APPENDIX 2 – SPECIFICATION

Grays Town Centre Urban Design

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................2

1.1 Required Services...............................................................................................................2

1.2 Background..........................................................................................................................3

1.3 Policy Context......................................................................................................................3

1.4 Progress Made to Date........................................................................................................4

1.5 The Site Areas.....................................................................................................................5

2. DETAILED REQUIREMENTS....................................................................................................6

2.1 General Requirements.........................................................................................................6

2.2 Deliverables.........................................................................................................................8

3. MANAGEMENT AND TIMESCALES........................................................................................10

4. QUALITY...................................................................................................................................10

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Required Services

1.1.1 Thurrock Council (the Council) wishes to appoint a consultant team (the Consultant) to provide:

i. Conceptual Urban Design for the creation of a high quality public realm based around a new pedestrian underpass to be created in partnership with Network Rail under the rail line in High Street Grays and associated public squares and development plots

ii. Detailed Urban Design based on the conceptual scheme to provide clear construction plans for implementation

1.1.2 The Council has ambitious plans to regenerate the town centre with housing, retail, promotion of an 18 hour economy, proposals for a new theatre, a destination park on the Thames riverfront, estate renewal, and a review of its own land holdings to identify how these could contribute to town centre regeneration. A development framework was adopted in March 2016 as a basis for coordination of the Council’s regeneration activities and this now requires a review to ensure that it reflects current circumstances and meets the requirements of planning guidance and regulations for inclusion in the emerging local plan.

1.1.3 The Council’s regeneration programme for Grays town centre recognises the importance of enhancing the public realm and the quality of accessibility into and around the town centre. This project will be the single most significant public realm initiative in Grays town centre and so will set a design approach for public realm improvements throughout the town centre.

1.1.4 An important element of the project is the creation of a pedestrian underpass to replace

the existing pedestrian level crossing in High Street Grays. The project will require substantial remodelling of the existing urban environment involving demolition and integration of the underpass with the town centre fabric, the rail station and the associated transport initiatives aimed at improving accessibility into and around the town centre.

1.1.5 The technical design of structures within Network Rail’s operational land area and associated structures, principally the underpass and access step/ramp structures, will be guided and evaluated by Network Rail’s appointed consultants who will use Network Rail’s Guidance for Rail Infrastructure Projects (GRIP) as the basis for their project management. The Consultant will therefore be required to work closely with the Network Rail team on this part of the Contract and to align process with Network Rails GRIP stages.

1.1.6 The broad scope of the Contract will be for the Consultant to provide an urban design that provides a high quality arrival point and meeting place at the heart of the town centre and establishes the measures needed to place the proposed underpass at the heart of a new integrated transport hub for bus, rail, taxis, pedestrians and cyclists. Particular attention will need to be given to addressing the concerns that many people have about using underpasses. The final module requires detailed construction/implementation drawings that fully coordinate with plans to be produced for the underpass and access steps/ramps to be produced by consultants appointed by Network Rail.

1.1.7 The anticipated capital cost of the project is c£9.1 million with land acquisition costs of c£4.5 million.

1.2 Background

1.2.1 Grays is the main town and the administrative centre for the borough of Thurrock. It is home to major public functions including the council offices, central police station, theatre, museum and main library.

1.2.2 After extensive public engagement, the Council adopted a vision for Grays in July 2013; A significant part of the Council’s vision for the town centre is to re-establish its connection with the River Thames; removing the barrier to pedestrian movement over the existing railway line is key to realising this ambition.

1.2.3 The existing level crossing provides the main pedestrian link between the town centre and a large part of its catchment area south of the London Fenchurch Street/Southend rail line, which includes large residential areas and major employers including South Essex College and the Council’s Civic Offices. The level crossing has been identified as one of the most dangerous in the Anglian area, consequently Network Rail would like to close the crossing as part of its national policy aimed at reducing accident risk on the rail network. Closure times at the crossing will increase significantly with anticipated growth in commercial rail traffic using the rail line. Consequently an alternative is required to remove the barrier to pedestrian movement.

1.2.4 In this context, the Contract will focus on:i. conceptual Urban Design for the town centre; andii. detailed design and implementation of proposals for a new pedestrian underpass,

public squares and development plots created within the project area

1.3 Policy Context

1.3.1 The Thurrock Economic Growth Strategy and the LDF core strategy identify Grays as one of the Borough’s Growth Hubs where regeneration activity will be focussed. The Council’s

adopted vision for the future of Grays identifies the importance of improving the quality of the public realm.

1.3.2 The LDF core strategy promotes Grays as a location for residential and commercial development and the importance of maintaining the viability of the town centre. The full text of the policies can be viewed on the Councils web site at;

https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/sites/default/files/assets/documents/core_strategy_adopted_2011_amended_2015.pdf

1.4 Progress Made to Date

Development Framework

1.4.1 In November 2017 the Council’s Cabinet agreed a refreshed development framework for the town centre which provides context for the projects in the Council’s programme for Grays. Further details setting out a broad approach for the Council’s regeneration activities can be seen on the Council’s web site at:

https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/sites/default/files/assets/documents/grays-town-centre-framework-201710-v02.pdf.

Thurrock Local Plan Design Strategy SPD

1.4.2 The Design Strategy was adopted in March 2017 and supports the implementation of Policy PMD2 of the core strategy. It sets out the Council’s approach to achieving the best quality design and can be viewed at:

https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/sites/default/files/assets/documents/designstrategy-planning-201703-v01.pdf

The Underpass Project

1.4.3 In 2013 the Council appointed Ramboll and Coe Design to consider options for replacing the level crossing, including the use of a bridge and alternative layouts for an underpass. This work identified an underpass as the preferred solution. This included consideration of design approaches, materials and furniture. Bell Philips Architects has assessed the development capacity of sites around the rail station. This work has recently been reviewed by Montagu Evans with Urban Initiative Studios as part of a development appraisal study. SKM/Jacobs has carried out a detailed assessment of transport issues around the town centre including pedestrian flows and assessments of the potential realignment of Crown Road to enable the underpass to be shortened. Volker Fitzpatrick/Atkins was appointed by Network Rail to work with the Council to develop a preferred approach for the underpass which was completed earlier this year. Extracts of these studies will be available, if requested.

1.4.4 The Council is currently working with Network Rail to scope the next, more detailed, design stage of the project (GRIP Stage 3 – Option Selection). However, a revisit of the principles of the project is being undertaken at the time of writing.

1.4.5 In February 2017 the Council received confirmation that it would receive funding for the project from the Local Growth Fund which completed the funding package. In April 2017 the Council’s Cabinet determined that the project should now be implemented, the report can be viewed here at no.128.

1.5 The Site Areas

The Town Centre

1.5.1 The town centre area identified in the Development Framework is shown on plan in Appendix 2A: The study area for design guidance is highlighted on the plan below and shall focus on High Street from the war memorial at the north end to the River Thames in the south, Orsett Road, London Road, Clarenace Road and George Street and include the linkages from the town centre to Grays Beach Park and Seabrooke Rise Estate.

Grays Rail Station and Underpass

1.5.2 The main area for consideration is shown on the plan in Appendix 2B. However it is recognised that a broader area may need to be considered to ensure that the project is properly integrated with the wider town centre, particularly in relation to the bus terminus adjacent to the west and the impact on Crown Road to the east. The Council and Network Rail own much of the site, the Council has undertaken to acquire the remainder. For the purposes of this Contract the consultant should assume that the Council will control the land required for delivery.

1.5.3 South Essex College opened to the south of the site in 2014 and included a new public square at the main entrance to the college. The rest of the area either reflects changes in the 1960’s/70’s or public realm schemes in the 1990’s which are showing their age.

1.5.4 The bus station, taxi ranks, and ‘kiss and drop’ facilities are located close to the rail station. However accessibility is limited via steps and ramps with hand rails. The underpass will require changes to these relationships and to the flow of pedestrian movements between these facilities, the town centre, and south of the rail line which must be addressed by the Consultant.

1.5.5 Crown Road may be realigned to enable the length of the underpass to be reduced, options considered are in Section 3. The Council would also like to see the rail station relocated closer to the High Street. This has not been agreed with Network Rail and C2C at present, however the Consultant’s design approach will need to illustrate how these variations can be accommodated.

2. DETAILED REQUIREMENTS

2.1 General Requirements

Module 1: Design Guidance

2.1.1 The Council’s programme to regenerate Grays town centre includes: An underpass to replace a surface level crossing of the rail line in High Street and

associated development. Reconnecting the town centre with its riverfront and creating a destination in riverside

open space. Replacing the existing theatre Accommodating housing growth Changes to the road network and improvements in accessibility for pedestrians and

cyclists

2.1.2 The Consultant will provide design guidance that provides coordinating context for schemes that are likely to proceed at different times. The guidance will; Shape local distinctiveness and connectivity through quality developments and

attractive public realm. Facilitate mixed uses in suitable density that is sensitive to the town centre context Maximise the value of the Council assets and cultural uses in the town centre Identify opportunities for creating active and continuous frontage Utilise pedestrian-friendly materials and human scale Encourage street-level life Improve accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists Control parking behaviour and soften parking facilities

Module 2: Underpass Project

2.1.3 The project was established to address safety issues at the level crossing and to enhance the public realm in response to improvements introduced with the construction of South Essex College’s Thurrock Campus located to the south of the rail line. However the focus to date has been on technical design and establishing project feasibility. While some consideration has been given to design approaches, little work has been carried out to develop a detailed, deliverable approach to the public realm. This Consultant will provide a robust, cost effective, high quality scheme to support the delivery of the project and to develop the approach to the transport interchange elements of the project.

2.1.4 The Consultant will provide the Council with a clear approach to designing the public realm to be created within the site, an indicative cost for implementation and maintenance of the scheme and guidance on how the design approach could be applied to the rest of the town centre.

2.1.5 This part of the Contract will be split in to two parts. The main focus will be the creation of a high quality, thoughtfully planned and designed public realm coordinated with appropriate uses of space and built forms to provide attractive active spaces. To achieve this, the Consultant needs to: Provide a high quality arrival point and meeting place around the rail station/bus

interchange that effectively integrates the projects in to the town centre Integrate the underpass, rail station/bus garage/taxi ranks/kiss and drop and pedestrian

movements in to the public realm Provide public squares suitable for a range of uses including street cafes, street

markets and entertainment Strengthen the connectivity and legibility of the town centre as one of a series of linked

open spaces from the war memorial at the north end of the High Street, past South Essex College to the River Thames south of the site

Establish a distinctive design style that will enhance local character and lead enhancements throughout the town centre and set standards that can applied to other schemes and locations throughout the town centre

Incorporate sustainable strategies wherever possible Meet accessibility requirements (Equalities Act) Accommodate access and servicing requirements for remaining occupiers and

anticipated future developments

2.1.6 As part of the design process the Consultant will undertake public engagement including engagement with the Grays Town Management Partnership and any necessary consultation with statutory consultees.

2.1.7 The Consultant will provide alternative designs to address the following circumstances; Crown Road remains in its current position Crown Road is moved 10 metres southwards (SKM drawing) The rail station remains in its current position The rail station is moved closer to High Street/underpass

2.1.8 It is essential that proposals are practical and feasible. The Council will therefore need an understanding of the implementation & maintenance costs, and reassurance that engineering aspects of the design are achievable (see Appendix 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E for early feasibility options). Design for the relocation of the public highway of Crown Road must meet appropriate standards. The Council will therefore need other appropriate professional support to complete the commission.

2.1.9 The Consultant will be required to work closely with Network Rail’s team to ensure a consistent, integrated approach.

2.2 Deliverables

Module 1: Town Centre Design Guidance

2.2.1 The Consultant will provide strategic design guidance, the main focus of which will be the town centre retail areas, gateways in to the town centre, and linkages from the town centre to the riverfront; Circulation Frameworki. A circulation schematic diagram demonstrating buses, cars, taxi, bicycles and

pedestrians movements are all accommodated and well-coordinatedii. Narratives for traffic management focusing on how the walkability and accessibility

can be improved Landscape Frameworki. A landscape illustrative plan showing how all the landscape elements work together

with good transition to the proposed underpass. ii. An integrated utility framework including electric, drainage, water supplies for

irrigation and development, CCTV and Wifi coverage cross the space Architectural Design Frameworki. A site plan showing the building outlines are defined to satisfy the space

requirements of future uses both practically and aestheticallyii. Indicative building uses Development Frameworki. A detailed urban design illustrative planii. A project list with phasing strategy

2.2.2 The study area is shown on the plan in Appendix 2B

Module 2: Underpass Project

Module 2A: Site Assessment

2.2.3 Project development is at an early stage and construction phasing plans have not yet been developed. It may be that Crown Road needs to be moved before the underpass is constructed. If this is the case the design elements of this element would need to run ahead of the rest of the scheme design.

2.2.4 The Consultant will provide a definition of opportunities and constraints, including a contextual urban design study of the wider town centre and a detailed assessment of the site.

2.2.5 Outputs from this module will include; i. Scaled plans to illustrate the opportunities and constraints (2 hard copies, PDF and

CAD).ii. A narrative to explain the opportunities and constraints and initial ideas to address

these (2 hard copies and PDF)

Module 2B: Concept Design

2.2.6 This Module will commence following approval of module 2A by the Council’s project manager. The Consultant will develop 3 concept design options (listed below) including alternative layouts based on different scenarios relating to the location of the rail station and Crown Road explained elsewhere in this brief and supported by recommended layouts based on a matrix of the pros and cons of each scenario.i. A detailed review of option 4 selected from the GRIP2 Design Stageii. A variation of this approach, using the space available to minimise gradients and the

length of ramps in relation to direct walking distance.iii. An approach based on gradually tapering the High Street over a longer distance to

remove the need for circuitous ramp access.

2.2.7 The output from this module will include; i. A narrative setting out and explaining the approach ii. Scaled plans to illustrate the alternative layouts (2 hard copies, PDF and CAD).iii. A matrix setting out the pros and cons of each approach including cost estimates.

Module 2C: Detailed and Technical Design

2.2.8 This Module will start following approval of module 2B by the Council’s project manager. The Consultant will provide a detailed design development of the preferred layout.

2.2.9 The Consultant will provide construction plans for all parts of the scheme not designed by Network Rail. This stage would coincide with Network Rails GRIP4 and 5 stages.

2.2.10 The Consultant, once appointed, will submit the following listed drawings with keys and legends in suitable scales supported by explanatory text. The final submission will include 2 hard copies of the design reports, PDFs of both high quality and emailable size, and drawings in original digital formats (CADs, Illustrators, Sketchups) and include:

Detailed Circulation Frameworki. Pedestrian movement diagrams (plans and sections) showing how the horizontal

and vertical movement of different user groups (shoppers, commuters, visitors and residents) are orchestrated within the space

ii. A detailed plan for an efficient/convenient transport interchange as an integrated part of the design within the preferred layout

iii. A detailed plan showing temporary parking and drop-offs for taxi and cars, and access for emergency vehicles and bullion vans

iv. Detailed plan and sections showing the street modification for Crown Road as an integral part of the design

v. A facilities plan for bicycles such as racks or shelters

Detailed Landscape Frameworki. A landscape illustrative plan showing how all the landscape elements work together

with good transition to the proposed underpass. The plan should include levels across the space to the adjoining building frontage

ii. A site planning schematic diagram showing street furniture, pavilions, public art, and play equipment are well spaced for a arrange of outdoor activities

iii. Illustrative landscape sections showing how level changes are resolved intelligently iv. A soft landscape layout following with a list of recommended plantsv. A paving plan vi. materials and colour palettes for the recommended street furniture, pavement, play

and lighting equipmentvii. Sustainable lighting design strategy including selection of lighting equipment, lux

levels, lighting timeline and locations from both practical and aesthetically point of view

viii. A signage and way-finding guide ix. An integrated utility framework including electric, drainage, water supplies for

irrigation and development, CCTV and Wifi coverage cross the space

Architectural Design Frameworki. plans and sections ii. Ground floor plan showing main and service entrances, uses and levelsiii. Site elevations and sections showing indicative façade grid and massing strategy iv. A material palette and related design guide for the detailed architectural design

development

A Development Framework

i. The detailed briefs for delivering the sequential design and constructions for the proposed projects in Module 1. Each project brief should include but not limit to project concept, objectives, design criteria, outcome and cost estimate

ii. Maintenance and management strategy that addresses ownership and availability of spares/replacements/cost in the long term

iii. A facility coordination strategy for Wifi, CCTV, electric, street signage and bins to ensure the placement and design of these facilities become integral part of the entire design from an early stage

2.2.11 The Consultant’s plans will be supported by narrative to explain;i. The approach and how it addresses the requirements of the brief including a

breakdown cost estimateii. Stakeholder engagement and how it informs the approach.

3. MANAGEMENT AND TIMESCALES

3.1 The Council’s Projects and Programmes Manager will be the Project Director with overall responsibility for the Contract. Day to day contact will be through the Council’s Project Manager and Programme Manager who will be responsible for day to day management of the commission. The Council’s team will also include the Council’s Transport Development Manager and Senior Design Coordinator.

3.2 In addition to regular liaison meetings with the Project Manager/Programme Manager, the Consultant will also need to meet on a more formal basis with the Council’s Project Director in order to review the progress of the Contract.

3.3 The Consultant will also be required to attend the Council’s Grays Programme Board meetings, chaired by the Corporate Director for Environment and Place to discuss the proposed approaches.

3.4 The Council will make staged payments to the Consultant throughout the Contract on satisfactory completion of each module and a final payment against the satisfactory completion of the Contract. Each stage must be signed-off by the Project Directors.

3.5 Network Rail will manage their parts of the project in accordance with their Governance of Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) Policy, a summary can be found on Network Rails web site here and a full copy can be made available on request.

3.6 Network Rail will lead the technical design of the structures set in the context of an urban design approach established through this Contract. The design stages required for the underpass will need to align with Network Rails GRIP stages and the Consultant will be required to work closely with Network Rail’s Design Team. For this reason the timeframe for Module 2 may differ to those relating to the wider town centre so allowance will need to be made for this in tender submissions and project management.

4. QUALITY

4.1 The Council would expect the Consultant to provide an appropriately qualified urban designer or landscape architect to lead on the Contract.

4.2 It is essential that the output from the commission can be delivered. The Council would therefore expect the designer to be supported by appropriately qualified and experienced engineering and project costing expertise.

APPENDIX 2A: Study Area Plan

See separate document

APPENDIX 2B: Provisional Site Area

See separate document

APPENDIX 2C: Crown Road Relocation_ feasibility work 1

See separate document

APPENDIX 2D: Crown Road Relocation_ feasibility work 2

See separate document

APPENDIX 2E: Crown Road Relocation_ feasibility work 3

See separate document

APPENDIX 2F: Crown Road Relocation_ feasibility work 4

See separate document

APPENDIX 2G: Crown Road Relocation_ feasibility work 5

See separate document