Decision details

(i)  To approve the creation of a new city centre bus hub interchange and public park on the site of the existing Albion Place and Castle Way car parks as shown on the current proposed layout for the TCF Albion Place Bus Hub scheme.

(ii)  To approve the closure of Albion Place and Castle Way car parks for change of use to a bus hub interchange and public park, subject to formal TRO / planning processes being completed, and to change the use of the land to a bus hub interchange and public park.

The creation of a city centre bus hub interchange and public park at Albion Place and Castle Way car parks respectively will improve public transport access in the city centre and create a more inviting environment and will aim to improve the setting and protection of the city’s nationally important heritage assets.

To provide officers with the member support to complete the design of the proposed new layout, subject to heritage approvals, required to subsequently apply for formal planning permission.

The ‘original’ proposal (submitted as a TCF bid) for Albion Place Bus Hub was presented for Cabinet Member (Growth) consideration as part of the recent transport plan review. Further to feedback from the Cabinet Member, key partners, and statutory consultees this original (TCF bid) proposal has been revised, with changes requested to incorporate improved heritage views, increased public realm areas and improved pedestrian mobility and access. These changes have been approved and incorporated into the current proposal and deliver similar benefits to the original TCF bid proposal.

The ‘do minimum / do nothing’ proposal of retaining one or both existing car parks was considered and rejected on the basis, that this option would not be in accordance with The Car Parking Plan, as a supporting document of the Local Transport Plan ‘LTP’. A hybrid option was considered of converting Albion Place Car Park into a bus interchange but keeping Castle Way as an existing car park was rejected as would have three major disbenefits of:

·  Compromising the efficiency of bus operators using the Albion Place Bus Hub as bus operations would be restricted due to conflict with the car park movements opposite.

·  Would require a substantial change control submission to the Department for Transport ‘DfT’, our funding partners, with implications of all the funding for this TCF project being withdrawn, losing the associated heritage and aesthetic benefits this project would deliver as whole.

·  Would not be in accordance with current SCC planning policy requiring the conversion of Castle Way into a public park as a mitigating measure for the Albion Place bus movements.