Agenda item

Purpose of Report

To update Executive on progress towards achieving a start on site and the wider funding and delivery arrangements for the Western Growth Corridor (WGC) development, since the report of 17^th October 2022 (Western Growth Corridor – Next Steps).

To seek authority to proceed with the next stages of delivery as follows:

-       To approve the delivery arrangements for the Phase 1a infrastructure works, which were required to provide access to the development from Skellingthorpe Road.

-       To approve the proposed delivery arrangements to progress the detailed design of the first 52 homes on land owned by the Council at the gateway to the development, off Skellingthorpe Road, to enable the submission of a Reserved Matters application during summer 2023.

-       To approve in principle, the proposed delivery arrangements for the gateway housing, to allow for delivery once the initial infrastructure works had been completed and subject to planning consent. The final form of agreement shall be subject to a further Executive approval.

-       To acknowledge the award of funding under the Levelling Up Fund Round 2 (LUF2), which would enable the accelerated delivery of the Tritton Road bridges and spine road, known as Phase 1b of the WGC development.

-       To agree to delegate the final signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in respect of the LUF2 funding to the Director of Major Developments and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to enable the initial feasibility and design work to proceed as set out in this report, in order to inform the full delivery strategy and to meet the funding timescales.

-       To approve the proposed consultation and engagement strategy to keep the community and stakeholders informed of project progress prior to and during the construction phases.

Decision

1.    That the proposed delivery arrangements for the Phase 1a infrastructure works, which were required to provide access to the development from Skellingthorpe Road be approved.

2.    That the proposed delivery arrangements to progress the detailed design of the first 52 homes to enable the submission of a Reserved Matters application during summer 2023 be approved.

3.    That the proposed delivery arrangements for the gateway housing be approved in principle, to allow for development once the initial infrastructure works had been progressed and subject to planning consent. The final form of development agreement would be subject to a further Executive approval

4.    That the award of funding under the Levelling Up Fund Round 2 (LUF2), which would enable the accelerated delivery of the Tritton Road bridges known as Phase 1b of the WGC development be acknowledged.

5.    That the final signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in respect of the LUF2 funding be delegated to the Director of Major Developments and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to enable the initial feasibility and design work to proceed as set out in this report, in order to inform the full delivery strategy and to meet the funding timescales.

6.    That the proposed consultation and engagement strategy to keep the community and stakeholders informed of project progress prior to and during the construction phases be approved.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

As detailed within the officer’s report.

Reasons for the Decision

On 20^th January 2022, outline planning consent was granted for the overall WGC development, with detailed consent for the two access points into the site at Skellingthorpe Road (southern access) and Tritton Road (eastern access).

Significant progress had since been made in order to prepare for and enable a start on site and to plan for the wider delivery of the scheme. This included securing funding, expanding resources for delivery, cost-planning, procurement, stakeholder engagement and progressing the technical design and approval process for the infrastructure which was required to open up the site. 

This report set out the proposals for the delivery of the Phase 1a infrastructure (Skellingthorpe Road – Southern Access), which was scheduled to commence on site during Spring/Summer 2023. The report further outlined the proposals for progressing the detailed design of a first phase of 52 homes at the gateway into the site and arrangements for delivery thereafter, subject to planning consent.

Finally, the report set out initial details and arrangements for taking forward the design, development and delivery of the Phase 1b infrastructure (Tritton Road bridges and spine road) following the announcement of the LUF2 funding award in January 2023.

The proposals were in accordance with the principles approved by Executive on 20^th March 2019 and the terms of the Delivery Agreement, which was in place between the Council and Lindum Western Growth Corridor (LWGC), as adjoining landowners to jointly promote the overall development.

The Western Growth Corridor (WGC) represented one of 4 sustainable urban extension (SUE) areas around Lincoln identified and promoted in the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan for development, to meet the area’s growth projections up to 2036. It was the closest SUE to the city centre and had the greatest opportunity to achieve real sustainability both within the development and for the surrounding communities. It was the major area for housing and employment growth in the city itself and was a key part of delivering Lincoln’s Growth Strategy over the next 20 years.

The Central Lincolnshire Local Plan adopted in April 2017 following a robust and thorough examination, approved the principle for development of the site. Having established the principle of development, the next stage was to consider the key building blocks of the development at a broad rather than a detailed level. The Local Plan allocation was for a new neighbourhood of 3,200 new homes (640 affordable), 20 hectares of commercial/employment space, a new Leisure Village, improvements in accessibility to green space, flood mitigation improvements, remediation of the former tip and a range of improved connectivity (roads, cycle paths and pedestrian routes).

The City Council was a significant landowner and had been leading on bringing forward development of the area in a viable, sustainable and deliverable way since 2016. WGC is a key priority within the City Council’s Vision and delivered across all the Council’s priorities and objectives. It was also the single biggest development area within the City boundary.

The remaining development land on WGC was owned by Lindum Western Growth Community Limited (LWGC) which was a subsidiary of the locally owned and based construction/development company Lindum Group. Together the Council and LWGC submitted a planning application for the whole development on 03 April 2019.

Outline planning consent for the overall development and detailed planning consent for the two access points into the development at Skellingthorpe Road and Tritton Road was granted on 20^th January 2022

The Council and LWGC worked jointly together as the two landowners (the developer team), under the terms of the approved Delivery Agreement to shape and progress the development.

A risk register was in place for the delivery of Phase 1a and for the development as a whole. The risk registers were reviewed on a regular basis by the developer team as part of the project governance arrangements