – moved south of the St John Court access, freeing up the setting of the War Memorial;

·     pedestrian crossing – realigned slightly to reflect the new kerb alignments;

·     disabled parking bays – realigned to enable the offset pedestrian crossing to function safely; and

·     market access – designed such that the market could continue to access the space to facilitate market days.  The creation of the larger public realm allowed for future market expansion.

A parking demand survey had also been undertaken during the initial concept design process, Appendix 2. 

A two-stage public consultation had also been undertaken and this was outlined in full at section 5 of the Report.

The Scheme was well-aligned with a range of actions within the Strategic Plan, insofar as it would increase walking and cycling opportunities and therefore encourage more people to walk and cycle and support a green economic recovery from COVID-19 for businesses.

The table in the Report summarised how the proposals would impact achievement of relevant Strategic Plan actions according to a seven-point scale.

Cabinet noted that Mid Devon District Council were the lead partner and accountable body for the programme.

An Impact Assessment had been circulated with the Director’s Report and could be found at - https://www.devon.gov.uk/impact/higher-bull-ring-heritage-action-zone-improvement-scheme-impact-assessment-december-2022/

This highlighted that the design process had required that the Scheme was ‘fully accessible and inclusive to everyone, including mobility and visual impairment’.

An overarching project aim was to ensure that the enhancement design ‘delivered a coherent and unifying design for the whole study area that met the current and future needs of the community’. All necessary highways safety audits would be undertaken through the detailed design and construction phases.

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 Director’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

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

RESOLVED

(a) that the public realm enhancement design (developed as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone project) for the Higher Bullring area of Cullompton, as set out in Appendix 1, at a cost of £828,016, to proceed to tender and construction be approved, noting there is no cost to Devon County Council;

(b) that the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport, in consultation with the Local Member and Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport be given delegated authority to make minor amendments to the scheme design; and

(c) that an increase to the 2022/23 capital programme by £96,711, funded by developer contributions, be approved.

(NB: The Impact Assessment referred to above may be viewed alongside Minutes of this meeting and may also be available at https://www.devon.gov.uk/impact/higher-bull-ring-heritage-action-zone-improvement-scheme-impact-assessment-december-2022/).