Decision details

Dave Colbert, Specialist Advisor - Transportation, Lancashire County Council, accompanied by James Steer from the consultants Jacobs, presented a report on the independent assurance of the Strategic Outline Business Case for the Furthergate Link Road scheme funding application.

The scheme comprised a new link road and associated junction improvements in the A678 corridor linking Blackburn town centre with the M65 Junction 6 at Whitebirk.  

It was reported that the existing highway network in this corridor operates close to capacity, with high volumes of traffic resulting in congestion and unreliable journey times as well as creating environmental issues for local residents. It was noted that in addition to addressing these problems, the scheme would unlock new areas of land for potential development.

The scheme is predicted to deliver very high value for money with a benefit to cost ratio of 9.97, and has the potential to generate a further £630,000 (2010 prices discounted) of wider economic benefits on average per annum over the 60-year appraisal period arising from the development of employment sites that the scheme would unlock.  

The total cost for the scheme is expected to be £3.96m (2018 Quarter 1 prices), funded through a maximum £3.44m contribution from the Local Growth Fund through the Lancashire Growth Deal and a £520,000 contribution from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.  It was reported orally that Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's S151 officer had provided a letter confirming the council's commitment to provide the local contribution to fund the balance between the allocated Growth Deal Funding and the scheme cost.

Having undertaken independent assurance of the Strategic Outline Business Case on behalf of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Jacobs advised that they were satisfied thatthe project had been developed to the expected standard and recommended that funding approval be granted  to enable construction to begin in June 2018.

Resolved: That the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board be recommended to grant the scheme a maximum of £3.44m Growth Deal funding at its next meeting on 26^th June 2018.