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Decision details

A61 South (Chesterfield to Clay Cross) Public Engagement Update and Preparation of a Strategic Outline Business Case

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To update the Cabinet Member on a recent public engagement exercise in relation to seeking views about how people use the A61 South of Chesterfield and what they thought about different transport options to improve it.

To seek approval to accept Midlands Connect Major Road Network grant funding and commence the preparation of a Strategic Outline Business Case to recommend transport infrastructure priorities which could be delivered by 2030.

To note the intended use of £50,000 from the Regeneration Kick Start fund to comprise the required local match funding to support the Midlands Connect investment.

Decision:

That the Cabinet Member:

 

Notes the results on the outcome of a recent public engagement exercise that sought views about how people use the A61 South of Chesterfield and options for improvement;

 

Approves the acceptance of £50,000 grant funding contribution from Midlands Connect Major Road Network to support the preparation of a Strategic Outline Business Case for transport infrastructure priorities which could be delivered by 2030;

 

Notes that the Executive Director – Place intends to use £50,000 from the Regeneration Kick Start Fund to comprise the required local match funding to support the Midlands Connect investment;

 

Approves the Executive Director - Place to commence work to develop a Strategic Outline Business Case for the A61 South of Chesterfield for a possible bid to be included in the Major Road Network Investment Fund; and

 

Notes that a further report will be brought to update on the outcome of an A6 Corridor study and make recommendations for next steps regarding potential options for the Corridor between Buxton and the A623 junction as part of the Major Road Network.

Reasons for the decision:

To enable assessment of potential projects to continue ahead of expected funding opportunities for the period 2025 to 2030.

 

Alternative options considered:

The MRN in Derbyshire covers several ‘A road’ route sections in Derbyshire, including parts of the A6, A61, A52, A516, A511, A610, A6007, A6096, A617, A6135, A619, A53 and A38. A strategic review of a total of 33 route sections was undertaken to consider which locations align most closely with criteria for future consideration for financial support from the MRN Investment Fund. This review gave most importance to locations where there was a congestion problem to solve as these are more likely to demonstrate good value for money from improving journey times and reliability of the network. Wider issues were also considered, including collision history, air quality, noise, economic growth opportunities, linkages with SRN, and sustainable travel opportunities.

 

A total of nine route sections were shortlisted for further investigation. The A61 South Corridor between Chesterfield and Clay Cross was identified as the highest priority due to congestion levels being medium to high, particularly within Chesterfield and Clay Cross town centre. The route section has the most hours of traffic delay (3,092-5,587 hours) per annum in Derbyshire and journey times being 72% slower in the peak hour when compared to overnight free-flow conditions.

 

The A6 between Buxton to the junction with A623 might be eligible for inclusion in a future MRN Investment Fund Programme due to the long-standing congestion issues on Fairfield Road. This route section is currently being reviewed under the A6 Corridor Study (Buxton to Stockport) to identify possible short, medium and long term transport options. It is therefore considered premature to commence SOBC preparation until the Study reports in 2023. It is recommended the Cabinet Member receives a further report regarding recommendations on the next steps for the A6 corridor once the A6 Corridor Study has reported.

 

Four route sections were not considered for MRN preparation because they were already under scope of other workstreams. These are:

 

·                    A511 West of Swadlincote – the recent opening of the Woodville Swadlincote regeneration route provides additional highway capacity to the west of Swadlincote. The impact of this scheme requires monitoring to understand whether further investment options need to be considered.

·                    A61 (A38 to Little Eaton roundabout at the Derby City boundary) – this route section is included within the scope of the National Highways A38 Derby Junctions project which is awaiting a decision on a Development Consent Order.

·                    A61 Hornsbridge Roundabout to A619 Tesco Roundabout – a future planning application and Transport Assessment (TA) for the proposed Chesterfield to Staveley Regeneration Route (CSRR) will need to assess the impact on the existing network. It is therefore considered premature to assess options ahead of the CSRR planning application.

·                    A38 M1 junction 28 to Nottinghamshire boundary – Midlands Connect has included a proposal to consider future options for the M1 Junction 28 and approaches within its Strategic Transport Plan. It is anticipated that any future proposals would be brought forward by National Highways Roads Investment Strategy, rather than the MRN Investment Fund.

 

Two route sections were identified as localised congestion pinch-points that merit further investigation for local improvements. Solutions at these locations are not anticipated to be of a magnitude that would grant entry into the MRN Investment Programme and would need to be considered alongside other local priorities for investment through annual transport capital programmes:

 

·                    A617 Hornsbridge Roundabout to M1 Junction 29 – Hornsbridge roundabout is included within the scope for the A61 South corridor. A localised signalisation of the M1 Junction 29 junction roundabout has been discussed with National Highways but it is not anticipated to be of a scale for inclusion in the MRN Investment Fund programme.

·                     A610 Codnor to A38 Junction at Ripley – the A610 Ripley-Codnor-Woodlinkin improvement proposal has previously had status within the Amber Valley Local Plan linked to land-use development. This proposal no longer has Local Plan status and therefore any future proposals are anticipated to focus on tackling a local pinch-point at the A610/A6007 traffic signals at Codnor. This option is not considered to be of a scale for inclusion within the MRN Investment Fund programme.

Publication date: 24/03/2023

Date of decision: 23/03/2023

Effective from: 01/04/2023

Accompanying Documents: