Purpose

Proposed decision:

 
For the Cabinet Member
for Highways and Transport to give approval to:

    
I.       
proceed with the currently developed route and
design for North Thanet Link and for this to be further developed
as a preferred option which best meets the objectives of the
scheme.

   
II.        
for KCC officers to project manage, input into the
delivery and supervision of the project, with the cost of all staff
and consultant time being recoverable against the project
funding.

 
III.       
progress the preferred option through the next
stages of scheme development including detailed design, associated
site surveys / investigations, and ancillary works relating to
drainage, environmental and highway mitigation.

 
IV.       
develop and submit a planning application for the
scheme, following completion of the outline design
process.

  
V.       
take all steps necessary to obtain and implement all
Statutory Orders and approvals or consents required for the scheme,
including but not limited to Compulsory Purchase Order, Side Roads
Order and any Traffic Regulation Orders required for the delivery
and successful operation of the scheme.

 
VI.       
negotiate and complete all required land acquisition
including by means of Compulsory Purchase Order as necessary to
secure the delivery and future maintenance of the
scheme.

VII.       
enter into Major Road Network funding agreement with
the Department for Transport, subject to the approval of the
Corporate Director for Finance and for any secured funding to be
spent on the design, development and
delivery of the scheme.

VIII.       
progress and complete a procurement process and
enter into construction contracts as
necessary for the delivery of the scheme, subject to the approval
of Strategic Commissioning.

 
IX.       
allow the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment
& Transport, under the Officer Scheme of Delegations, to take
further or other decisions as may be appropriate to deliver the
North Thanet Link scheme in accordance with these
recommendations.

 
Reason for the decision
 
To provide KCC
officers with the necessary delegated authority to progress and
deliver the North Thanet Link scheme.
 
Background
 
North Thanet Link
(formally known as A28 Birchington, Acol and Westgate-on-Sea Relief
Road) is a strategic transport project located within the district
of Thanet, which focusses on improving connectivity and resilience
within the local road network.
 
The Scheme has been
identified as a priority intervention within the Thanet Transport
Strategy, which in turn supports Thanet District Councils adopted
Thanet Local Plan. It is also identified as a priority within
KCC’s Local Transport Plan 4 and is a key intervention within
Transport for the South East’s Strategic Investment
Plan.
 
Further details for
the scheme can be found within the documents section at the
following web link https://letstalk.kent.gov.uk/north-thanet-link
 
Options (other options considered but discarded)

 
Other options
considered as part of the bidding process to date include a coastal
relief road and improvement package, improvements to the existing
A28, a partial bypass of Birchington and a southern bypass. A range
of public transport only based interventions have also been
considered. However none of these
options were deemed suitable and as such were discarded.
 
How
the proposed decision supports Framing Kent’s Future
2022-2026:
 
Levelling Up Kent
– The scheme is located within the District of Thanet and
will provide enhanced transport accessibility and connectivity
within the district of Thanet, one of Kent’s most deprived
areas. The proposed walking and cycling infrastructure will provide
enhanced active travel opportunities which will contribute towards
improving the health of the local population.
 
Infrastructure for
Communities – The scheme is consistent
with ‘Infrastructure First’ principles by accelerating
the delivery of key transport infrastructure and enhancing leverage
of external infrastructure investment within the district from
central government. The scheme will also contribute towards
providing viable and attractive travel options that focus on both
road and active travel modes.
 
Environmental Step
Change – The scheme seeks to provide an
alternative route to the A28, which has previously been part of an
Air Quality Management Area. The proposed walking and cycling
infrastructure will provide enhanced active travel opportunities
contributing towards improving accessibility by a range of
sustainable travel options.
 
How
the proposed decision supports Securing Kent’s
Future
 
The scheme will not impact on the
2023/24 budget as all remaining scheme development activities for
this year will be funded by existing (ringfenced) external sources,
therefore the scheme will not compromise Objective 1. Whilst
funding may be required from the council’s feasibility
reserve in 2024/25, which is relevant to Objective 2, there are
consequential benefits to scheme programme, scheme risk management
and maximising benefits from previous investment, which justifies
such expenditure. The close alignment of the scheme to Framing
Kent’s Future and the future opportunity for all scheme costs
to be recouped from external funding, means that this directly
supports outcomes that residents and communities are seeking to
achieve and is therefore consistent with Objective
3. 
 

Financial Implications

 
The scheme estimate is
£76.7m. This figure is informed by a quantitative risk
assessment. Estimates have been uplifted due to recent inflationary
rises, and a price risk allowance and contingency is included in
the £76.7m up to the date of proposed construction
.
Subject to successful
progression through the DfT Major Road Network bidding process,
North Thanet Link will be fully externally funded and delivered
through the following funding streams:
 
DfT Grant Funding -
£ 62.9m
S106 Developer
Contributions (Local Contribution) - £13.8m
 
The S106 contributions
are expected to be banked in full in year 25/26, however exact
timing is dependent on development consent and first
occupation.
 
The scheme is
referenced within the KCC 23/24 Capital Programme row 58 (Page 26).
Whilst the scheme cost is currently stated as £49.001m, this
reflects a cost estimate undertaken in 2019 and its previously
anticipated delivery programme. Those costs were also calculated
prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and Ukraine/Russia conflict, which
amongst other nationally significant events, has led to
inflationary rises for all schemes within the construction sector.
The scheme budget will be updated at point of funding offer from
DfT (following potential OBC approval).
 
Whilst no KCC funding
is required for the scheme, to continue to progress scheme between
now and further DfT funding award and/or S106 receipt, a level of
funding (up to £1.97m) may be required from the
council’s Feasibility Reserve in 2024/25 (subject to internal
approval processes). This will enable time sensitive scheme
development activities to take place, such as environmental
surveys, design and a planning
application. This would be reimbursed when grant and/or S106
developer funding is received and banked. If following this process, KCC
decide not to progress the scheme any further, any money spent on
OBC or FBC could be abortive.
 
Future maintenance costs for the
scheme would need to be covered by general highway maintenance
budgets, however commuted sums have been included for some of the
proposed assets such as street lighting and signal
equipment.

 

Decision

As Cabinet Member
for Highways and Transport, I give approval for the county council
to:
 

proceed with the currently developed route and design for North
Thanet Link and for this to be further developed as a preferred
option which best meets the objectives of the scheme.

 

enable KCC officers to project manage, input into the delivery and
supervision of the project, with the cost of all staff and
consultant time being recoverable against the project funding.

 

progress the preferred option through the next stages of scheme
development including detailed design, associated site
surveys/investigations, and ancillary works relating to drainage,
environmental and highway mitigation.

 

develop and submit a planning application for the scheme, following
completion of the outline design process.

 

take all steps necessary to obtain and implement all Statutory
Orders and approvals or consents required for the scheme, including
but not limited to Compulsory Purchase Order, Side Roads Order and
any Traffic Regulation Orders required for the delivery and
successful operation of the scheme.

 

negotiate and complete all required land acquisition including by
means of Compulsory Purchase Order as necessary to secure the
delivery and future maintenance of the scheme.

 

enter into Major Road Network funding agreement with the Department
for Transport, subject to the approval of the Corporate Director
for Finance and for any secured funding to be spent on the design,
development and delivery of the
scheme.

 

progress and complete a procurement process and enter into construction contracts as necessary for
the delivery of the scheme, subject to the approval of Strategic
Commissioning.

 

allow the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport,
under the Officer Scheme of Delegations, to take further or other
decisions as may be appropriate to deliver the North Thanet Link
scheme in accordance with these recommendations.