Agenda item

Report of the Director of the Built Environment (copy attached).

Consideration was given to a Gateway 4, detailed options appraisal report of the Director of the Built Environment which provided a range of options to deliver an area enhancement scheme at Holborn Circus which was the worst personal injury accident hotspot in the City.

A number of options for the junction design had been developed in conjunction with TfL and the London Borough of Camden. No specific materials were presented to TfL as part of the design work however in discussion with TfL at their ‘Design Review Panel’, TfL specified that they would want this major junction to deliver a high specification public realm.

During discussion, reference was made to the importance of progressing the project as soon as possible; the inclusion of a time limitation for the financing of the project and any mitigating action in the Risk Register (page 45 of the report); the design detail of the project which Members were advised would form part of the Gateway 5 process and the application for Listed Building Consent.  The Committee also indicated their support for SUDS.

Members questioned as to whether an application for Listed Building Consent could be approved by this Committee alone and the Town Clerk confirmed this was possible.

RESOLVED : - That,

i)        the major junction improvement works (Option 4) at an estimated total cost of £3,091,393 (including SUDS and contingency), be approved subject to further Member approval of the detailed design and authority to start work reports. This is also subject to the London Borough of Camden agreeing to fund the additional costs (£9,470) associated with granite setts in Hatton Garden, and any future maintenance costs;

Note: Should the London Borough of Camden not be able to fund the additional costs then Option 3 would be considered at Gateway 5 stage.

iii)      the progression of Option 4 to Detailed Design and Authority to Start Work Stages at a cost of £194,000 to be fully funded from within the £2.5m Transport for London Major Bid Grant be approved;

iv)      the overall prioritisation of this project and the Funding Strategy set out in the main report and Appendix A, Table 4, be approved subject to the further confirmation at detailed design stage; and

iv)      the submission of an application for Listed Building Consent be approvedby the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee in order to relocate the Grade II listed Prince Albert Statue.

v)      time limitation for the financing of the project and any mitigating action be included in the Risk Register.