Inside Government Conference Case Study: Norwich Northern Distributor Road 29 March 2017 Martin Wilby Chair of Environment, Development and Transport Committee Norfolk County Council
Introduction What is the Norwich Northern Distributor Road? Why is it so important? Norfolk s Location Norfolk s Economy Transport for Norwich Why did we go through NSIP? What else is Norfolk doing?
Northern Distributor Road
Northern Distributor Road Norwich Area Transportation Strategy (NATS) Northern Distributor Road is a key part of NATS Main aims of the NDR and NATS are to: Bring much needed traffic relief for communities to the north and east of Norwich and the city centre, and improve accessibility Free up road space enabling the implementation of wider NATS ambitions Help support and encourage economic growth outlined in the adopted Joint Core Strategy (employment and housing). Provide direct access to/from Norwich International Airport
Norfolk s Location
Norfolk s Economy 6
Norwich Area Transportation Strategy ( Transport for Norwich ) NATS sets out how the transport system will be developed to accommodate growth in Norwich and address problems such as congestion The Implementation Plan ( Transport for Norwich ) adopted 2010 following extensive consultation and significant support, including from the business sector The Strategy: Tackling existing transport problems and planning ahead Reducing congestion and improving air quality Creating reliable, sustainable transport for all Maintaining the vitality of the city centre Supporting economic growth
Norwich Area Transportation Strategy (NATS) Bus Rapid Transit and Core Bus Route enhancements NDR & Postwick Rail improvements City Centre improvements
Chapelfield North Before and after Opened up new public transport route from city centre to west of city avoiding lengthy, congested route via ring road Before: One way route outbound only for all traffic After: Two way route All traffic but to limited destinations (city-centre through-routes closed) 9
Westlegate Before and after Route pedestrianised (except for deliveries / access) Key pedestrian & cycle route between John Lewis and city centre retail core 10
NATS: It s more than just engineering Smart Ticketing Park and Ride Air Quality AtoBetter Bus Charter Business Travel Pack
Northern Distributor Road Why NSIP for the NDR? Legislation (Planning Act 2008) Legislation changes! Section 35 application. Experience in delivering the A47 Postwick junction Delivered ahead of the NDR Land secured through developer agreements Planning consent challenged Still called to Public Inquiry (Side Road Orders)
Northern Distributor Road The Development Consent Order Process The Inspectorate has 28 days to decide whether the application meets the required standards to proceed to examination including whether the developer s consultation has been adequate. You can send in your comments in writing. You can request to speak at a public hearing. The Inspectorate has 6 months to carry out the examination.. Timescales shown in bold are the legal maximum. There is the opportunity for legal challenge. Acceptance Examination Decision Preapplication Preexamination Postdecision Look out for information in local media and in public places near the location of the proposed project, such as your library. The developer will be developing their proposals and will consult widely. You can now register as an interested party; you will be kept informed of progress and opportunities to put your case. Inspectors will hold a Preliminary Meeting and set the timetable for examination. A recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State will be issued by the Inspectorate within 3 months. The Secretary of State then has a further 3 months to issue a decision on the proposal.
Northern Distributor Road NSIP Application
Northern Distributor Road Construction Progress Mobilisation from 26 November 2015 Works started 4 January 2016 Programme completion date is February/March 2018 Target road opening date is December 2017 Challenging timescales given scale of project Safety record Year 1 completed with over 700,000 man hours with no recorded incident But, so far, so good.
Northern Distributor Road Environment Archaeological investigation complete on 22ha (including a wartime Mustang crash site in Rackheath) Over 300ha of site clearance (5000 trees) 7km of newt fence installed and maintained Over 2,000 amphibians, including 587 great crested newts, 488 smooth newts, 885 toads and 103 frogs, trapped and moved. Newt dog Rocky helped clear sites. Tree, shrub and hedge planting underway Four newt habitat ponds created 81 bat roost boxes installed Two bat roost barns built Over 100 bird boxes put up
Northern Distributor Road Fencing and drainage 42km of fencing complete - 2km remaining 10 km of drainage installed so far- 23km remaining 20 Drainage lagoons created 7 remaining Ditch and lagoon excavated to protect Wensum Valley Utility Service diversions 50 Utility service diversions changed over or ready 30 remaining High Pressure gas main (right) diversion completed
Northern Distributor Road Earthworks 512,000 cubic metres of topsoil strip (almost complete) 1.2 million cubic metres of bulk excavation 0.4 million cubic metres remaining Completed roundabouts The stretch of the NDR from the A1067 Fakenham Road to the A140 Cromer Road junction is furthest advanced. Fakenham Road, Fir Covert Road and Reepham Road roundabouts are complete and already being used by traffic.
Bridges Northern Distributor Road Marriott s Way and Bell Farm Track - Bases, columns and central piers poured, reinforced earth walls complete. Beams.. Cromer Road (A140) - Bases and columns poured. Reinforced earth walls on-going Buxton Rd - Bases, columns and central pier poured. Reinforced earth walls complete. Crosshead beams and deck beams placed Newman Road - Excavated, with works to structure foundation now in progress Plumstead Road (right) - Piling, and bases completed, walls and deck beams completed Rackheath Railway - piling works completed. North and south abutment bases poured: Bridge beams on by Easter 2017 (?) Middle Road Piling complete.
Bridges Plumstead Road Northern Distributor Road
What else is Norfolk doing? December 2016 Full Council meeting: - Norwich Western Link - Great Yarmouth 3 rd River Crossing - Long Stratton bypass Highways England A47 improvements
Norwich Western Link
Gt Yarmouth Third River Crossing New river bridge to connect trunk road (A47) to Port and Enterprise Zone area: Economic growth hub in the South Denes peninsula Enterprise Zone, Great Yarmouth Energy Park, the South Denes Business Park and the deep water outer harbour, operated by Peel Ports Lack of connectivity severely inhibits movement in Great Yarmouth resulting in congestion and ultimately limiting the economic potential of the Great Yarmouth
Gt Yarmouth Third River Crossing County Council already committed close to 4m Successful bid for Large Local Major Transport Scheme funding Outline Business Case being developed for March 2017 2m Growth Deal commitment to further develop scheme Potential delivery start 2021
Long Stratton Bypass Long Stratton Area Action Plan 2016 to 2026 Housing Objective A minimum of 1,800 new houses will be built in locations which support the form and function of the village and deliver a bypass. The bypass will be completed before 250 of the new homes are occupied. The new housing will meet the highest standards of design, energy and water efficiency and affordability whilst recognising the need to sustain and improve the distinctive character of Long Stratton and its surroundings. The necessary infrastructure, including social and community facilities, and public open space will be provided to support new development. Good walking and cycling routes will link the new housing to the town centre.
A47 Trunk Road Crucial east west trunk road route across northern East Anglia Connects to A1 at Peterborough for journeys to the north and the Midlands Largely single-carriageway Road does not fulfil its role as part of the strategic network Further major growth is planned along the whole route 26
A47 Trunk Road Roads Investment Strategy 1: A47 Alliance: successful advocacy to secure 300m investment Working with Highways England to enable successful delivery Pushing for early delivery Roads Investment Strategy 2: Working with A47 Alliance on case for priorities from A1 to Lowestoft Norfolk s priorities: Acle Straight dualling Tilney to East Winch dualling 27
Thank you Any questions?