Rail station improvements to boost jobs and house building, government says

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From ITV News:

Rail station improvements to boost jobs and house building, government says

"The biggest programme of rail improvements since the Victorian age" will create thousands of jobs and new homes, according to the government.

The Government has launched the regeneration project following the transformation of sites in Birmingham, Manchester and London.

"We are delivering the biggest programme of rail improvements since the Victorian age and have seen the transformation of stations such as Birmingham New Street, Manchester Victoria and London King's Cross. This will help deliver thousands of new homes and jobs and deliver a substantial return to the taxpayer."
^ TRANSPORT SECRETARY PATRICK MCLOUGHLIN

Up to 10,000 new houses could be built across England as part of the railway station development scheme.

Local councils across the country are being called on by the Government to take part in the scheme.

Communities Secretary Greg Clark said: "Rail stations are a hub of communities, connectivity and commerce and should be making the most of their unique potential to attract investment and opportunities. With record numbers of people travelling by train, it makes sense to bring people closer to stations and develop sites that have space for thousands of new homes and offices."

York, Taunton and Swindon councils have already identified railway sites that could be used to deliver housing and other regeneration.

[ChrisB]

DFT^▸ (Department for Transport) Press Release

A massive programme of development of railway stations and surrounding land will deliver thousands of new homes and jobs and significantly boost local growth.

^Up to 10,000 homes to be built around rail stations
^Three local authorities come forward with ambitious proposals for first sites
^Regeneration of sites will revitalise town centres

A massive programme of development of railway stations and surrounding land will deliver thousands of new homes and jobs and significantly boost local growth, the Communities Secretary announced today (10 April 2016).

A new agreement between Network Rail and the Homes and Communities Agency will see them working with local councils to trailblaze development opportunities across England^s railway stations for housing and businesses.

The ambitious initiative could deliver up to 10,000 new properties on sites around stations in the coming years. Government wants to hear from at least 20 local authorities to take the scheme forward.

York, Taunton and Swindon councils have come forward with proposals to spearhead the new initiative and have identified railway sites that could be pooled to deliver housing and other locally-led regeneration.

Drawing on the example set by the transformation of Birmingham New Street, Manchester Victoria and London Kings Cross, government will bring together high-calibre technical expertise and local knowledge to increase development opportunities that exist throughout the entire rail estate.

Communities Secretary Greg Clark said:


^We^re determined to fire up communities and back local business so they build much needed housing and create thousands of jobs. Rail stations are a hub of communities, connectivity and commerce and should be making the most of their unique potential to attract investment and opportunities.

^With record numbers of people travelling by train, it makes sense to bring people closer to stations and develop sites that have space for thousands of new homes and offices.

^This new initiative will bring about a step change in development and ensure we go further and faster in putting these rail sites to good use.^

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said:


^We are delivering the biggest programme of rail improvements since the Victorian age and have seen the transformation of stations such as Birmingham New Street, Manchester Victoria and London Kings Cross.

^As a one nation government we are determined to ensure further opportunities are grasped to put stations at the heart of wider community regeneration. This will help deliver thousands of new homes and jobs and deliver a substantial return to the taxpayer.

^m pleased to see that exciting visions for regeneration at Swindon, Taunton and York are being developed, with the potential for hundreds of additional homes and new businesses. I look forward to seeing how Network Rail and the Homes and Communities Agency^s excellent work on these projects develop.^

Local areas are best placed to understand and identify the opportunities that exist within their communities. The Homes and Communities Agency and Network Rail will now work with councils on the opportunities they see and any plans already in place to explore how government can support them to deliver locally-led regeneration and development schemes quickly.

The government has ensured housing and home ownership is a key part of its long-term economic plan and is making available significant investment for new housing including ^3 billion for developers to bring forward schemes and ^1.2 billion Starter Homes Fund.

The first places to come forward with ambitious proposals to regenerate around stations are:

York, North Yorkshire

Proposals suggest that land at York Central station can support up to 2,500 homes. Housing would be key to creating a sustainable new community and would include Starter Homes and community facilities. Around 100,000m2 of office and commercial space for private sector firms could also support more than 6,600 jobs in industries such as professional services. Housing and office regeneration around the station could add ^1.16billion to the local economy.

Taunton, Somerset

Regeneration at Taunton station could provide a significant increase in commercial spaces and homes in an underused site on the edge of the town centre. Remodelling of the station layout and car park, supported by the Local Growth Fund would complement this development. This would create a vibrant gateway to the town and strong links to the town centre. This would provide a significant boost to the local economy of one of the South West^s key urban centres, and provide significant residential and commercial growth.

Swindon, Wiltshire

The area around Swindon station could provide opportunities to boost housing in the town by creating homes and commercial opportunities taking advantage of the benefits brought by the Great Western Electrification Programme. Swindon has ambitious plans for the regeneration of its town centre and also the revitalisation of leisure opportunities to the north of the station. The redevelopment of land around the station would help to maximise and enhance these opportunities.

[JayMac]

As far as Taunton goes this is just re-announcing the already announced. 

Plans are already well developed for enhancement of Taunton station environs, encompassing both sides of the station.

A transport interchange is planned for the south (town) side of the station, linking in with the (hopefully) soon to be completed Northern Distributor Road. The main ticket office is planned to move to the south side too, making it the main station entrance. A multi-story car park is also planned.

On the north side, planning consent is also being sought for business development, housing, and to make general improvements to an area of former railway land which is somewhat run down.

South side: Taunton Railway Station Enhancement Scheme (Heart of South West Local Enterprise Partnership .pdf)
 
North side: Network Rail selling land for development around Taunton Station (Somerset County Gazette)

These potential developments also tie in with the wider local plan which includes major development along the banks of the River Tone between Priory Bridge Road and Firepool, on land formerly occupied by the cattle market and Priory Bridge Road car park.

[Adelante_CCT]

Isn't this topic the same as this one : http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=16910.msg193708#msg193708

[ChrisB]

indeed, this was the first posted :-)

[JayMac]

indeed, this was the first posted :-)

Time stamps say otherwise.

[ChrisB]

Fair comment.

A mod will surely be aling soon....

[Adelante_CCT]

A mod will surely be aling soon....

Which one? Is Mr Ellis not doing to well? 

(Yes I am aware of a missing 'i')

[Chris from Nailsea]

Purely in the interests of continuity and clarity, I've simply moved and merged both topics into this one here. 

(That's a 'roll eyes' smiley, nothing more. Or less.) 

[Eliza]

A transport interchange is planned for the south (town) side of the station, linking in with the (hopefully) soon to be completed Northern Distributor Road. [/url] (Heart of South West Local Enterprise Partnership .pdf)

A redundant railway bridge in the vicinity of Taunton Station is to be removed, week commencing Monday 23 May, to enable the Northern Inner Distributor Road to cross the gap, where the bridge stood.  Some parts of the old Kingston Loop Bridge will be reinstated after refurbishment. 

https://www.facebook.com/somersetcountycouncil/posts/1209460742405285?comment_id=1209469802404379&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R0%22%7D
 

[JayMac]

That article quoted, as some don't use Facebook:

From the Somerset County Council Newsroom:

Historic Taunton bridge to be removed and replaced

18 March 2016 ^   by Peter Elliott ^   in Press releases

The next step of a major road building scheme in Taunton will see the removal and replacement of an historic former aqueduct and rail bridge.

The Kingston Loop Bridge over Station Road will be replaced by Somerset County Council^s contractor Carillion as part of the Northern Inner Distributor Road (NIDR) project.

The conversion to a road bridge is the latest evolution of a 200-year-old transport route which has been fundamental to the growth and prosperity of Taunton. Over the years, the structure has been adapted from a canal-carrying aqueduct to a rail bridge and now to a road bridge (see panel below).

The new bridge has been designed to preserve the historic look of the Station Road area as much as possible.

During the demolition work, specialist equipment will be used to cut the plates out of the bottom of the bridge and then crane out the cross beams and main beams.

The two historic steel edge beams will also be removed but these will be taken away and refurbished, before being returned to the structure when the new bridge deck is constructed later in the year. The original abutments will also be retained.

Due to the complexity of dismantling and removing a bridge, and to protect the safety of the workforce and the travelling public, the work will require a full closure of Station Road.

This is planned to start at 5am on Monday 23 May, with the road reopening by 1pm on Friday 27 May. The following week from Tuesday 31 May to Thursday 2 June has been booked as a contingency should works over-run, but the road will be reopened for the bank holiday weekend.

Work will take place between the hours of 6.30am-11.30pm, but longer hours are not appropriate due to the close proximity of nearby homes and businesses.

During the closure, a signed diversion route will be in place for vehicles. Access will be maintained for pedestrians during working hours using steps and a ramp via Whitehall. This route will not be suitable for pedestrians with limited mobility, so the contractor will be also be providing a shuttle bus. Parents with prams and pushchairs will be offered help using the steps, or can choose to use the shuttle bus. Cyclists have the option of using the diversion for vehicles or will be offered assistance using the pedestrian route. Outside of working hours, one of the footpaths will be reopened to allow access for pedestrians.

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said: ^The foundations of the new bridge are nearly complete and removing the historic rail structure is the next stage and a key milestone for the scheme.

^Unfortunately, we have no choice but to close the road while the demolition work is in progress so some disruption is unavoidable. Please be aware and think about making alternative arrangements if you can. We apologise for any inconvenience and will be working with the contractor to keep this to a minimum.^

The NIDR is a multi-million project commissioned by Somerset County Council and carried out by the construction contractor Carillion to unlock the Firepool regeneration site where there are ambitious plans for a riverside business, residential and shopping development. By providing a link from Priory Avenue to Staplegrove Road, it should also help to ease congestion in the town centre and on Priorswood Road.

The Kingston Loop Bridge is the last major component of the NIDR still remaining. Work at the Firepool Bridge is nearing completion and the temporary traffic lights controlling access to Priory Park have been removed. The roundabout at Staplegrove Road is also mostly complete with landscaping underway.

The current estimated completion date provided by Carillion is late 2016 and Somerset County Council continues to work with the contractor to open the road as soon as possible.


History of the Kingston Loop Bridge (with thanks to the South West Heritage Trust ^ www.swheritage.org.uk/)

The Kingston Loop Bridge has been adapted over the centuries from a canal aqueduct to a railway bridge and will soon become a highway structure.

Canal

The current steel rail bridge occupies the site of the original aqueduct which carried the Grand Western Canal as it travelled west from its junction at Firepool with the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.

The Grand Western Canal was completed in 1838 between Firepool and the Devon border at Lowdwells and was renowned for its elaborate canal structures.

Rail

When Brunel^s Bristol and Exeter Railway (later the Great Western Railway) reached Taunton in July 1842, the viability of the new canal was immediately threatened. It was eventually bought by the Railway Company in 1865 and two years later its structures on the Somerset section were largely dismantled.

The canal aqueduct survived (it is recorded as being in place in 1886) but was demolished when the steel rail bridge was created.

The bridge which exists today was adapted from the aqueduct to carry the goods avoiding line, or loop line, which bypassed the main line of the Great Western Railway and allowed express trains to pass. The goods avoiding line was completed in 1896.

The massive walls between the two railway bridges were constructed in 1895 of Westleigh stone to enable the construction of a new engine shed. The steel bridge, like other railway bridges, long carried an advert for Ferodo brakes.

Freight began to decline in the 1960s and 1970s and the loop bridge was finally closed to rail traffic in 1988.

Road

The new road bridge currently under construction will use a new deck and piled foundations but will retain the existing abutments and the outer steel beams.

This will cause quite some disruption on what is an arterial route into and out of Taunton. I don't envy vehicle users and pedestrians, who will be subject to the disruption. Of whom I will be one. I'm in Taunton from the 26th May to 2nd June.

Regarding the 'historic' side beams of the rail bridge, it's nice they are being retained.  It'd be even nicer if they could return with their advert for 'Ferodo Disc Brake Pads'. That advert was on both sides of the bridge for some 40 odd years.

[JayMac]

The former avoiding line ('Kingston Loop') bridge over Station Road in Taunton has been successfully removed this week. Ahead of (re-jigged) schedule too. Station Road was planned to be closed until 1pm today, Friday 27th May 2016, but actually re-opened overnight on the 26th.

The side beams of the former bridge are away for refurbishment. I spoke with the site foreman on Thursday evening, jokingly enquiring whether they'd return with their 'Ferodo Disc Brake Pads'  advertising. He was a local chap and agreed it would be a nice touch. Sadly not though.

New road deck will be slid into place over the next few weeks, and the refurbished side beams put back. Those side beams will be purely decorative on their return, but will return the Station Rd vista to what is has been for decades previous.

Thursday evening (26th May 2016) cleaning up:



Friday morning (27th May 2016), Station Road re-opened:

[Eliza]

Went under the now open space, where the bridge was.  It felt naked but only because I knew the area.  It's nice, if  surprising, that the old bridge's side beams are to be put back in place after refurbishment.