Agenda item

11 November 2013

The Aldgate Highway Changes and Public Realm Improvement Project is a unique opportunity to achieve transformational change in the public realm and highways of the Aldgate area, through removing barriers to movement, reducing road danger and providing fresh public realm amenity. It is envisaged that the public realm improvements would include a new kiosk, feature seating and lighting, provide drinking fountains and play equipment and public art. The highway changes would include the conversion of Aldgate High Street and St Botolph Street to two-way working and there would be new pedestrian crossing facilities.

Following the submission of the Gateway 3 report in February 2013 officers undertook both public consultation on, and technical investigations into, the Aldgate Highways Changes and Public Realm Improvement project. The results of both the consultation and technical investigations allowed officers to identify a preferred option and the detailed proposals were approved by the Open Spaces and City Gardens and Finance Committees, and the Streets and Walkways and Projects Sub Committees during October 2013. It was necessary to seek the approval of the Court under urgency procedures to progress the project at an estimated cost of £16.3m-£17.1m – to Gateway 5 in order to prevent a delay of several weeks, which would have seriously affected the planned schedule of the project.

The report forecasted that £8m would be funded by Transport for London (to be formally agreed during November 2013) and that the remaining £8.3-£9.1m would be met using City of London Corporation Section 106 funds. Therefore sufficient funds existed to progress the scheme to Gateway 5. One potential exception to the forecasted capital funding was that of the proposed kiosk, to be located in the public square, it may be necessary to fund the kiosk via Property Investment Board funds, City Cash, or external investment. The potential to use Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) was also being investigated. The project’s revenue implications were forecasted as £154,352 per annum, which would arise from planned planting and lighting and more intensive cleansing. Whilst these may be met by additional revenue or service savings, it was noted that they may be alternatively met by using revenue arising from the commercial operation of the planned kiosk. The options for this would be evaluated in full during the detailed options appraisal.

Subject to the approval of the Gateway 5 report in April 2014, it is envisaged that the project will start on site in the summer of 2014 with completion during the summer of 2016. We recommend that the action taken be noted.

11 November 2013

The Aldgate Highway Changes and Public Realm Improvement Project is a unique opportunity to achieve transformational change in the public realm and highways of the Aldgate area, through removing barriers to movement, reducing road danger and providing fresh public realm amenity. It is envisaged that the public realm improvements would include a new kiosk, feature seating and lighting, provide drinking fountains and play equipment and public art. The highway changes would include the conversion of Aldgate High Street and St Botolph Street to two-way working and there would be new pedestrian crossing facilities.

Following the submission of the Gateway 3 report in February 2013 officers undertook both public consultation on, and technical investigations into, the Aldgate Highways Changes and Public Realm Improvement project. The results of both the consultation and technical investigations allowed officers to identify a preferred option and the detailed proposals were approved by the Open Spaces and City Gardens and Finance Committees, and the Streets and Walkways and Projects Sub Committees during October 2013. It was necessary to seek the approval of the Court under urgency procedures to progress the project at an estimated cost of £16.3m-£17.1m – to Gateway 5 in order to prevent a delay of several weeks, which would have seriously affected the planned schedule of the project.

The report forecasted that £8m would be funded by Transport for London (to be formally agreed during November 2013) and that the remaining £8.3-£9.1m would be met using City of London Corporation Section 106 funds. Therefore sufficient funds existed to progress the scheme to Gateway 5. One potential exception to the forecasted capital funding was that of the proposed kiosk, to be located in the public square, it may be necessary to fund the kiosk via Property Investment Board funds, City Cash, or external investment. The potential to use Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) was also being investigated. The project’s revenue implications were forecasted as £154,352 per annum, which would arise from planned planting and lighting and more intensive cleansing. Whilst these may be met by additional revenue or service savings, it was noted that they may be alternatively met by using revenue arising from the commercial operation of the planned kiosk. The options for this would be evaluated in full during the detailed options appraisal.

Subject to the approval of the Gateway 5 report in April 2014, it is envisaged that the project will start on site in the summer of 2014 with completion during the summer of 2016. We recommend that the action taken be noted.

Received.