Agenda item

The board considered a report of the Interim Joint Chief Executives of Coventry City Council that sought approval of a Change Request for Coventry Station Masterplan Phase and in particular, the removal of the long stop date of March 2023 for delivery of the NUCKLE 1.2 bay platform element from Coventry Masterplan funding agreement and agreement to a revised long stop date of December 2031.

The Director of Transportation & Highways (Coventry City Council), Colin Knight, presented the report and advised the committee that whilst  City Council is very committed to increasing rail services between Coventry and Nuneaton, an alternative strategy is proposed that would achieve this objective through timetable changes, removing the need for the bay platform infrastructure at Coventry Station.

Colin Knight explained the background to the current position and reported that the outcomes of Network Rail’s GRIP3 study meant the scheme was not economically viable in its current form which would prevent it being taken forward to the DfT to bid for funding. Additionally, Network Rail’s proposal for a new station at Coventry East required remodelling track layouts to be undertaken at either side of Coventry Station which would result in abortive works if the bay platform was delivered in advance of these works. He advised if built, Coventry East Station would have the capacity to provide additional services on the Coventry to Nuneaton Line and that Coventry City Council was working with Midlands Connect and partners to look for a long-term solution.

The Director of Commercial and Investment, Ian Martin reported that it was difficult to comment on as the £10m cost overrun on Coventry Station Masterplan was switched to fund the overrun on the multi storey car park and as accountable bodies, Coventry City Council and WMCA must prove £39.4m has delivered the benefits identified and demonstrate the impacts.

Councillor Clark considered that the scheme seems unaffordable in its current form and questioned the purpose of pushing back the delivery date by 8 years whilst retaining £10m of funding, when the funding could be utilised elsewhere with outputs delivered sooner.

Colin Knight advised that the previous Change Request agreed for £10m to be spent on phases 1 and 2 and, Coventry City Council would be bound by the report  recommendations to deliver the bay platform or equivalent infrastructure to deliver additional services on the Coventry to Nuneaton Line . He added that in light of the strategic reviews being undertaken by Network Rail, WMRE and work by Midlands Connect, there were a number of funding options that were being pursued but Coventry City Council would remain committed to delivering enhanced services on the Coventry to Nuneaton Line and was requesting an extension to the date by which all the outputs would be delivered.

Councillor Clark added that he felt the funding could be utilised first elsewhere during the course of the eight years.

Councillor Bird reported that the project date for the delivery of the bay platform had changed many times already and given rising costs, it was very unlikely the project could be developed within the funding envelope unless funding could be found elsewhere.

Councillor Grinsell reported that a decision would be needed before December 2031 and questioned Coventry City Council’s proposed recommendation that referred to providing the bay platform or ‘an alternative piece of infrastructure’.

Colin Knight reported that the alternative infrastructure could be a turnback facility at Coventry East Station that provides additional rail services so the bay platform is not required.

The Chair reported that it difficult to determine what the benefits would be in the future and whilst the board could agree the long-stop date of 2031, he proposed a review be undertaken and this be reported back to the board in March 2025.

Councillor Bird reported that he was happy for Coventry City Council to pursue alternative funding but was not happy with the 2031 date to hold over £10m which could be spent on other transport projects. He asked that Coventry City Council seek alternative funding sources as part a review.

Gary Taylor reported that he would want to see progress and would support the recommendation subject to funding reverting back to the WMCA if no progress is made.

The Director of Commercial and Investment reported that a review must demonstrate a clear way of securing funding and put forward a strategic direction of employing funds.

The Chair referred to the recommendations in the report and advised that the board could not agree the alternative recommendation proposed by Coventry City Council of ‘an equivalent piece of infrastructure’. The board agreed to the recommendations put forward by the Investment Panel along with the additional recommendation of a review being undertaken in 2025.

Resolved:

1.    The replacement of the long stop date of March 2023 for delivery of the NUCKLE 1.2 bay platform element from the Coventry Station Masterplan funding agreement and a revised long stop date of December 2031 be approved;

2.    The provision of the bay platform remains a committed output of the Coventry Station Masterplan which Coventry City Council are accountable for delivering and willensure that £10m allocated for that element for the project is available if required or will be recredit the Investment Programme by that amount be noted and

3.    The recommendations above be subject to Coventry City Council undertaking a review of the bay platform project, to include seeking alternative strategies for funding and this be reported to Investment Board by March 2025.