Agenda item

Purpose of Report

1.    To provide an update on the progress with the delivery of the Skellingthorpe Road (southern access) works and proposed housing development.

2.    To provide an update on proposals for the design and delivery of the main bridge and road link, which would form the eastern access point into the Western Growth Corridor site.

3.    To seek approval to move forward with enabling works, relating to vegetation clearance and the diversion of statutory services, in order to maintain the programme for delivery of the eastern access work, in line with funding timescales.

Decision

1.    That the progress being made in respect of the first phases of delivery to open up the Western Growth Corridor site, which was of strategic importance to the future growth of the city, be acknowledged.

2.    That the proposed enabling works associated with the eastern access be approved, in order to maintain the programme for delivery to meet the required funding timescales.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None.

Reasons for the Decision

The delivery arrangements proposed within the officer’s report would open up the Western Growth Corridor (WGC) development via its eastern access, creating opportunities for housing growth and contributing directly and indirectly to the economic growth of the city.

The creation of this access would then further provide the opportunity to deliver a connecting spine road (to link with the Skellingthorpe Road – Southern Access), thereby opening up the full potential of the site and resulting opportunities to support sustainable economic growth.

The development would bring a number of positive benefits in respect of reducing inequality and supporting inclusive growth through the provision of affordable housing, sustainable transport links and wider energy efficiency measures, employment opportunities and access to leisure and green spaces.

Delivery of the Eastern Access would directly open up the land within the ownership of the City Council and forming part of the Western Growth Corridor site. This would provide the opportunity for the delivery of a range of housing across all types and tenures to serve the needs of the City. The Council would be ensuring that a high quality of development was achieved, in line with its objectives and wider vision statement to create sustainable, inclusive communities.

The area for development had a fantastic environment and some very special attributes in terms of existing quality landscape, views of the historic area and the biodiversity of the natural environment, which would be utilised to create a quality community environment. The detailed development proposals for both the infrastructure and subsequent housing development, would be required to take account of these assets and to seek to preserve key landscape features and enhance biodiversity across the site.

The vision for the Western Growth Corridor was to deliver a high quality, sustainable development which sought to address the challenge of climate change in terms of the overall scheme design and its constituent parts – housing layout and built form, energy, biodiversity, transport and construction methodology.

In respect of the Eastern Access, the value engineering and design process sought to improve the overall design, to reduce the quantum of material to be used and to seek to source this sustainably. The opportunities identified to date would realise a 50% reduction in fill material, with greater potential still to be explored leading to significant carbon (and cost) efficiencies. A sustainability report assessment would be carried out as part of the design and delivery process, comparing the previously approved bridge solution to the current proposal.

In respect of the first phase of housing, a sustainability report had been provided which demonstrated that the proposals would deliver a scheme which would produce 87% less carbon than a standard building regulation compliant scheme. The proposals would go further than this, exceeding the proposed Future Homes Standard for development.

This demonstrated the Council’s commitment to leading the way in the delivery of a new standard of housing, which was differentiated from the existing market offer and a positive and significant step towards the delivery of net zero development.

All costs associated with the design and enabling works in the current financial year would be funded by the LUF2 grant, as previously reported to Executive

The final project costs would be subject to the technical design process which was currently underway and delivery would be subject to agreement with all funding partners. A further report would be presented in March 2024 to seek approval, ahead of entering into contract to proceed to the delivery stage