$djgdugw5.doc Page 1 of 6

REPORT FOR INFORMATION

Agenda item no:

Rochdale Township Committee 7th March 2012

Report of the Chief Executive Rochdale Development Agency

River Street / Faulkner Street Highway Scheme

Wards affected: Milkstone and Deeplish and Central Rochdale

Report Author: Gary Davies

Telephone: (01706) 837444

1. It is recommended that:

1.1 Members note the progress made to bring forward a new vehicle turnaround, servicing and taxi rank facility on River Street and Faulkner Street, incorporating the widening of River Street to provide for two-way traffic and the creation of a cul-de-sac arrangement. This facility forms part of the Highways Movement Framework for Rochdale town centre.

1.2 Members note the progress made to agree amendments to the design of the new Transport Interchange and the associated additional costs in order to deliver the proposed new facility with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM)

1.3 Members note the on-going negotiations with TfGM to ensure the facility is constructed as part of the main contact for the new Transport Interchange.

1.4 Members note the need to release a section of Council owned land fronting River Street (former site of 12 River Street) to allow the widening of the highway to be provided.

1.5 Members note the intention to submit a revised planning application for the amended Transport Interchange scheme.

2. Reasons for recommendation:

2.1 Major development projects will take place across the town centre in coming years. These projects such as the Metrolink, new Municipal Offices, Transport Interchange and Town Centre East will have a significant impact on traffic and pedestrian movements within the town centre. In order to co-ordinate this activity and create a more pedestrian friendly environment by eliminating through traffic, a Highways Movement Framework for the town centre has been developed. The principles which underpin this framework were endorsed by the Rochdale Township Committee in January 2012. The report to Township Committee specifically referred to the River Street / Faulkner Street highway scheme.

$djgdugw5.doc Page 2 of 6

2.2 The River Street / Faulkner Street highway scheme (creating a cul-de-sac turnaround area, with servicing and taxi/drop off facilities) is an integral part of this overall framework. In particular the scheme will provide essential loading and servicing facilities for the businesses on Drake Street and will provide a taxi rank immediately adjoining the Interchange.

3. Alternatives and risks considered:

3.1 Keeping River Street and Faulkner Street available as a through route by not providing the turnaround facility would undermine the principles which underpin the Highways Movement Framework. To not implement this comprehensive and co-ordinated movement framework would prejudice the efficient and effective operation of the wider town centre.

3.2 In developing the town centre Movement Framework a number of options for the treatment of River Street / Faulkner Street were considered. These included keeping River Street and Faulkner Street available as a through route north-bound and south-bound.

• River Street and Faulkner Street one-way south bound (exit onto Water Street) – this would encourage more traffic onto Smith Street and to abuse the route through its junction with Drake Street and South Parade, with impacts on the wider town centre.

• River Street and Faulkner Street one-way north bound (exit onto Smith Street) - this would encourage more traffic onto the western section of Smith Street and then onto South Parade, increasing town centre traffic and rat running through the town centre, which would prejudice the ambition to create a pedestrian friendly town centre.

3.3 Creating a cul-de-sac turnaround area as proposed, with servicing facilities, is considered the optimum solution.

4. Consultation undertaken/proposed:

4.1 The Rochdale Township Committee on 11th January 2012 endorsed the principles which underpin the Movement Framework, as a basis to develop the plan further and to guide emerging development projects in the town centre. The report to the Township Committee specifically referred to the River Street / Faulkner Street highway scheme.

4.2 Initial ideas on how traffic and pedestrians will move around the town centre, set out in the Highways Movement Framework, were presented to the Rochdale Town Centre Committee in August 2011.

4.3 In order to accommodate the proposed turnaround and servicing facility, detailed discussions have been held with Transport for Greater Manchester (Interchange) to consider options for amending the approved Transport Interchange scheme.

4.4 Some initial ideas for how traffic will move around the town centre were shared with the Roch Group and Drake Street Traders Group as part of the Townscape Heritage Bid submission in November 2011.

5. Main text of report:

5.1 Major development projects will take place across the town centre in coming years. These projects will have a significant impact on traffic and pedestrian movements within the town centre. In order to co-ordinate this activity and create a more pedestrian friendly environment by eliminating through traffic, a Highways Movement Framework for the town centre has been developed. The principles

$djgdugw5.doc Page 3 of 6

which underpin this framework were endorsed by the Rochdale Township Committee in January 2012. This report specifically identified the River Street / Faulkner Street highway scheme.

5.2 Creating a cul-de-sac turnaround area, with servicing and taxi / drop off facilities on River Street / Faulkner Street is an integral part of the Movement Framework. In particular the scheme will provide essential loading and servicing facilities for the businesses on Drake Street and will provide a taxi rank immediately adjoining the Interchange. This turnaround facility also involves the widening of River Street to allow two-way running. This facility will allow vehicles to gain access down River Street from Water Street, turn around and then exit back onto Water Street.

5.3 The original Transport Interchange scheme was designed on the basis that River Street / Faulkner Street would be retained as a through route, allowing general traffic to gain access from Water Street on to Smith Street and South Parade. In order to implement the proposed turnaround area and servicing/taxi facility, it is necessary to amend a section of the current Transport Interchange scheme.

5.4 Rochdale Development Agency and the Council have been working with TfGM to agree an amended scheme which has a minimal impact on the layout of the Interchange design. An amended scheme has been prepared by the Highways Service of Impact Partnership. The amendment affects the western part of the Transport Interchange site, adjoining River Street and results in minor changes to the alignment of the retaining wall and the access ramp to the main Interchange site. The amendment does not impact on the Interchange concourse or on bus movements. The revised scheme also requires the front section of the 12 River Street site (a vacant Council owned site) to be incorporated into the new road layout (see section 5.8 below).

5.5 Agreement has been reached with TfGM on how the amended scheme will be included in the Interchange construction contract. The turnaround area and servicing / taxi facility will be delivered as part of the Interchange contract.

5.6 Because the new scheme requires River Street to be widened to create two-way running, more construction work needs to be undertaken, increasing build costs. It is necessary therefore to fund the difference in costs between the original Interchange scheme and the amended scheme now proposed. The estimated cost for the amended scheme has been prepared by the Highways Service and this has been shared with TfGM. Discussions with TfGM are currently on-going to determine the difference in costs between the original and the proposed scheme. The initial estimate is that the amended scheme will cost an additional £150,000.

5.7 Construction work on the main Transport Interchange is due to commence in April 2012. In order to ensure the proposed facility can be delivered as part of the Interchange contract, it is hoped that the final costs can be determined over the coming weeks. Subject to agreeing the final costs and approval to funding, TfGM will be formally instructed to incorporate the amendments into the Transport Interchange scheme.

5.8 The implementation of this amended scheme requires the front section of the 12 River Street site to be incorporated into the new road layout. This site is owned by the Council and is vacant following the demolition of the building in 2011 (the former Petrus Building). This only relates to a narrow strip across the frontage, and will not prejudice the development of the remaining larger site.

$djgdugw5.doc Page 4 of 6

5.9 Members should note that the original Transport Interchange scheme for River Street / Faulkner included a taxi rank facility and a site for the re-located Shopmobility unit. The proposed amended scheme still provides a taxi rank facility. However the site identified to re-locate Shopmobility is no longer available. An alternative site has been identified and it is now proposed to re-locate the Shopmobility unit on the site of 12 River Street and discussions with Shopmobility and the Council are on-going.

6. Personnel Implications:

6.1 It is expected that the amended Transport Interchange scheme and the construction of the new turnaround facility can be met from existing staffing resources.

7. Financial Implications:

7.1 Initial estimates indicate that the additional cost of amended scheme to be around £150,000. Discussions are on-going with TfGM and it is intended that the final costs will be determined over the coming weeks.

7.2 The additional costs of the scheme will be met from the Local Transport Plan 2011/12 Capital Programme and the approved town centre public realm budget.

8. Conclusions:

8.1 In order to co-ordinate developments taking place in the town centre (Metrolink, new Municipal Offices, Transport Interchange and Town Centre East) and to create a more pedestrian friendly environment, a Highways Movement Framework for the town centre has been developed. The principles which underpin this framework were endorsed by the Rochdale Township Committee in January 2012.

8.2 There is a need to approve individual schemes which form part of this framework. Creating a turnaround area, with servicing and taxi/drop off facilities on River Street / Faulkner Street is a key component of this overall framework, helping to reduce through traffic and providing essential loading and servicing facilities for the businesses on Drake Street.

8.3 The original Transport Interchange scheme will need to be amended to accommodate the cul-de-sac turnaround area and a revised scheme has been prepared and agreed in principle with TfGM. Agreement has also been reached agreement with TfGM on how the amended scheme will be included in the Interchange construction contract. Discussions with TfGM are also on-going to determine the difference in costs between the original and the proposed Interchange scheme. The final costs of the scheme will be agreed in coming weeks.

John Hudson Chief Executive of Rochdale Development Agency

For further information and background papers: For further information about this report or access to any background papers please contact Gary Davies, Senior Project Officer. Tel: 01706 837444 or g.davies@investinrochdale.co.uk

$djgdugw5.doc Page 5 of 6

Appendix 1 – Plan showing the River Street / Faulkner Street highway scheme

$djgdugw5.doc Page 6 of 6

Appendix 2 – Location of the River Street / Faulkner Street highway scheme