CD147 - Construction and Delivery of the Old Oak Lan Towpath Access

In September 2019 OPDC published its Canal Placemaking Study, funded by the Mayor of London's Good Growth Fund Round 1, which sets out a coherent vision and placemaking principles for the Grand Union Canal in Old Oak and Park Royal. The study identifies the opportunity to deliver quick with public realm improvements at key access points to demonstrate and establish the canal's value, including a new access at Old Oak Lane to the canal towpath.

To deliver the projects set out in the Canal Placemaking Study, OPDC was awarded £1,200,000 of capital funding in December 2018 from the Good Growth Fund 2, which was approved by the OPDC Board on 26 September 2019. Of this funding, £250,000 was allocated to design and deliver the Project. Subsequently, up to £150,000 has been allocated to the Project, which was originally intended to fund an open-access boaters and cycle repair workshop proposal in Harlesden, but which now cannot be delivered. This reallocation of funding has been agreed with the GLA.

Expenditure of Good Growth Fund Round 2 funding for consultancy fees to design the new towpath access and for technical services, such as site surveys and approvals, were approved under CD128 and DD129 respectively. DKCM architects were appointed on 29 April 2020 as design consultants for the Project through RIBA Stage 0 (inception) to RIBA Stage 6 )project completion) under a call-off contract GLA 80868/Task 1040 through the GLA Architecture Design + Urbanism Panel (ADUP) Framework.

DKCM have now produced the design for the new towpath access and planning permission was granted on 17 November 2020 following determination by the OPDC Planning Committee under OPDC's Scheme of Delegation. The project is now being mobilised for delivery, with construction programmed to begin in May 2021.

The proposal and how it will be delivered

The construction of the new Project will be led by the London Borough of Ealing (LB Ealing) and delivered through their framework contractor for highways and public realm works. The new towpath access will provide a stepped and step-free access from Old Oak Lane to the canal towpath that is compliant with modern accessibility standards.

A grant agreement will be put in place between OPDC and LB Ealing to transfer the construction budget of up to £360,000 of Good Growth Round 2 funding. LB Ealing will lead the construction of the towpath access and appoint its own contractors from its framework for similar works. LB Ealing is the Highway Authority for Old Oak Lane to which this canal towpath access joins.

DKCM will continue in their appointed role as lead consultant and designer's during the construction of the Project under the existing call-off contract. This approval includes an additional £35,000 for work including stakeholder design liaison and approvals (Network Rail, National Grid, Canal & River Trust) and construction stage design assurance.

Before construction begins, LB Ealing and their framework contractor will be required to provide the final construction budget including requirements for contingency. LB Ealing's contractor will also be providing pre-construction services, on-site set-up, health and safety and early site clearance works. This decision will authorise up to £5,000 from OPDC's Delivery budget for these services.

The Project aims to improve connectivity and access to the Grand Union Canal for existing and future communities by providing a new stepped and step-free access from Old Oak Lane to the canal towpath. The new towpath access will comply with modern standards of accessibility and replace the existing non-compliant ramp so that the canal will be accessible to all. The project will also upgrade the overall space to deliver high-quality public realm and enrich the wildlife of the area.

The design of the new towpath access has been guided by the following key principles:

• To be accessible for nature and people;
• To be explorative, interactive and playable;
• To make use of local materials and skills; and
• To celebrate the canal and its character.

Strategic fit

The Project forms part of OPDC's 'In the Making' initiative, incorporating OPDC workstreams which are delivering creative projects and activities benefiting local communities and creating a new public life and a sense of place across Old Oak and Park Royal in the next 1-5 years.

The overarching objectives of 'In the Making' are:

• Delivering everyday improvements and opportunities with and for local people;
• Growing initiatives which will shape successful places; and
• Celebrating and promoting what makes Old Oak and Park Royal special.

The 'In the Making' capital projects form part of the OPDC's wider delivery approach of Accelerated Delivery.

The Grand Union Canal is to be a defining feature of the OPDC area and delivering improved connections to the canal from surrounding areas is a key aim set out in OPDC's Local Plan. This Project is set to be the first of such canalside improvement projects delivered in the OPDC area. It will enhance accessibility of the canal for existing and future communities.

The Grand Union Canal is also a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and the OPDC Local Plan seeks to enhance the ecological value of the canal. The new access will be accompanied by rich planting and landscaping that aims to create a mini nature reserve.

OPDC must have 'due regard' to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation as well as to the need to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

The new towpath access has been designed to comply with modern standards of accessibility, particularly BS8300-12018. The proposal will provide improved access to all, irrespective of specific needs or requirements and will replace existing non-compliant access.

During construction, OPDC, LB Ealing and CRT will work together to ensure minimal disruption to users of the canal towpath and ensure any diversion routes, if required, are appropriately provided for and communicated to the public.

Project governance and assurance

LB Ealing will lead the construction and delivery of the Project. LB Ealing have requested that the funding for the construction budget be transferred in advance of the construction works. With the advance transfer of funds, OPDC will receive monthly monitoring reports outlining spend and deliverables achieved during the period. These monitoring reports will be signed and approved by the Head of Highways for LB Ealing. OPDC will also use DKCM to independently inspect the works as design guardians.

OPDC will have regular meetings with LB Ealing during the construction programme to monitor progress.

OPDC will continue to project manage DKCM during the construction of the Project to delivery. DKCM will attend the regular progress meeting with LB Ealing to ensure works accord with contract documents and answer any queries from the contractor. From OPDC, the Senior Responsible Officer is the Development Director and the Project Lead is the Principal Project Manager.

Management and maintenance of the site after the Project has been delivered will be the responsibility of the Canal & River Trust (CRT) as landowners. This has been agreed in writing by CRT. The soft landscaping will be maintained for three-years by the contractor to ensure planting establishment, after which CRT will maintain the landscaping. CRT will also attend the regular progress meeting.

Risks and issues

Other considerations

Originally Good Growth Round 2 funding was to be spent by March 2021. However, OPDC can continue the Project during the financial year 2021/22 due to an extension to the spending deadline of one year to March 2022 to take into account project delays resulting from COVID-19. This project was affected by the national lockdown in April-May 2020 when on site surveys were not able to be completed.

Conflict of interest

No one involved in the preparation or clearance of this Form, or its substantive proposal, has any conflict of interest.

Expenditure of up to £360,000 to be financed by Good Growth Round 2 capital funding in 2021/22, and of up to £40,000 on design and construction consultancy services in 2020/21 to mobilise the project for consultation, drawn from the OPDC's Delivery revenue budget.

Further expenditure and contract variations are subject to the Corporation's decision-making process.

All procurement must be undertaken in line with the Corporation's Procurement Guidance and the Contracts and Funding Code is adhered to.

The report above indicated that the decision requested of the Chief Executive falls within OPDC's objectives of securing the regeneration of the Old Oak and Park Royal area and its powers to do anything it considers appropriate for the purpose of its objects or purposes incidental to those purposes, as set out in the Localism Act 2011.

In taking the decisions requested, the Chief Executive must have due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty; namely the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010 and to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic (race, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity and gender reassignment) and persons who do not share it (section 149 of the Equality Act 2010). To this end, the Chief Executive should have particular regard to section 6 (above) of this report.

Paragraph 2 above indicates that the contribution of funding to LB Ealing will amount to the provision of grant funding and not payment for services. Officers must ensure that an appropriate funding agreement is put in place between and executed by the OPDC and to LB Ealing before any commitment to fund is made.

The officers have also indicated in section 2 that the services required are within the scope of the existing call-off contract with the service provider (NO. GLA 80868/Tasks 1040). Officers must ensure that the appropriate contract mechanism for instructing the services is followed and required documentation is put in place when instructing the services.