Decision details

The Lancashire County Council Cabinet of 7th April 2022 approved the progression of the Burnley Manchester Road Railway Station Access for All Improvement project under a collaboration arrangement with Burnley Borough Council and with Network Rail for design development.

Cabinet approved the waiver of the County Council's procurement rules to allow a direct award of a contract to Network Rail and also authorisation to the Director of Highways and Transport, in consultation with the Director of Corporate Services and the then Director of Finance, to agree and finalise the terms of the agreements with Burnley Borough Council and Network Rail.

Network Rail have completed the PACE Engineering Stage (ES) 3 Option Selection stage of project development with a Work Options Form highlighting footbridge and lift details alongside revised programme and costs.

A Project Adjustment Request process has recently been agreed by the main funder, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to vary the delivery timescales and scope of the Burnley Manchester Road Railway Station Project.

The project is now ready to proceed to the next stage of design development with Network Rail (Engineering Stage 4 Single Option Development and Engineering Stage 5 Detailed Design) and requires the sign-off of a new Development Services Agreement and a variation to the previously agreed collaboration arrangement with Burnley Borough Council, to allow funds to transfer on a commitment basis to cover project expenditure. 

It has previously been agreed that any project overspends and any implications arising from late / non-delivery of the project would remain the responsibility of Burnley Borough Council and this continues to be the case.

Matt Townsend, Director of Highways and Transport, in consultation with the Heloise McAndrew, Director of Law and Governance, and Noel O'Neill, Interim Director of Finance and Commerce, took the decision to approve; 

(i)  The Development Services Agreement with Network Rail to undertake the Burnley Manchester Road: Access for All enhancements to PACE Engineering Stage 4 and Engineering Stage 5

(ii)  The variation to the collaboration agreement between Burnley Borough Council and Lancashire County Council relating to Burnley Manchester Road Railway Station to allow funds to transfer on a commitment basis to cover project expenditure.