West Devon Transport Hub Report

Report to: Hub Committee
Date: 8 June 2021
Title: West Devon Transport Hub in Okehampton,
Levelling Up Fund Bid
Portfolio Area: Council: Cllr Jory
Wards Affected: All
Urgent Decision: Y
Approval and clearance obtained: Y
Author: Chris Brook Role: Director, Place and Enterprise
Contact: Email:
RECOMMENDATION:
The Hub Committee is RECOMMENDED to approve the
submission by the Director, Place and Enterprise of an
application to the Levelling Up Fund for capital funding for
West Devon Transport Hub in Okehampton as outlined in
Section 2 of the report

1. Executive summary

1.1 The Department for Transport, the Ministry for Housing, communities and Local Government and the Treasury are
planning to invest £4.8 billion in high- value local infrastructure.
1.2 It is especially intended to support investment in places where it can make the biggest difference to everyday life. The Levelling Up Fund (LUF) is to be distributed as a capital grant, as part of this government’s broader offer to level up opportunity across the UK.
1.3 West Devon Borough Council (the Council) has been identified as priority 2 – “medium need” under the LUF criteria.
1.4 Working in partnership with Devon County Council, Network Rail and GWR, the Council intends to submit a bid for about £12m funding to deliver the West Devon Transport Hub in Okehampton.
1.5 The West Devon Transport Hub will include; new station, lift and platform, bus interchange, car park, EV charging, cycle and
walking infrastructure.
1.6 A matched funding contribution of £1.2m by Devon County Council is being considered by its Cabinet on Wednesday 9 June.
A positive outcome to this decision is essential to the bid’s success as 10% matched funding is required.
1.7 The bid is supported by Mel Stride MP, as well as the areas of Torridge, North Devon and Cornwall.
1.8 The report is being considered as an urgent item due to bids having to be submitted before the next meeting of the Hub Committee.

2. Background

2.1. The Government’s Levelling Up Fund was announced at the 2020 Spending Review to support communities in order to regenerate town centres, enable investment in cultural facilities or upgrade local transport infrastructure.
2.2. The LUF will focus on capital investment in local infrastructure thereby building on and consolidating prior programmes. It will have a visible, tangible impact on people and places, and support economic recovery.
2.3. In doing so, it will also create opportunity across the country, prioritising bids that invest in regeneration and growth in places in need and areas of low productivity and connectivity. The eligibility is complex.
2.4. The Government has categorised all authorities based on the need for economic recovery and growth; improved transport
connectivity and regeneration. West Devon Borough Council has been categorised as Medium Need, Priority 2.
2.5. Members of Parliament are allowed to back one bid that they see as a priority, in this case Mel Stride MP, who has confirmed his support. Schemes need to be deliverable by March 2024.
2.6. The timetable for the LUF application process is as follows:

2.7. As a result of the Exeter to Okehampton railway line’s planned re-opening at the end of this year, the need and urgency for the West Devon Transport Hub in Okehampton has increased.
2.8. The successful delivery of the Transport Hub would see congestion reduced on Station Road in Okehampton, but crucially
maximise connectivity for the region through convenient multimodal access to the railway line in close proximity to the A30.
2.9. The scheme cost is about £12m, of which approximately £10m is for the platforms and bridge and £2m for the car park, bus interchange and associated infrastructure.
2.10. LUF bids can be up to £20m, however, so as to ensure the best chance of success for this bid, it is important that the Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) is kept high, so it can demonstrate clear value to the Treasury Department. This limits the bid to about £12m.
2.11. The 10% match funding requirement under the LUF is being provided by Devon County Council (subject to a decision on 9th June), who also own the land on which the station car park can be provided.

3. Outcomes/outputs

3.1. The Transport Hub will deliver a station entrance, two platforms connected by a bridge and serviced by a passenger lift.
3.2. Onward connectivity will be provided locally on bike and by foot, on public transport via a bus interchange on Hameldown Road, and by car from the surface level car park with EV charging points.
3.3. There is scope to improve cycling and walking links within Okehampton to incorporate the Transport Hub, through the
Community Renewal Fund bid already submitted by the Council should it be successful, and in partnership with Devon County
Council in the future.
3.4. 4G connectivity on the railway service is also being explored by Network Rail and GWR, although this will not form part of the LUF bid.

Indicative Programme

4. Options available and consideration of risk

4.1. The Council has been categorised as priority 2 – medium need, so there is no guarantee that the bid will be successful. Ensuring the BCR is kept positive and strong will improve the bids chances of success.
4.2. If the bid is successful a number of partner organisations will be responsible for the multiple strands of project delivery, the Council will not be a direct delivery partner, but will be on the project board.
4.3. The station infrastructure will be delivered by Network Rail, the highway and bus infrastructure will be delivered by the Highway Authority (Devon County Council) and the station car park will be delivered by Devon County Council as landowner.
4.4. Delivering rail projects in budget and on time is notoriously challenging, and this project will be no different.

5. Proposed Way Forward

5.1. That the Hub Committee approves the submission of the bid, such that the rail infrastructure in West Devon can be improved immeasurably, for the benefit of all residents.

6. Implications

Supporting Information
DCC Cabinet Report – Levelling Up Fund:
https://democracy.devon.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=133&MId=4172&
Ver=4