Purpose

Proposed decision:
 

     
i.   
Approve to defer the improvement of A228/B2017
junction improvement;

   
ii.   
Approve to use any surplus section 106 funding to
progress the feasibility and opportunities for voluntary land
acquisition of an alternative A228/B2017 junction improvement for a
larger roundabout;

  
iii.   
Approve to progress the amended B2017/B2160 junction
improvement as shown indicatively on Drg. No. 60660469-ACM-01-SW-DR-WR-0001-P01 through
surveys, design and construction;

  
iv.   
Approve that  the
proposed B2017/B2160 junction improvement shown on Drg. No. 60660469-ACM-01-SW-DR-WR-0001-P01 to be
used for Land Charge disclosures and development
control;

   
v.   
Approve the transfer of land for the B2017/B2160
junction improvement from an adjacent housing development under a
section 106 planning obligation and to acquire any other land and
rights as necessary;

  
vi.   
Approve to progress any statutory approvals and
consents including Traffic Regulation Orders required for the
B2017/B2160 junction improvement scheme including detailed planning
consent, drainage and environmental consents and securing temporary
use of land for a construction site compound;

 
vii.   
Approve to enter into construction contracts as
necessary for the delivery of the B2017/B2160 junction improvement
scheme subject to any internal approval process required to the
proposed procurement strategy; and

 viii.   
DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of
Growth Environment & Transport in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Highways and Transport, to take relevant actions,
including but not limited to, awarding, finalising the terms of and
entering into the relevant contracts or other legal agreements, as
necessary, to implement the decision
 
 
Reason for the decision
There are three major
housing developments in Paddock Wood that are being implemented and
together are delivering nearly 1,000 new homes.  A staggered traffic signalisation and some
widening of roads is needed to mitigate the cumulative traffic
impacts of the new developments which are consented.
 
 
Background
 
The improvement of
both the A228/B2017 and B2017/B2160 junctions are important schemes
to provide increased capacity and improve accessibility to help
mitigate the three large housing s developments in Paddock
Woods.
 
Initial scoping,
survey and feasibility investigations identified that the
A228/B2017 junction improvement for an improved roundabout was not
practicable or deliverable within the highway boundary. The
B2017/B2160 junction needed to be reviewed due to update flood risk
information from the Environment Agency. The land available for the
scheme would not provide sufficient space to be able to mitigate
the additional surface water generated by the changes in the
highway and the additional hard paved areas.
 
As the original scheme
cannot be delivered further flood risk modelling and scheme
development work, has been undertaken and an amended scheme has
been developed that will still provide the increased traffic
capacity and accessibility improvements that were the objectives of
the original proposal.  As it is a new
scheme a new key decision is needed to proceed.
 
Options (other options considered but discarded)
 
A228/B2017
junction improvement -
Reverting to the ‘Minor’ improvement
option was not considered worthwhile with the improvements not
delivering significant operational benefits. 
 
B2017/B2160 junction – several
amended road layouts were modelled to identify a final optimal
scheme to better reflect updated flood risk information.
 
How the
proposed decision supports Framing Kent’s Future
2022-2026: (https://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/strategies-and-policies/corporate-policies/our-council-strategy)
 
The scheme supports
Priority 2 by improving infrastructure for communities. It will
help level up Kent by providing enhanced transport accessibility
and connectivity within the borough of Tunbridge Wells, and in
particular Paddock Wood. The improved walking and cycling
facilities will enhance active travel and contribute towards
improving the health of the local population
 
The scheme also
support the key priorities set out in the County Council’s
Local Transport Plan 5 “Striking the Balance” (LTP5) in
terms of providing additional highway capacity, improving
accessibility and reducing congestion will also be benefit
aims.  These schemes are specifically
referred to for providing improvements in ‘Paddock Wood to
improve pedestrian, wheeling, and cycling
journeys’.

 
How the
proposed decision supports Securing Kent’s
Future:Securing
Kents Future - Budget Recovery
Strategy.pdf

 
The
scheme is fully funded from banked S106 contributions so is no
additional financial burden to KCC.
 

Decision

As Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport,
I agree to:
 
i)         
Approval to defer the improvement of A228/B2017 junction
improvement.
ii)         Approval to
use any surplus S106 funding to progress the feasibility and
opportunities for voluntary land acquisition of an alternative
A228/B2017 junction improvement for a larger roundabout.
iii)        Approval to
progress the amended B2017/B2160 junction improvement as shown
indicatively on Drg. No.
60660469-ACM-01-SW-DR-HR-0105 through surveys, design and
construction.
iv)        Approval for
the proposed B2017/B2160 junction improvement shown on Drg. No. 60660469-ACM-01-SW-DR-HR-0105 to be used
for Land Charge disclosures and development control.
v)         Approval
to take a transfer of land for the B2017/B2160 junction improvement
from an adjacent housing development under a section 106 planning
obligation and to acquire any other land and rights as
necessary.
vi)        Approval to
progress any statutory approvals and consents including Traffic
Regulation Orders required for the B2017/B2160 junction improvement
scheme including detailed planning consent, drainage and
environmental consents and securing temporary use of land for a
construction site compound.
vii)       Approval to enter
into construction contracts as necessary for the delivery of the
B2017/B2160 junction improvement scheme subject to any internal
approval process required to the proposed procurement strategy;
and
viii)      Delegate authority to the
Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport Approval to
take relevant actions, including but not limited to awarding,
finalising and entering into the relevant contracts or other legal
agreements, as necessary, to implement the decision.