New Routes to Delivery - How might the story be tolled? A more local and integrated approach to planning & delivering transport infrastructure Dearbhla Lawson Cambridgeshire County Council 27 th November 2012
Overview Cambridgeshire context Economy & Growth Transport challenges & focus on Cambridge Drivers for change Policy reforms How we are addressing the challenges? Part 1 Planning for the long term Part 2 Delivering critical infrastructure - examples Science park station, Guided Busway A14- Background, progress, next steps Concluding Summary
Why focus on Cambridgeshire? The Cambridge City Region is among the best performing economic areas in the country Worlds top performing University - some of the world s best science based graduates and research. Housing and jobs growth will boost the economy. Transport investment required to enable growth. Local Enterprise Partnership to drive economic agenda.
Growth Ambitions Population of Cambridgeshire expected to grow by 22% to 2031 In City region, employment grew from 106,900 in 1982 to 179,200 (est.) by 2011. Significant housing growth already taken place e.g. within and around City including at Cambridge Station. Some 38,000 homes alone expected in A14 corridor to 2026 e.g. Northstowe New Town Future economic growth e.g. Alconbury (Enterprise Zone 8,000 Jobs), close to junction A1 & A14
Transport Challenges Long Distance freight movements increasing, especially containers. Felixstowe Port handles 40% of UK containers- 3.4m TEUs (twenty foot equivalent)/ year, (F stowe forecast to grow to 6m by 2020, 8m by 2030 Congestion rising despite more alternative modes People commuting further and for longer (lack of affordable housing, in migration for jobs) Frequent accidents and incidents on A14 cause widespread congestion across the highway network. Reliance on the car for journey to work is pronounced Transport investment needed to boost economy and support housing growth
Traffic in Cambridge 120 Index (Base 100) 110 100 90 80 70 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Cambridge Radial Cordon vehicular traffic River Cam Screenline vehicular traffic Population of Cambridge and South Cambs
Norwich York Traffic in Cambridge 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Delft Freiburg Utrecht Copenhagen Odense Cambridge Oxford Malmo Groningen Car Cycle Walk Public Transport Other
Addressing the growth challenges
Addressing the growth challenges Modeling for the Transport Innovation Fund scheme bid demonstrated that in a do-minimum case in 2021, there would be: A 36% increase in travel distance within Cambridge. A 48% increase in overall travel time for vehicular trips An 8% increase in CO2 emissions in Cambridge. A 67% increase in delay in Cambridge. Increase in trips, 2001 to 2031 (Index, Bas se 100) 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 2001 2031 Work at Home / Other Public Transport Walk Bicycle Motorcycle Car
Addressing the growth challenges If the population of city and South Cambridgeshire grows by 40% from 2001 levels... and we want vehicular traffic to remain at today s levels on the current network... then the mode share of car use across the area will need to drop to around 40%.
Wider challenges & drivers for change Fiscal climate Slump in growth - lack of housing & infrastructure deficit Policy reform agenda Localism National Planning Policy Framework Growth & infrastructure Bill Nationally significant infrastructure The Growth and Infrastructure Bill will boost investment and local economic growth. It removes confusing and overlapping red tape, whilst ensuring democratic checks and balances and environmental safeguards remain in place. Britain is in a global race today with rising nations like China and Brazil. Countries like ours will only be able to compete if we make it easier for businesses to invest and quicker for infrastructure to get built.
Policy Reform Agenda National Policy Neighbourhood Plans Local Plans Community Right to Build Incentives Planning decisions
Policy Reform National Planning Policy Framework Presumption in favour of sustainable development golden thread -Planning proactively in support of economic growth Local Plans - meet objectively assessed needs with flexibility to adapt to rapid change unless any adverse impacts to demonstrably & significantly outweigh the benefits when assessed against NPPF For applications approving development proposals that accord with plan without delay or where no plan /policy granting permission unless adverse impacts outweigh the benefits..
Policy Reform Duty to co-operate Public authorities/ bodies engaging constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis Demonstrate and evidence Consider joint approaches to meet objectively assessed needs Plan positively for development and infrastructure based on cooperation on planning issues & strategic priorities
Addressing the planning challenges 2003 Cambridgeshire Structure Plan Within Cambridge and Peterborough, consistent with role and character Expansion of both cities, subject to GB boundary changes Creation of a new town In and, where appropriate, adjoining main market towns Emphasis on quality of development, affordability, accessibility, environmental sustainability; a coherent growth strategy jobs and housing, with infrastructure Strategy reflected in East of England Plan (2011-2021): 98,300 houses; 95,000 jobs
Addressing the planning challenges - strategic Strategic planning greater bottom up focus Joint Strategic Planning Unit Shared vision & objectives big picture Duty to co-operate Shared evidence Long Term Transport Strategy Strategic priorities & Investment
Addressing the planning challenges Integrated approach informing & informed by Local Plans. Location of growth minimise travel demand / distance. Challenging balance Green Belt & sustainable growth patterns.
Addressing the planning challenges Vision & policy objectives Cambridge Sub Regional Model - assessing implications Growth and infrastructure planned to minimise the need for unnecessary travel. Infrastructure costs factored into site assessment early viability Infrastructure planning - Local Plan & CIL
Delivering critical infrastructure Funding challenges Core capital funding down by 50% since 2010 Core revenue funding under pressure Cambs County Council borrowing to invest 140m investment in infrastructure - Science Park Station, Ely Crossing and one off 90m investment to upgrade highways. Community Infrastructure Levy potential for pooling S106 towards wider infrastructure limited from 2014/ where CIL in place implications Alternative and innovative funding sources how much funding and what will this deliver?
Delivering critical infrastructure..progress Guided busway Investment prior to development High quality & frequency Longest in world! Facilitating growth Avoids A14 Connects 3 Park & Ride sites
Delivering critical infrastructure..alternatives Science Park Station Passenger growth up 51% at Cambridge station between 2002-10 & higher growth still at stations around Cambridge.. Developing plans for new 3 platform railway station Prudential borrowing to invest and recoup fees from TOC over longer term An all modes interchange at the station, incorporating Bus / Guided Bus interchange facilities, Segregated bus access Pedestrian and cycle access Car and cycle parking Direct train services to a range of destinations Due to open 2015 (subject to statutory processes) To be included in new franchise PETERBOROUGH March KINGS LYNN Littleport CHESTERTON CAMBRIDGE Baldock Stevenage Downham Market ELY Royston LONDON KINGS CROSS 15 Min Brandon Audley End Thetford 30 Min STANSTED AIRPORT Harlow Town Tottenham Hale NORWICH 45 Min LONDON LIVERPOOL STREET 60 Min
Delivering critical infrastructure..unlocking growth Southern Fringe Investing in infrastructure 25m road funded by the Horizons Rolling Fund & Cambridgeshire County Council's Prudential Borrowing powers Linking Addenbrookes Hospital new Biomedical Campus to Trumpington & Southern Cambridge Helped unlock the development of the Cambridge Southern Fringe Potential to reinvest returns
Delivering critical infrastructure.. Not forgetting the A14 E24 E24 part of UN international E road network 254km - from Birmingham to Ipswich
Delivering critical infrastructure.. Not forgetting the A14 Strategic importance - major crossroads- (14 lanes into 4!) M11-A1, M11 to A14, A14 to A1 & A14 to A428. Northern bypass part of distributor road network & at heart of the Cambridge Sub-region Problems on the A14 ; Major bottleneck, chronic congestion, lack of capacity and resilience, safety concerns - major incidents daily, up to 95,000 vehicles per av. day High level of HCVs - 17% to 26% Between 40-70% of traffic could be classed long distance
Delivering critical infrastructure.. History of the A14 improvement schemes Need long established White Papers 1989-1997 Various studies and detailed work - CHUMMS 1999-2001, From 2001 A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton scheme developed by HA until Inquiry halted July 2010 Scheme withdrawn October 2010 Secretary of State promised A14 Wider Study. November 2011 A14 Challenge announced with Autumn Statement to seek solutions from public
Delivering critical infrastructure.. A14 DfT A14 Study, in three parts (final part due to be published imminently) Examining ways of increasing long term capacity and performance of the route Considering relieving congestion by improving other modes including local roads, freight facilities and public transport. Considering innovative financing mechanisms, including tolling Main improvement focus on Cambridge to Huntingdon
Delivering critical infrastructure.. A14 DfT A14 Study confirmed key problems and wider challenges Lost productive time & importance in terms of supporting economic growth of Greater Cambridge Access to labour markets, Quality of life/ welfare Accidents Air Quality (health) and Noise Importance in terms of supporting growth wider UK economy Options appraised and preferred option outlined Now on Programme for Major Schemes Key questions regarding finance - who will contribute to delivery, who will finance and how? Innovative financing and funding required but needs significant public sector support 20m Short term measures to improve accessibility reduce congestion
The Withdrawn Scheme.. (the new scheme is expected to look a lot like this!)
Delivering critical infrastructure.. A14 Funding to deliver? Government / Treasury Local Contributions LA s/ HA/ LEP s (borrowing CIL/ S106,business rates localisation) Procedures & construction - 10 year process and timing & phasing of elements of the package important Private Sector Early decision and commitment critical Finance/ Investment Key questions on finance to deliver who pays in the end - user/ taxpayer? Horizon shift private financing tolling for enhanced capacity, and other cost sharing arrangements Models of how others are doing this e.g. Tyne 2
Delivering critical infrastructure.. A14 what should success look like? Enhanced capacity & major improvement of A14 by 2020 to enable sustained growth and economic prosperity More Park and Ride sites between Alconbury & Cambridge and further high quality bus services Enhanced rail freight services in A14 /F2N corridor Improved real time transport information Major upgrade of junction and highway capacity to meet the future traffic demand and TEN-T standards. Local access roads to serve local traffic & viaduct removed & strategic traffic diverted away from towns Major infrastructure barrier addressed, enabling growth & increased net contribution to GDP Cambridgeshire open for Business prospering & renowned as a world class leader in innovation and research and for its quality of life, where people chose to live & work (rather than problems on A14!)
Concluding summary.. Real challenges in short term deficit, reforms, funding but real opportunities too Collaborative approach duty to co-operate Balancing Strategic Priorities & Localism Supporting economic prosperity Infrastructure needs identified early in Local Plans link with viability & CIL Horizon scanning -Long term aspirations & vision Investment plan - pool resources, make most of assets business rates, local majors funding, growing places, new homes bonus, grants, innovative approaches TIF, evolving funds. Longer term critical issues - where will revenue funding be sourced to support investment pay to use or more from tax payer?
Questions?