Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Travel & Development Strategy

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/107

Contact: Mohammed Ilyas, Programme Lead Tel: 07712 110046

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA12).

The Banbury Regeneration - Tramway Road Improvements will deliver a new bus and taxi link past the railway station and into the town centre, as well as a new access to Network Rail West Car Park, variable message signing to indicate spare car park capacity to direct drivers to the east or west station car parks and improvements to pedestrian access.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

a)            approve the update design layout (Annex A – Option D) and approve progression of the layout into Design and Procurement Stage 2 of the project;

b)           approve in principle the use of The Oxfordshire County Council (Banbury Regeneration – Tramway Road Improvements) Compulsory Purchase Order 202[x] in parallel with negotiations for private acquisition, with such powers of compulsory purchase used only as a matter of last resort. If Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) is required to deliver the project, we will seek further approval, subject to the scheme meeting all CPO requirements and the paper will be brought back to Cabinet, once the necessary approval has been sought, including public engagement on preferred options and submission of a planning application for the scheme;

c)            approve the preparation of The Oxfordshire County Council Banbury Regeneration - Tramway Road Improvements (Classified Road) Side Roads Order 202[x] (or multiple Side Roads Orders as may be necessary) to enable the stopping-up, diversion, alteration, improvement and creation of new lengths of highway or reclassification of existing highways. This includes the stopping up of private means of access as necessary where the Project design necessitates. Formal approval for the making of Side Roads Order(s) will be reported to Cabinet, and necessary approval sought, following public engagement on preferred options and submission of a planning application for the Project.

Recommendations agreed

Cabinet was provided with a report which provided details on the Banbury Regeneration - Tramway Road Improvements. The proposals would deliver a new bus and taxi link past the railway station and into the town centre, as well as a new access to Network Rail West Car Park, variable message signing to indicate spare car park capacity to direct drivers to the east or west station car parks and improvements to pedestrian access.

Councillor Duncan Enright, Cabinet Member for Travel & Development Strategy reported that the proposals were an important part of the regeneration of Banbury Town Centre. Providing good bus links to the station, good links to other types of public transport and cycleways which were compliant with national best practice.

Councillor Kieron Mallon spoke in support of the recommendations and commented that this was only the start for Banbury. The report was the first start of this regeneration. Improving access to the station would achieve far more for the green agenda. It would show the Council’s commitment to delivering more homes.  

Councillor Duncan Enright thanked Councillor Mallon for his support.

RESOLVED:

a)       That approval be given to the update design layout (Annex A – Option D of the report) and approval be given to the progression of the layout into Design and Procurement Stage 2 of the project.

b)       That approval be given in principle, to the use of The Oxfordshire County Council (Banbury Regeneration – Tramway Road Improvements) Compulsory Purchase Order 202[x] in parallel with negotiations for private acquisition, with such powers of compulsory purchase used only as a matter of last resort. If Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) is required to deliver the project, further approval would be sought, subject to the scheme meeting all CPO requirements and the paper would be brought back to Cabinet, once the necessary approval has been sought, including public engagement on preferred options and submission of a planning application for the scheme.

c)       That approval be given to the preparation of The Oxfordshire County Council Banbury Regeneration - Tramway Road Improvements (Classified Road) Side Roads Order 202[x] (or multiple Side Roads Orders as may be necessary) to enable the stopping-up, diversion, alteration, improvement and creation of new lengths of highway or reclassification of existing highways. This includes the stopping up of private means of access as necessary where the Project design necessitates. Formal approval for the making of Side Roads Order(s) would be reported to Cabinet, and necessary approval sought, following public engagement on preferred options and submission of a planning application for the Project.