Decision details

1.     Chippenham Station Hub is a Local Growth Funded project delivered in partnership with the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP), for which Wiltshire Council is acting as Scheme Promotor and Accountable Body.

2.     In October 2016 a grant agreement for £16M was entered into with the SWLEP with WC acting as Accountable Body, i.e. acting as the accountable organisation for SWLEP.

3.     During the feasibility stage, an element of the Chippenham Station Hub work (parking intensification in the northern platform) was deemed unfeasible/poor value for and as such the total funding amount was reduced to £13M.

4.     This change in budget needs to be reflected in a revised funding agreement between the SWLEP and WC.

I give Approval to vary the existing Chippenham Station Hub funding agreement with SWLEP and replace it in its entirety with the terms of a new Agreement to reflect a revised funding amount.

This decision was published on 9 March 2021 and will come into force on 17 March 2021

Approval to vary the existing Chippenham Station Hub funding agreement with SWLEP and replace it in its entirety with the terms of a new Agreement to reflect a revised funding amount.

1.     A legal agreement for £16M is already in place between SWLEP and WC. This existing Grant Agreement shall be varied on and replaced in its entirety with the terms of a new Agreement.

2.     Not entering into a new agreement to reflect the revised funding amount could raise issues around transparency, accountability and compliance. 

1.     The Chippenham Station Hub project has been developed in consultation with the SWLEP who are funding the project, and Wiltshire Council. There has also been consultation with key stakeholders such as Network Rail, GWR, Trans Wilts, Local Councillors and the public.

2.     The legal agreement is being developed in consultation with Wiltshire Council’s legal team with input from GWR and the SWLEP.