Agenda item

The Cabinet considered the implementation of the Churchfields Urban Village Highway Infrastructure Project, Kidderminster.  The details were set out in the report.

In the ensuing discussion, the following main points were made.

·       The Cabinet Member for Economy and Infrastructure explained that the funding for Churchfields Urban Village Highway was not yet in place but no funding commitment was required from the County Council. The project would help to deliver 275new homes through Homes England

·       The benefits of the scheme included the one way system at Blackwell Street which would help to improve air quality and there would be a new pedestrian and cycle crossing points

·       The project was a good example of two tier working and supported the economic regeneration of a brown field site

·       The Cabinet Member for Education and Skills declared that he sat on WFDC Planning Committee and would keep an open mind on the planning issues

·       A local Member from outside the Cabinet commented that she supported the project if it helped air quality and applauded a scheme which would enhance the area but was concerned about how the planners would manage the flow of traffic.

RESOLVED:  that

(a)             the implementation of Churchfields Urban Village Highway Infrastructure ("Churchfields") Project be approved in accordance with the report and as shown in the plan (Appendix A) attached to the report subject to the confirmation of planning permission and surety of funding;

(b)            the submission of a planning application for Churchfields Urban Village Highway Infrastructure Project and applications for other relevant consents, including those relating to environment and utilities by the Council or by the relevant successful contractor as agent for the Council as Highway Authority be approved;

(c)             the commencement of a public engagement and stakeholder management exercise by Wyre Forest District Council (WFDC) with support from Worcestershire County Council be supported;

(d)            the acquisition of all the land required for the scheme, as shown on the red line plan attached to the report (Appendix B), be approved and authority delegated to the Director of Economy and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure, to agree any necessary changes to the red line plan and land or rights to be acquired;

(e)             authority be delegated to the Director of Economy and Infrastructure, in consultation with Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure, to finalise and to award the contract and other necessary agreements for the delivery of the scheme, subject to funding being secured;

(f)              the planned funding sources for the scheme be noted and the work required to secure the funding supported noting that no funding is required from Worcestershire County Council;

(g)            the addition of £5.7M to the Capital Programme be recommended to Council with £1.3M being provisionally secured through Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and developer contribution, with the balance to be secured by Wyre Forest District Council through additional Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP funding and/or Housing Infrastructure funding, for the purpose of completing the Churchfields scheme; and

(h)            the engagement with developer KPI and its tenant CMS to look at relocation options before demolition of the building at the end of the lease be supported.