The Director of Place Management has decided to approve a project with potential impact on local stakeholders and political considerations.

URL: https://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=2482

Decision Maker: Director of Place Management

Outcome: Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: The council is submitting a bid to the Department for Transport (DfT) Structures Fund to secure capital funding for the maintenance and renewal of highway structures within Bath city centre. The proposed scheme relates to the essential structural maintenance and renewal of concrete slabs located above vaults beneath the highway. These assets are integral to the structural integrity of the carriageway and footways above. Their deterioration presents an increasing risk to the reliable operation of the highway network. Securing external funding would enable the council to take a proactive, preventative approach to asset management, addressing known structural issues before they lead to more significant failure. This aligns with the council’s asset management strategy by: • reducing the risk of unplanned reactive interventions and emergency works • extending the useful life of critical highway infrastructure • improving long-term value for money and resilience of the highway network The scheme also supports the council’s climate and carbon reduction objectives. By maintaining these structures and avoiding unplanned closures or restrictions, the council can: • minimise traffic congestion and diversionary routes, which contribute to increased vehicle emissions • support continued use of public transport, walking and cycling routes, enabling lower-carbon travel choices • avoid carbon-intensive emergency repairs and repeated interventions In addition, the proposals contribute to climate resilience, ensuring that key routes remain operational and are better able to withstand the impacts of more frequent extreme weather events. Maintaining these structures supports network reliability and reduces the likelihood of disruption to communities and the local economy. Failure or closure of these routes would have a significant impact, including: • disruption to public transport services and key bus corridors • severance of walking and cycling routes • reduced accessibility to the city centre for residents, businesses and visitors The Council does not currently have sufficient resources within existing capital programmes to fully address these structural issues at the scale required. External funding is therefore being sought to enable the necessary works to be delivered. The submission of this bid has been developed in line with DfT guidance and is supported by the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Delivery, confirming alignment with the Council’s policy priorities. If the bid is successful, the Director will act as Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for the delivery of the programme. The bid will not be submitted unless it has been signed off by the S151 Officer. Risks: A key condition of the Fund is that works need to be completed by the end of March 2030. The council’s bid has factored in what is considered to be a realistically deliverable programme of works within the timescales available. If the council’s bid is successful, the funding allocated from the DfT will be fixed. This means any additional unplanned costs would need to be funded by the council. The programming and scope of the works would be planned with sufficient contingency to avoid this happening. The council will be able to take on board experience from undertaking similar works currently being carried out in Manvers Street, Bath.

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Date of Decision: July 31, 2026