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Irvine Cycle Friendly Town Study All Ayrshire Roads & Transportation Professional Services Framework Agreement Consultants Brief

North Ayrshire Council Development Plans and Regeneration

Development Planning Services Cunninghame House

Irvine Ayrshire

KA12 8EE

Irvine Cycle Friendly Town Study – North Ayrshire Council

ICFT Consultants Brief - 1 -

Contents Page

1. Introduction

1.1 Background Information 2

1.2 Project Aims 3

1.3 Project outcomes 3

1.4 Location 4

1.5 Physical Features 4

1.6 Designations and Constraints 4

2. Study Specification

2.1 Key Tasks 5

2.2 Essential Consultations 5

2.3 Salient Features 5

2.4 Requirements 5

3. Supporting Information

3.1 Reference Documents 6

3.2 Path Information 6

3.3 Key Contacts 6

3.4 Other Relevant Information 6

4. Output

4.1 Reporting 7

4.2 Content 7

4.3 Format 7

4.4 Publicity 7

4.5 Format 7

5. Timetable and Selection Procedure

5.1 Project timetable 9

5.2 Tender Submission 9

5.3 Selection Procedure 9

5.4 Freedom of information 9

6. Requirements of the Tender

6.1 Experience 10

6.2 Project team 10

6.3 Work programme 10

6.4 Methodology 10

6.5 Outputs 10

6.6 Requirements of Appointment 10

6.7 Legal and Financial Requirements 11

6.8 Price 11

7. Contact details

7.1 Client 12

7.2 Partner Organisations 12



1. Introduction North Ayrshire Council and partners have submitted a successful funding application to Sustrans Scotland as part of the Community Links grant scheme funded by the Scottish Government for the production of the Irvine Cycle Friendly Town Study. The aim is to identify a programme of recommendations to make active travel a viable option for everyday journeys in and around Irvine, encourage modal shift to cycling and promote Irvine as a Cycle Friendly Town. This will add value to the works already undertaken in relation to sustainable travel and outdoor access in Irvine and North Ayrshire as a whole and will provide the basis to prepare funding applications for the implementation of the recommendations. 1.1 Background Information The Cycling Action Plan for Scotland (CAPS) provides the vision for the development and delivery of cycling across Scotland and sets the national objective that by 2020 10% of all journeys be undertaken by bike. The Council and partners recognise that cycling has an important role to play in contributing to the health and wellbeing of those who live, work and visit its towns and villages and the benefits that it can provide to the local environment and economy. The benefits of cycling for both individuals and the community are well documented however there are actual as well as perceived barriers to participation. The production of this Study aims to identify the actual and perceived barriers to cycling for everyday journeys in and around Irvine and identify a programme of works to address these and make active travel a viable and attractive option. Irvine is located on the south west coast of Scotland within North Ayrshire Council’s administrative boundary. Located on the Firth of Clyde, Irvine is the largest settlement in North Ayrshire in terms of population and operates as the main commercial centre for the area. As a former New Town, Irvine benefits from an extensive path and open space network however it is recognised that the network is not utilised to its full potential and reliance on the car persists resulting in parking pressure in town centre locations. The area is well served by the longer distance National Cycle Network (NCN) with two routes passing through Irvine. The path network has predominantly been mapped through the Core Paths planning process completed by the Council and North Ayrshire Outdoor Access Forum in 2009. There is limited on road provision for cycling for example there are a limited number of advance stop lines and limited provision for cycling along most bus routes. Access to employment opportunities is a key priority for the area. The most recent unemployment counts undertaken in September 2012 highlight that 7.3% of the population in Irvine are currently claiming unemployment benefits which is significantly higher than the Scottish average of 4.0%. Youth unemployment is also a significant issue for the area with almost a third of those unemployed being aged between 18 and 24 years old. Car ownership levels are lower in Irvine with 38.09% not owning or having access to a car or van in comparison with 34.23% across Scotland as a whole. Improving active travel opportunities to business, retail and other employment areas and integrating the active travel and public transport network more efficiently will provide more equitable access to employment opportunities. Improving the health and wellbeing of the local community is also a key priority. The North Ayrshire Community Health Partnership Profile 2010 highlighted that North Ayrshire is worse than the national average in almost half of the 59 health indicators used. Making active travel an attractive option for everyday journeys and encouraging participation in cycling will provide low cost opportunities for local communities to be more active more often and integrate physical activity into everyday life. The modal share for cycling in terms of cycling to work or study is slightly higher in Irvine at 1.51% in comparison to 1.44% across Scotland as a whole however this is still substantially less than the 10% proposed by CAPS. Despite lower levels of car ownership a larger proportion of journeys to work or study are made by car (52.88%) in Irvine in comparison with across Scotland as a whole (50.03%) and only 9.29% of journeys to work or study are made on foot in comparison with 14.07% across Scotland as a whole. Improving the modal share for active travel will not only improve health and wellbeing, the local environment but will in turn assist in addressing the town centre parking pressures currently experienced within Irvine.



Improving the active travel network within Irvine will not only provide improved opportunities for local communities it will also make the area more attractive and accessible for visitors. The town currently links to three long distance routes: NCN Route 7, NCN Route 73 and the Ayrshire Coastal Path. Making the town more permeable and attractive to cyclists and walkers will encourage tourists to visit local attractions, make longer stays and increase revenue spend with local service providers and attractions. 1.2 Project Aims The aim is to identify a programme of recommendations to make active travel a viable option for everyday journeys in and around Irvine, encourage modal shift to cycling and promote Irvine as a Cycle Friendly Town. The Study will then be utilised to inform funding applications to implement the recommendations identified.

1.3 Project Outcomes The main outcome of the project is the development of the Study, which will: • Consult with the local community and stakeholders to identify the current and latent demand for cycling

and walking for everyday journeys in Irvine and provide recommendations on how to realise latent demand

• Consult with the local community and stakeholders to identify the perceived and actual barriers to cycling and walking in Irvine and provide recommendations to address these barriers

• Examine the current infrastructure provision on the path network for example signage, seating and cycle parking and provide detailed recommendations for any improvements or additional requirements to the network

• Examine the current path network and provide detailed recommendations for any improvements or additional requirements to the network including traffic-free and on-road opportunities

• Develop a spatial representation of where the different guidelines and design standards should be used when designing streets

• Identify ‘easy wins’. Projects of a high standard that would have minimal affect on traffic, parking, utilities and land ownership, but which would encourage everyday journeys by bike and foot

• Identify opportunities to integrate the recommendations identified for the above into wider regeneration or redevelopment projects in particular the interface between cycle routes, public realm and roads network

• Identify proposals which do not adversely affect the land management or other interests of the relevant landowners/managers/tenants

• Identify active travel opportunities to the major centres of employment (as detailed in Section 1.4 Location) and provide detailed recommendations on how to provide for and promote active travel to/from these locations including the identification of potential link routes where required

• Identify the key trip generators throughout Irvine and provide recommendations on how to provide for and promote and encourage active travel to/from these locations

• Identify potential benefits of promoting Irvine as a Cycle Friendly Town • Minimise wherever practical the future maintenance burden of cycling opportunities on the Council or

other landowners • Prepare recommendations on the number of cycle parking spaces and other cycling provision that should

be included in new developments • Prepare specifications for any new infrastructure, new sections of path or the upgrade of existing paths

to an all abilities and multi user standard in line with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and the identified reference documents (Section 3.1)

• Prepare specifications on ways to overcome physical constraints such as carriageway widths and layouts typical to Irvine

• Provide a range of recommendations to create and promote a joined up transport network for Irvine by linking active travel and public transport opportunities which contributes to the development of the Central Scotland Green Network and improves integrated transport opportunities

• Provide a range of recommendations to encourage participation, maximise the cycling modal share and promote cycling for everyday journeys to local communities

• Reduce reliance on private cars for everyday journeys thereby reducing parking pressure • Take account of and incorporate where appropriate good practice from other successful active travel

projects



1.4 Location The Study area is the settlement of Irvine as detailed in Appendix A. For the purposes of this Study, Eglinton Country Park which is situated between Irvine and Kilwinning has been included within the Study area. The Country Park is recognised as a key location for local communities and visitors and is therefore a significant trip generator. The major centres of employment in terms of the Study are Ayrshire Central Hospital, I3, Irvine Town Centre and Newmoor Industrial Estate. 1.5 Physical Features The Study area includes a wide range of natural and cultural heritage designations. There are a wide range of land uses within the area including agricultural, commercial, industrial, mixed, recreational, residential and retail use. There is a significant level of vacant and derelict land within the Study area. 1.6 Designations and Constraints The study should take account of: • Any locally or nationally significant cultural heritage designations • Any locally or nationally significant land designations including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

and Sites of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC) • Coastal protection, drainage and flooding issues and associated good practice guidance • Good practice guidance in relation to active travel and its promotion • Good practice guidance in relation to path construction • Good practice guidance and policy in relation to street design and place making • Good practice guidance in relation to road safety audits, in particular the guidance or standards

appropriate context • Existing Studies, new developments or regeneration projects proposed within Irvine • The Core Paths and wider path networks identified through the development of the Core Paths Plan • The land management/ownership interests potentially affected by any proposals. Information on this

will be supplied by the client where available. • The potential use of materials in keeping with the natural environment in particular locally sourced and

environmental friendly materials where appropriate • The relevant aims and objectives of the North Ayrshire Outdoor Access Strategy • The requirements of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 • The rights of responsible access for the public and reciprocal obligation to manage land responsibly for

outdoor access placed on landowners under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003



2. Study Specification 2.1 Key Tasks The consultant appointed for this study will be required to prepare a Study based on the outcomes identified in Section 1.3 Project Outcomes. Extensive public engagement and consultation exercises are required to inform the development of the Study. This will include public consultation exercises to establish the current and latent demand for and identify the perceived and actual barriers to cycling. It will also include public consultation in relation to the draft Study including the recommendations identified. It is envisaged that these exercises should include but not be limited to public consultation events and surveys. 2.2 Essential Consultations The consultations undertaken in preparing the Study are required to include the following organisations and individuals. These are categorised as follows: Organisations with whom a meeting will be required: Irvine Bay Regeneration Company, North Ayrshire Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure and Design Services, North Ayrshire Outdoor Access Forum and Sustrans Scotland. Organisations or individuals who will require to be invited to participate in any stakeholder or public consultation events or activities include: Community Councils, community organisations, cycling groups, local improvement groups, local landowners and tenants, KA Leisure, Maritime Museum, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and local businesses and employers including I3, GlaxoSmithKline, NHS Ayrshire and Arran and Rivergate. North Ayrshire Council Services who will require to be invited to participate in any stakeholder or public consultation events or activities include: Country Parks Manager, Economic Development Officer - Tourism Officer, Health Improvement Officer, School Travel Plan Officer, Streetscene Manager, Operations Manager - Streetscene, Policy Officer (Environment), Supervisory Engineer Transportation Team Manager – Regeneration and Town Centre Manager. 2.3 Salient features A range of studies concentrating on the Irvine area have been prepared by North Ayrshire Council and partners. These will be made available to the successful contractor and will provide useful background information. It is not envisaged that this Study should replicate any of the work already undertaken in these however it may identify recommendations which will assist in achieving their aims and objectives: • Irvine Bay Coastal Park Study • Irvine Bay Green Network Study • Irvine Parking Study • River Irvine Corridor Study • The Irvine Town Plan 2.4 Requirements It is a requirement of this contract that the successful consultant advises where appropriate affected landowners of any survey works being undertaken and the proposed survey dates to ensure that this does not conflict with land management activities.



3. Available Resources 3.1 Reference Documents A range of relevant documents will be supplied to the successful consultant in electronic format alongside those referenced in Section 2.3 Salient Features. 3.2 Path information Digitised information on paths within the feasibility study area held by North Ayrshire Council will be supplied electronically as ArcGIS shapefiles. The data on this disc is supplied on the understanding that it is for use solely in connection with the preparation of the Feasibility Study. The terms and conditions of this are detailed in the Data Provision Agreement provided as Appendix B. The successful consultant will be required to adhere to this agreement. 3.3 Key contacts A Microsoft Access Database will be supplied of the relevant contacts within North Ayrshire Council, Sustrans and other local organisations. It should be noted that the provision of this information is subject to the Data Protection Act and the successful consultant will be required to adhere to the North Ayrshire Council ICT Security Policy, Data Sharing Guidelines and enter into a Data Protection Agreement with the Council. 3.4 Other relevant information The North Ayrshire Outdoor Access Forum meets on a quarterly basis and the Council’s Access Officer provides the Secretariat. As detailed in Section 2.2 Essential Consultations the contract includes one meeting with the Forum. Contact with the Forum should be directed through the Access Officer in the first instance.



4. Output 4.1 Reporting The following table provides the timetable for appointment, reporting and consultation. The successful consultant will be required to provide fortnightly progress reports to the client via e-mail. In addition to this the appointee will be required to attend the following meetings: Week Commencing Project element 3 December 2012 Successful consultant to be appointed

3 December 2012 Successful consultant commences

3 December 2012 Inception meeting

10 December 2012 Initial public consultation

December 2012 to January 2013 Detailed Stakeholder consultation

27 January 2013 Mid contract meeting with consultants

13 January 2013 Elected Members Briefing

January to February 2013 Public consultation

17 February 2013 Consultant finishes and provides a presentation on the final draft of the Study to the partners and Elected Members

24 February 2013 Public consultation on draft Study

10 March 2013 Update meeting/Address any outstanding items

17 March 2013 Consultant provides final Feasibility Study to partners and submits final invoice to Client

Any changes to the above dates will require to be agreed with the client and partners prior to appointment to ensure that the client can adhere to the terms and conditions of the grant offer. Further changes during the contract will require at least 15 working days prior notice and to be agreed by all partners. 4.2 Content The final output will be the production of a written Study, which will include detailed analysis and summary of the outcomes identified in Section 1.3 Project Outcomes and will provide a detailed report of the consultation process and findings.

4.3 Copyright The copyright of all reports, drawings, plans and other material and information provided to the clients forming part of the commission will be the property of the client and may not be reproduced in whole or in part by the consultants concerned in its preparation or by any third party, without the written agreement of the client. The client will be free to use said materials, reports, drawings and plans in any way they see fit and to authorise or assign to others such rights of use as they consider appropriate and the consultants will not be entitled to receive any additional payment in respect of such use. 4.4 Publicity No publicity of this project will be allowed, unless with the prior approval of the client. 4.5 Format The final Study will require to be supplied to the client in both hard and electronic format as follows:



• Eight bound and one unbound paper copies of the study and associated reports and plans • One electronic copy of the study and associated plans in a format compatible with Microsoft Word • All route information as ArcGIS shapefiles • Additional information on specifications, costings, landownership and tenancy in formats compatible

with Microsoft Office and/or Adobe Acrobat.



5. Timetable and Selection Procedure 5.1 Timetable The following table provided in Section 4.1 Reporting provides the key dates agreed with Sustrans as part of the conditions of the grant support for the project. It should be noted that any changes to the key dates require to be agreed with the partners prior to the commencement of the study. Any further changes will require at least 15 working days prior notice and to be agreed by all partners. 5.2 Tender Submission Tenders must be submitted through Public Contracts Scotland by Wednesday 28th November 2012 at 12 noon as stated in the Contract Notice. Tenders submitted by any other means shall be treated as non-compliant and shall be given no consideration. The requirement to submit tenders through Public Contracts Scotland takes precedence over any other tender submission information contained within the tender documentation. 5.3 Selection procedure The selection procedure will be based on the information provided within the Tender Submission documents which will be assessed using award criteria and relative weightings as detailed below. Post tender clarification interviews may be undertaken and it is at the client’s discretion as to which tenderers they invite to participate in this process. Please note that the client reserves the right to accept a Tender Submission other than the lowest submission or not to accept any submission at all.

Element Weighting

Methodology 30

Relevant Experience 20

Reporting processes 10

Timescales 10

Cost 30

The client reserves the right to invite tenderers to a post tender clarification meeting to clarify their submission and/or discuss their proposal in more detail. The client has sole discretion on who is invited to participate in post tender clarification meetings. 5.4 Freedom of Information North Ayrshire Council is committed to openness and to meeting its responsibilities under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. Accordingly, all information submitted to the Council may need to be disclosed and/or published by the Council. If applicants consider that any of the information included in their Tender is commercially confidential this should be identified and an explanation (in broad terms) provided of what harm might result from disclosure and/or publication. Applicants should be aware that, even when they have indicated that information is commercially sensitive, the Council may be required to disclose and/or publish it, whether or not the submission is successful. The Council may also be required to disclose and/or publish details of unsuccessful submissions.



6. Requirements of the Tender Submission 6.1 Experience The Tender Submission should provide a summary of the general experience of the consultancy practice and in particular in relation to the production of feasibility studies, outdoor access and cycling related projects. The partners have identified that the skills and experience required to undertake this study include strong project management skills and extensive: • Extensive experience of land owner negotiation and community consultation including public

consultation events and surveys • Knowledge and experience of on-road cycle design and engineering works • Knowledge and experience of traffic-free path survey work and construction standards • Knowledge and expertise of developing and delivering active travel projects • Knowledge of coastal protection • Knowledge of cycling within Scotland • Knowledge of Geographic Information Systems and the capacity to supply data as ArcGIS shapefiles. • Knowledge of road safety audits • Knowledge of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code 6.2 Project Team The Tender Submission should provide the names and full descriptions of the qualifications of all staff, including sub contractors, to be involved directly with the study. This should include a summary of previous experience relevant to the study. 6.3 Work programme The Tender Submission should provide a timetable for the project including key dates, milestones and reporting points and procedures. This should be in line with the Reporting (Section 5.1) and Timetable (Section 6.1) procedures outlined in this brief. In addition the programme should specify the responsible person within the project team for each of these. 6.4 Methodology The Tender Submission should provide a summary of the methodology proposed for the project and should satisfy the requirements outlined in the Study Specification (Section 2). This should include a summary of the methods proposed for public engagement and consultation. 6.5 Outputs The Tender Submission should provide a list of the outputs to be delivered and the timescales proposed for delivery and should satisfy the requirements outlined in the Outputs (Section 5). 6.6 Requirements of Appointment The successful consultant will be required to provide the following: • Assurance in writing that to the best of their knowledge and belief they have complied with all statutory

requirements in respect of ensuring equal opportunities in employment • Full risk assessment for the project Under this contract, the client has the right, subject to 15 days notice, to terminate the contract if the consultant fails to deliver the supplies or perform the services within the completion date specified in the contract.



6.7 Legal and Financial Requirements It is a requirement of this commission that the successful consultant maintains Professional Indemnity Insurance cover of five million pounds (£5,000,000). A copy of the insurance certificate and premium renewal receipt should be submitted with the Tender Submission. It is a further requirement of this commission that the successful consultant maintains Public Liability Insurance cover in line with the requirements of the All Ayrshire Roads & Transportation Professional Services Framework Agreement. A copy of the insurance certificate and premium renewal receipt should be submitted with the Tender Submission. 6.8 Cost The Tender Submission should detail the following information: • Itemised expenditure attributable to each stage of the project • Details of the fees attributable to each member of the project team • Expenses (including travel and accommodation where appropriate) • Printing and production costs • Any VAT chargeable Any over-runs or additional works resulting in increased costs shall be carried out at the expense of the successful consultant unless otherwise agreed in writing with the client.



7. Contact details 7.1 Client North Ayrshire Council is the client and Planning Services are the lead service for the project. The contact point within Planning Services and person responsible for day-to-day liaison is: Louise Kirk Access Officer North Ayrshire Council Planning Services Cunninghame House Irvine KA12 8EE Telephone: 01294 324766 E-mail: [email protected] 7.2 Partner Organisations The feasibility study is being part funded by Sustrans through the National Cycle Network and Associated Projects scheme. The contact point for Sustrans is: Toby Greenwood-Jones Project Officer (Community Links) Sustrans Scotland Rosebery House 9 Haymarket Terrace Edinburgh EH12 5EZ Telephone: 0131 539 8127 E-mail: [email protected]



Appendix A – Study Area Information

"This map is reproduced from the OS map by North Ayrshire Council with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Licence Number: 100023393."

LegendType

Study Boundary



Appendix B - Data Provision Agreement The data on this disc is supplied on the understanding that it is for use solely in connection with the preparation of the Irvine Cycle Friendly Town Study. Copyright of the data is owned by North Ayrshire Council and Ordnance Survey, as data capture was based on Ordnance Survey digital map data. All Ordnance Survey digital map data are Crown Copyright. The data must not be used to provide a bureau service to a third party. It must not be copied, sub-licensed, passed, sold, lent or otherwise transferred to any third party without prior consent of North Ayrshire Council and Ordnance Survey. The data must not be incorporated into any third party products or used in the development of value added products. Plots or prints of the data must contain the following acknowledgement: © North Ayrshire Council and Crown Copyright 2010. Upon completion of the Feasibility Study, all copies of the data must be destroyed including any security or back-up copies. Spatial Reference System: British National Grid Data Format: ArcGIS Shapefiles Supplier: North Ayrshire Council

Development Plans, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE Tel: 01294 324763 Fax: 01294 324372