a) Business Case Assurance
b) Business Case Summary
Minutes:
The Board considered a report of the Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy and Growth which provided a summary of the Stronger Town Funding Durham Dales Gateway Business Case within Bishop Auckland.
The project was part of the Town Investment Plan to undertake works to facilitate visitors to the Weardale Railway. The proposals were detailed in the report.
Currently the railway operated passenger trains, primarily for tourists. As well as previous issues on the line between Wolsingham and Bishop Auckland, a lack of parking infrastructure at Bishop Auckland meant that trains currently only travelled between Wolsingham and Stanhope.
With a predicted increase in the number of visitors the Durham Dales Gateway project would provide the required car parking infrastructure at Bishop Auckland to enable visitors to better access heritage rail services and to route the full distance of the line (Phase 1).
The Business Case established the case for investment of £900,000 funding from the STF Programme, towards a total £1.955m project, with the remainder of the funding provided/underwritten by The Auckland Project (TAP). As with all projects within the STF programme a funding agreement between DCC, TAP and the Weardale Railway would be required.
Future phases 2 and 3 would provide direct access to the railway, pedestrian movements in the first phase would be via the existing Etherley or Newgate Street bridges, from the Phase 1 Car Park to the Bishop Auckland West Platform.
The Weardale Railway attracted almost 7,000 visitors in 2019 and was the 20th most visited rail heritage attraction in the country. The anticipated increase in visitor numbers as a result of planned programmes and interventions by TAP should elevate the railway to the 8th most visited rail heritage attraction nationally.
The delivery of this project would coincide with other rail linked projects, including the bicentenary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 2025, and the expansion of the Locomotion Museum following a successful Levelling Up bid. Following a successful 'Restoring Your Railways' Expression of Interest to the Department for Transport, a Strategic Outline Business Case had been submitted to the DfT. A decision as to whether the proposal would advance to an Outline Business Case stage
was expected during the first half of 2023.
As outlined in the report the Phase 1 Car Park proposals would deliver a Core BCR of 2.1 because of economic benefits such as employment and training opportunities, and would deliver an Adjusted BCR of 5.5 because of land value uplift, GVA benefits distributional impacts.
The design proposals were set out in Appendix 2 of the report and a planning application would be required for the demolition of the building and conversion to the car park.
The Board discussed the proposals and commended Craig MacLennan for the report.
Following questions from Councillor Siddle regarding the existing car park and the potential impact on traffic along Escomb Road, Craig MacLennan confirmed that the car park would be reduced but would be compensated by the further car park to the west which would include measures to prevent indiscriminate use. The arrival times for many of the trains would be outside peak hours which should alleviate the traffic concerns.
Councillor Siddle added that careful consideration should be given to fare levels. If fares were too expensive residents would not use the railway.
Rob Yorke noted that TAP were providing/underwriting the remaining amount for Phase 1, and asked if there was any scope for additional STF support for the scheme. Geoff Paul confirmed that STF allocations remained under review but referenced previous discussions over construction cost pressures across the whole programme.
Following discussion it was AGREED that
a) the Business Case be approved and submitted to Government for the Durham Dales Gateway proposals; and
(a) the funding profile of £900,000 STF and £1,095,138 provided/underwritten from TAP, be noted.