To receive an update on the above titled item by Barbara Richardson- Managing Director of RBWM Property Co.

Barbara Richardson, MD of RBWM Property Co gave a presentation on public parking provision. Members were informed that there were currently 3411 spaces as part of the current public parking provision. The Forum were told that as part of the regeneration that there were over 4000 new homes being built, community facilities, education, health & leisure and infrastructure being delivered.  It was outlined that there were currently:

·         734 spaces at Broadway/Nicholsons

·         79 spaces at Station Approach

·         1328 spaces at Hines Meadow

·         248 spaces at Magnet/ St Clouds Way

·         570 spaces at Stafferton Way

·         200 spaces at Braywick

·         111 spaces removed with 150 replaced

·         82 spaces at Grove Road

·         59 spaces at West Street

It was confirmed that there was a total of 285 temporary spaces available and that a total of 870 additional permanent spaces would be created as part of the regeneration programme.  This would give a total number of public parking spaces post 2022 of 4,281.. Members were reminded that private sector proposals were also being considered and that these would sit outside of the figures totalled above along with parking for private residential new build development. Members were informed that vicus way would be completed by July 2021 and that the works would begin by May 2020. The Forum were informed that the timetable for Broadway were subject to the wider masterplan and that practical completion was estimated for November 2022 and that handover for operation December 2022. Members were informed that there were strategic requirements in place for additional public parking provision. Operational requirements and considerations were taken into account for additional public parking provision. The Forum were told that overall, an addition 870 permanent public car parking spaces would become available for use by residents, retail, local business and Crossrail after regeneration.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Members asked a number of questions which included;

·         Councillor Reynolds asked whether the additional car parking provision included staff parking and it was confirmed that it had been included.

·         Councillor Singh queried whether consideration had been given to new residential sites and it was confirmed that these sites would incorporate their own parking provsion.

·         Councillor McWilliams asked whether basement parking at the St Clouds development had been confirmed and whether the cost of impact was considered. It was confirmed that basement parking was an expensive solution for parking and that on average, it cost the user double that of a surface car park  It was outlined that the developer, Countryside had included a basement car park in their initial bid and this would be taken forward and be available for public parking provision. Councillor Baldwin queried how many spaces had been reserved for the new Foreset Bridge School  and it was confirmed that there were 70 spaces.

·         Councillor McWilliams asked whether there were sufficient residential use spaces apportioned to the Landing site and whether this was adequate for resident use. It was confirmed that the original planning application for an entirely office/retail development submitted by the Landing developers and agents had outlined the need for 220 office spaces and that this agreement had now fallen away, when their new planning application had been submitted. . The site was now being developed for residential with a much smaller consideration of office use, and therefore their parking ratio was now much lower. Part of the site will be handed over for the use of temporary parking for 18-24 months . There was an agreement to provide The Landing with   50 spaces in the new Broadway car park on a lease at commercial rates once completed. .

·         Councillor Bhangra queried whether any disabled parking had been included in the overall provision of car parking. It was confirmed that RBWM currently gave 2% to blue badge holders and that a commitment moving forward to achieve 5% parking for blue badge holders was in our brief and design requirements. . Moving forward it was noted that in addition to disabled parking that there would be infrastructure in place for electric vehicles.

·         A supplementary question was posed by Councillor Bhangra in relation to consideration for the elderly and their parking needs. It was confirmed that ground floor bays in new multi-storey car parks would be available for blue badge holders, families with children  there was no specific provision for the elderly but that ground floor parking would be available.

·         Councillor Reynolds queried whether outsourcing of parking provision to local companies had been considered and whether the benefits of electric vehicles had been considered. It was confirmed that all parking provision was currently managed in house. Councillor Johnson who was in attendance confirmed that active considerations were being made in relation to electric vehicle users and that the motion would be considered at Full Council later this month.

·         Councillor Baskerville ( in attendance) queried whether there had been any consultation with Crossrail in their capacity as an external stakeholder. It was confirmed that there had been communications with Shanly Homes who were directly in communications with Cross rail. It was highlighted that Shanly Homes would also be considering providing  car parking spaces near the station.

·         Councillor McWilliams queried whether it would be possible to keep the existing Broadway car park open whilst regeneration works were taking place within the town centre. Members were informed that there would be no likely trade or passing footfall as residents would be aware that the shopping facilities were no longer available and that the majority of trade would be undertaken by Monday to Friday business users. Therefore the advantages and disadvantages of this would need to be considered.

At the conclusion of the presentation, members noted the contents of the presentation and requested that the presentation slides be available online. (presentation appended)