Decision details

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Growth presented a report regarding the acceptance of a final contract sum for the next phase of the Northern Gateway, Western Access scheme’s Pre-construction stage (Stage 2b), and the associated NEC4 ECC Option C X22 Main Contract. These activities include the finalisation of the scheme Outline Business Case, preparing a likely Planning Application, Planning Designs, and undertaking a comprehensive programme of on-site surveys and ground investigations.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1.    Delegated final acceptance of a final contract sum, up to a provisional maximum of £2,830,403 covering the finalisation of the Outline Business Case stage work packages (Stage 2b), to the Director of Law and Democratic Services in consultation with the Executive Director of Place and Director of Finance and the Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Growth; and

2.    Delegated finalisation of the Main Pre-Construction and Construction Contract (NEC4 ECC Option C X22 contract) including appropriate break clauses, to the Director of Law and Democratic Services in consultation with the Executive Director of Place and the Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Growth.

Reasons for the decision:

The Western Access scheme (Pilsworth Road Corridor Improvements) is a cross-boundary scheme with Rochdale Council. It will provide the necessary off-site, highway and transportation infrastructure required to access the early development phases of the Northern Gateway Investment Zone (IZ) site (JPA 1.1 allocation). The construction of the Western Access scheme will therefore support the creation of high quality, employment floor space, including space within the advanced manufacturing and foundational sectors.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

·       That the recommendations are not approved, and the Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 Investment Zone revenue grant funding totalling £1.5M is not fully utilised, with the funding being reallocated elsewhere in Greater Manchester. This presents a high risk to the delivery of the Places for Everyone joint development plan and specifically, the delivery of the Western Access scheme and the Northern Gateway Investment Zone (JPA1.1 allocation).

·       Delaying the delivery of the Western Access scheme would erode confidence in the Council’s ability to deliver a key strategic priority for both Bury Council and its strategic partners, including Rochdale Borough Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Transport for Greater Manchester and National Highways. Delaying the delivery of the Western Access scheme would undermine supporting the delivery of a number of major, corporate strategies and Team Bury initiatives including the Council’s ‘Let’s Do It’ Vision and Strategy, Northern Gateway Strategic Development Vision, Atom Valley MDZ Vision and emergent Mayoral Development Corporation, Northern Gateway Development Framework (supplementary planning document), Bury’s Economic Strategy, the emergent Greater Manchester Transport Strategy, amongst others.