DD2584 Royal Docks Place & Connectivity Fees 2022-23

1.1    MD2338 approved expenditure of up to £212.5m for the Royal Docks EZ Delivery Plan to deliver an integrated and catalytic package of transport infrastructure, connectivity, economic development, placemaking, estate management and creative programming projects that will deliver the cohesive transformation of the Royal Docks and accelerate the delivery of EZ commercial space. This consists of a £155m capital and £57.5m revenue split to fund projects for the five-year delivery period from 2018-19 to 2022-23. DD2273, DD2297 and DD2312 approved investment in a series of projects including the production of a Place Strategy (Public Realm Framework).

1.2    The investment proposed in this decision is for the beginning of the implementation of the projects proposed in the Public Realm Framework. This Framework, which will be published on the Royal Docks website, has been developed by the architecture practice 5th Studio, and involved consultation with stakeholders and the community. The recent Delivery Plan and the Public Realm Framework are underpinned by a series of key objectives to support the EZ development. These include the following:

• Unlocking development: a priority for the Delivery Team is to support the successful delivery of the key development sites across the EZ. The sites at Royal Albert Dock, Albert Island and Silvertown Quays represent considerable private sector investment in the Royal Docks, and will need to be supported by a coordinated and comprehensive package of public investment in promotion, place-making, transport infrastructure and activation to help bring them to life. The work carried out under DD2273, DD2297 and DD2312 in 2019-20 included works to support these developments. The investment proposed in this decision are a further stage of that support.
• Maximising key gateways: another priority for the Delivery Team is to capitalise on the unique circumstances and assets in the Royal Docks to drive transformation. Three strategically important locations – the Custom House interchange (DLR and Elizabeth Line), London City Airport and Royal Victoria Dock – have been identified as important gateways to the Royal Docks. These will be a priority for intervention within the Delivery Plan period, with investment focused on enhancing the overall environment, offer and user experience. 
• Connecting corridors and communities: whilst the Royal Docks is well served in terms of transport infrastructure, with excellent road, rail and air links, the public realm offers very poor permeability (in terms of walking and cycling) across the different sites in the Royal Docks. Significant investment is required to ensure proper linkages, and safe and attractive routes between these areas; and to enable effective integration between existing and emerging communities. This is set out in the Public Realm Framework, and investment in 2019-20 began the process of improvement. The projects proposed in this decision will continue that.

2.1    The Delivery Plan sets out several projects across the Place and Connectivity themes that are priorities. Progress on these projects has been made in 2019-20 and 2021-22 – this decision seeks approval for investment for continued work in 2022-23. This DD sets out a request for a total of £150,000 in project management fees from the Delivery Plan, as set out below, and falls into the following categories:

• professional fees to support work at the Soldier of Orange Theatre site and Thames Barrier Park; and the demolition of Rank Hovis at Silvertown Quays (£125,000 revenue from the Place budget)
• design fees for new power connections into Thames Barrier Park (£25,000 budget, as above). 

Professional service fees

2.2    This decision is seeking approval for £150,000 revenue for professional services in addition to the previously granted £1.17m to support the above-outlined projects to supplement the project management and design capacity of the Royal Docks Team. 

2.3    The investment will be spent on the professional team to supervise the delivery of the below: 

• Soldier of Orange Theatre power supply: provision of two new sub-stations to complete the enabling works for a former derelict site between Advanced Business Park (ABP) and the University of East London to host the Soldier of Orange Theatre. 
• Thames Barrier Park power supply: a new power connection to support new lighting, power outlets and the ready-to-be-tenanted park café.
• Rank Hovis demolition at Silvertown Quays: a recently awarded demolition contract to demolish a structurally unsound warehouse. The completion of this work will form part of enabling Phase 2 of the Lendlease development, currently under way. 

2.4    The total fee envisaged to be spent on professional services is £125,000.

Design fees for the Thames Barrier Park power connection

2.5    Following a substantial upgrade to Thames Barrier Park including lighting provision, re-surfacing of pathways and inner park power connectivity, a new main power supply to the park itself, including to the recently refurbished café, is now needed. The GLA wishes to procure a team to undertake the detailed design of this connection to enable adequate integration into the existing power supply network.

2.6    The fee covering these design works is approx. £25,000. 

3.1    Under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 (the Equality Act), as a public authority, the GLA must have ‘due regard’ to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation; and to advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations, between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. Protected characteristics under the Equality Act comprise age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, and marriage or civil partnership status.

3.2    When considering the needs of the existing community and those that will be affected by the proposed projects outlined in this paper, any activity will look to minimise disadvantages to all protected characteristic groups within society. This decision is therefore not expected to have any negative impact on persons with a protected characteristic under the Equality Act.  
 
3.3    Equality impact assessments will be undertaken to ensure the relevant characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 are considered by the GLA. Impact assessments will determine whether any persons with protected characteristics will be unduly impacted by the activities anticipated by this DD and the course of action to mitigate any impacts.

4.1    There are no conflicts of interest to declare from anyone involved in the drafting or clearance of this Decision form.

Key Risks

4.2    The following are key risks to the Royal Docks EZ Delivery Plan that this decision will help to mitigate: 

5.1    This decision requests approval for up to £150,000 of expenditure from the Royal Docks EZ-approved budget, for 2022-23 Place and Connectivity programme as summarised in paragraph 2.1.

5.2    This expenditure will be funded from the £212.5m approved delivery plan budget confirmed in MD2338. 

6.1    Section 30 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (as amended) (GLA Act) gives the Mayor a general power to do anything that he considers will further one or more of the principal purposes of the GLA as set out in section 30(2). These are:

• promoting economic development and wealth creation in Greater London
• promoting social development in Greater London
• promoting the improvement of the environment in Greater London. 

6.2    In formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought, officers confirm they have complied with the GLA’s related statutory duties to:

• pay due regard to the principle that there should be equal opportunity for all people
• consider how the proposals will promote the improvement of health of persons in Greater London; promote the reduction of health inequalities between persons living in Greater London; contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom; and contribute towards the mitigation of or adaptation to climate change in the United Kingdom
• consult with appropriate bodies.

6.3    In exercising the power contained in section 30(1) of the GLA Act, the GLA must have regard to the matters set out in sections 30(3-5) and 33 of the GLA Act; and the Public Sector Equality Duty, set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 (as detailed in section 3).

6.4    This report indicates the GLA intends to procure goods, services and works. Section 9 of the GLA Contracts and Funding Code requires the GLA to engage with TfL Procurement and seek call-offs from a suitable framework where possible; or, if not, undertake a formal tender process to procure such goods, works or services with a value above £10,000 before the commencement of such supplies. 

6.5    As required under MD2338 (Royal Docks EZ Delivery Plan), GLA officers have taken advice to ensure that the works under this DD are capable of being delivered in a subsidy control compliant manner.