Purpose

The purpose of this report is to seek authorisation from the Corporate Director of Place, following a recommendation by the Head of Procurement, for the Council to enter into a Basic Implementation Agreement with Network Rail to part-fund the works required to enable the completion and opening of the public pedestrian bridge at East Croydon Station, known as the East Croydon Link Bridge.

The project supports the delivery of the Council’s Town Centre Vision and Croydon

Growth Plan, and is part of the Town Centre Regeneration Programme, which aims to make the town centre more welcoming and accessible for everyone who lives, works and visits Croydon.

The completion and opening of the East Croydon Link Bridge will support the Executive Mayor’s Business Plan, specifically Outcome 2 (Croydon is a place of opportunity for business, earning and learning), Priority 1 (Support the regeneration of Croydon’s town and district centres). It will do this by improving connectivity and accessibility in the East Croydon area and enhancing the visitor experience around the train station.

Additionally, delivery of this project will support Outcome 4 (Croydon is a cleaner, safer and healthier place, a borough we’re proud to call home), Priority 1 (Croydon is a cleaner, safer and healthier place). By enabling activation of the bridge, it is hoped that higher footfall around the station will contribute to the renewal that is already

successfully underway in the East Croydon area.

Decision

For the reasons set out in this report, the Corporate Director of Place AGREED to:

-       authorise the Council entering into the ‘Basic Implementation (Emerging Costs) Agreement’ (‘the Agreement’) in the form appended to, and for the value stated in, the exempt Part B of this report

-       note that the Agreement sets out the terms of the Council’s contribution to Network Rail to enable delivery by Network Rail of the works required to complete and open the public pedestrian element of the East Croydon Link Bridge.

Reasons for the decision

Entering into the Agreement will allow Network Rail to undertake the works required to enable this much needed piece of pedestrian infrastructure to open to the public.

The pedestrian link is a key component of regeneration plans in the East Croydon Area, as set out in the East Croydon Masterplan. Its completion will reduce the severance caused by the train tracks and activate the public realm around the station, bringing positive benefits to residents, workers and visitors.

The Council’s funding contribution has been allocated from the Growth Zone fund, a funding mechanism based on business rates retention, the purpose of which is to support regeneration initiatives and infrastructure in the town centre. The funding allocation was approved through the Executive Mayor Decision Report ‘Town Centre Vision: Realignment of the existing Growth Zone programme and funding’ published 9th May 2025.

The Agreement includes mechanisms that ensure the Council is protected as part funder.

The project aligns with the Mayor’s Business Plan 2022-26, Croydon Growth Plan, Town Centre Vision and Infrastructure Delivery Plan 2025.

As the value of the contract is below the threshold in the Procurement Act 23 (PA 23) for works, the approach set out in this report is permissible under procurement regulations. It is permissible under the Council’s Contract Standing Orders with value for money demonstrated by Network Rail’s own procurement activities.

Alternative options considered

Do Nothing

This option is not recommended as it would not support the Council’s priorities for the town centre’s growth, regeneration and social and economic recovery at a very critical time given the challenging macroeconomic conditions. Allowing the bridge to remain shut to the public is not in compliance with the Mayor’s Business Plan 2022-26, the Town Centre Vision and the Croydon Growth Plan, which are focussed on town centre regeneration, safety and inward investment. The pedestrian link was a key component of the East Croydon Masterplan, and to do nothing would deny the crucial role the bridge has to play in bringing forward the regeneration of the East Croydon Area by improving connectivity and accessibility for residents, workers and visitors. Furthermore, to do nothing would be a significant reputational risk for the Council particularly with local people, who have been awaiting the completion of the bridge.

A further risk of not entering the Agreement could be a negative impact on relations between the Council and key partners like Network Rail, and developers like Menta who delivered the scheme adjacent to the station. Maintaining strong relationships with partners is fundamental in helping the Council to attract inward investment to support the further regeneration of the town centre and wider borough in the short and long term.

Seek alternative funding

This option is not recommended. The option of seeking alternative funding from other sources has been dismissed due to the uncertainty of funding opportunities, costs and associated programme risks. Funding opportunities are typically competitive and there are limited funding streams of this type available to Local Authorities. The Council would unlikely be able to acquire a similar level of external funding elsewhere. The process of seeking and applying for external funding would increase project timelines and require additional officer resource, whilst also impacting project costs through programme delay.

Embarking on such a process would disregard the urgency of the project and, like option 1, impact negatively on public perception of the Council as well as relations with key partners.

The Council originally part-funded the bridge’s construction, but did not expend the full agreed funding amount as the original agreement expired before certain milestones were reached. It has therefore been an expectation from the outset that the completion of the bridge would once again be a joint project, and the Council’s match funding is a key requirement in securing Network Rail’s own contribution.