Agenda item

This report seeks the Committee’s agreement of the full update to the council’s three-year Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP 2025/27), following an eight-week stakeholder consultation (1 February to 1 April 2024). The IIP 2025/27 allocates Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds to key infrastructure projects, assessed and prioritised using submitted evidence, for delivery within the three-year period. Following the Committee’s agreement, the IIP 2025/27 will need to be referred to Full Council for approval.

[Councillor Elkins re-declared his Personal Interest as a member of West Sussex County Council during discussion of this item]

The Interim Head of Planning Policy was invited by the Chair to present the report that provided an update to the Council’s three-year Infrastructure Investment Plan 2025/27 (IIP).  He drew attention to the Priority Shortlist that set out the recommended projects to be taken forward for funding allocations in the three-year period and the updated Baseline Longlist.   A total of five projects had been identified to receive Community Infrastructure Levy payments from the strategic pot. 

Details of the five projects for consideration were provided:

·     Existing Littlehampton Waste Recycling Facility capped to actual receipts in Year 3 within the WSCC 70% pot;

·     Existing project at Littlehampton Fire Station - Relocation or redevelopment (allocation Year 1 £50k; Year 2 £50k; Year 3 £0k and capped to actual receipts in Year 3 within WSCC 70% pot);

·     Existing project for Route 8 Arundel to Ford Active Travel - allocation reduced to Year 1 £100k within ADC 20% pot – future funding subject to National Highways Designated Funds Review 2025; It was noted that officers will be giving further consideration to this allocation and whether it should continue to come out of the Arun District Council funding pot or if it was more appropriate to come out of the West Sussex County Council funding pot.

·     Add existing project at Lion’s Den Littlehampton – Play area improvements - £30k within ADC 20% pot;

·     Add new project at Ferring Village Play Area – Play area improvements - £30k within ADC 20% pot.

It was noted that projects came forward ad hoc throughout the year and advised that officers will consider providing a more structured timetable of bidding rounds for each year.

The recommendations were then proposed by Councillor Partridge and seconded by Councillor Lury.

The Chair invited the Committee to make comment and ask questions. 

·       The Interim Head of Planning Policy responding to member questions clarified the position concerning the project for Route 8 Arundel to Ford Active Travel, confirming that it was not the intention to ask West Sussex County Council for an additional contribution.  The project had initially included the green link that had included links to Arun District Council’s proposals for a leisure route in the same location.  The Council had sought external funding for the route but as it had not been successful the project had been paused.  The £100k of funding sought was for a further feasibility study for non-motorized users with consideration being given to whether it would be more appropriate for the funding to be ring fenced from the County Council 70% strategic pot or if the smaller Arun District pot would be more appropriate.  National Highways had advised that funding for the travel route from Ford to Littlehampton was not available in its current Road Investment Strategy (RIS2).  He referred to the number of road improvement schemes that had been cancelled and that it was hoped that the unspent funding would be put towards sustainable transport projects, but this would not be known until RIS3.

·       The lack of an active transport route between Chichester and Pagham was highlighted.  Members were reminded of the current consultation on proposals for a scheme between Chichester and Bognor Regis that included improving cycle links.

·       A member referred to the length of time involved in the implementation of the Littlehampton Fire Station replacement project, which should be considered a priority.  The Interim Head of Planning Policy advised that the County Council have approached officers to see if the funds could be released earlier if they were to bring the feasibility work forward.

·       A member advised of the increased train timetable this year, affecting the Ford Road level crossing project on the Baseline longlist.  The effects of the any additional level crossing closure times, due to the additional trains, should be taken into account as part of any feasibility studies concerning this project.  The Interim Head of Planning Policy advised that this would be taken into account as the project progressed under future funding rounds.

·       Concern was raised regarding the further erosion of the Green Link project, which would have provided leisure and commuter access from Arundel to Littlehampton.   Although it was understood that the rising sea levels along the River Arun was an issue to obtaining external funding.  The move to prioritising the provision of a more northernly route to the south of Ford linking to the A259 was welcomed.  Will the allocated funds for additional feasibility be used to confirm the engineering constraints?  Can the Council consider a more westerly route linking the cycle routes along the A259?   The Interim Head of Planning Policy advised that following a meeting with partners on active travel routes his understanding was that the £100k earmarked for feasibility would look at detailed interventions in priority order.  As regards to the provision of an alternative route, the Council could put forward suggestions for consideration under the future feasibility.

·       Responding to a question concerning the length of time that Baseline Longlist projects took to be implemented, the Interim Head of Planning Policy provided details of the process and advised that projects would be brought forward once they had reached the stage where they were ready to be implemented.

·       The Interim Head of Planning Policy confirmed that the Lion’s Den, Littlehampton and the Ferring Village Green play area Priority Shortlist projects would provide new infrastructure improvements, as required by the CIL regulations, and not replacing like for like.

·       Disappointment was expressed that following the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2025/27 update the NHS had not provided any updates on progress with their projects, especially as there was money available to improve the health of residents.  Both the Interim Head of Planning Policy and Group Head of Planning had discussed the lack of progress and would be seeking a meeting with senior NHS officers with the intention of progressing their projects. 

·       It was suggested that the NHS could be asked to attend a meeting of the Planning Policy Committee to provide details of their future delivery plans for health care provision in the District.

·       The Director of Growth responded to a comment about the lack of joined up infrastructure linking the cycle route projects in the District.  He provided details of the Arun Active Travel Study (AATS), similar to a Local Cycle and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), that had assessed a range of cycling options. He explained that the Ford strategic allocation set out numerous requirements to upgrade cycle links from that development to Ford Railway Station and the River Arun.  He explained that as the Ford housing development took place the funding would be available for cycling provision south of the Railway Station.  Provision of a cycle link to Arundel from the Railway Station was an issue as there were no large developments in that area to fund it.  In response a member advised they were aware that none of the proposals in the Study had been delivered and suggested that the AATS should be replaced by a LCWIP, as these were in line with national consensus and could result in more successful projects in the future.  The cycling upgrades in place as part of the Ford development were not in line with cycle infrastructure design LTN1/20 or cycling infrastructure best practice and was a missed opportunity.

·       The Group Head of Planning undertook to provide details of the latest position concerning the Ford Road Level Crossing project and the provision of a railway crossing road bridge and details of who was responsible for the  Route 12: Active travel route (safe cycling) Aldwick Region cycling route project, outside of the meeting.

The Committee

          RECOMMEND TO FULL COUNCIL that

The Arun Infrastructure Investment Plan (for the period 2025-2027) be agreed by Full Council before publication on the Council’s website.