Purpose

To announce the results of the Local Highway Footway Improvement Group ‘Substantive Highway Scheme’ applications 2025/26.

Decision

I approve that:

(i)       The proposals be implemented as advertised.

(ii)       The objectors be advised accordingly.

This decision was published on 14 May 2026 and will come into force on 22 May 2026.

Reasons for the decision

There needs to be a mechanism for delivering Area Board transport scheme priorities that exceed the Area Board’s available discretionary highway budget and are unable to be implemented in phases over time. The agreed methodology and application of the Substantive Highway Scheme Bid Evaluation Formula has resulted in eleven scheme bids being ranked and five awarded Substantive Highway Scheme funding in the 2025/26 financial year.

Alternative options considered

Eleven bids were received in this bidding round, totalling £750,139, and requesting a total of £571,286. This exceeds the proposed allocation of £250,000 for the Substantive Highway Scheme Fund in 2025/26. All of the bids have been scored using the Substantive Highway Scheme Bid Evaluation Formula which ranks the schemes according to cost-benefit and deliverability.  It is proposed that Substantive Highway Scheme funds the top five bids, totalling £209,986.  The results are set out in Appendix 2.