Agenda item

The Assistant Director, Transport, Highways & Improvement to present a report which sets out progress to date on the above scheme and seeks approval to submit a planning application and proceed to work with partners on the detailed scheme in the Spring.

Resolved: (i) That it be confirmed that the public and stakeholder process has been carried out appropriately and that the Statement of Community Involvement (SOCI) be endorsed.

Reason: To enable the submission of a full planning application and to proceed to detailed design.

(ii) That approval be given to instruct the design team to incorporate design changes informed by responses received in the public consultation.

Reason: To enable the design team to submit a full planning application and proceed to detailed scheme design.

(iii) That the submission of a full planning application based on the amended masterplan informed by the SOCI be approved.

Reason: In order to gain planning permission for the scheme.

(iv) That approval be given for the project team to pursue land acquisition negotiations with partners, stakeholders and third party landowners and that authority for land purchase be delegated to the Corporate Director of Economy & Place, in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader.

Reason: To enable Queen Street Bridge to be demolished and the scheme to be constructed as designed.

(v) That engagement with statutory undertakers to design and deliver a detailed scheme of utility diversionary work be continued, using existing budget allocations.

Reason: To enable the removal of Queen Street Bridge and the construction of the scheme.

The Assistant Director of Transport, Highways & Improvement and the Major Transport Projects Manager presented a report which set out progress to date on the scheme to improve York Station Front, along with proposals to submit a full planning application and proceed with work on the detailed scheme.

The scheme, funded from the West Yorkshire + Transport Fund administered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), had now reached the ‘Activity 4 – Full Business Case’ stage in the governance process. The York Station Front masterplan public and stakeholder engagement process had taken place between 11 June and 8 July 2018, as detailed in paragraphs 6 to 16 of the report, resulting in a total of 1,486 responses from stakeholders and members of the public.

A summary of the main themes arising from the consultation and officers’ responses to these was provided in paragraphs 22 to 29. Themes included: the traffic impact of demolishing Queen Street bridge, the need for a dedicated bus interchange, the suitability of taxi and cycle provision, and the impact on existing buildings such as York RI.