At Cabinet on 14 December 2022, it was agreed to “Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Development), in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer, the Head of Law and Governance, and the Cabinet Members for Planning and Healthier Communities and for Finance & Asset Management to agree financial contributions and terms, and then enter into all relevant funding agreements and contracts.”

On 29 March 2023, the Council entered into Collaboration Agreement regarding the Design Phase of Cowley Branch Line (CBL), which included a funding allowance for “design-led studies to be procured which will relate to improving the connections to and the from the proposed two new stations, (termed the Infrastructure Place Study for this project)”.

SLC Rail have been appointed using the Bloom Procurement Services Ltd framework to undertake Infrastructure Place Study work.

Contract value for this commission is £498,799.

This will support the successful strategy and implementation plan for a regionally significant transport scheme. It will enable Oxford City Council and other local parties to ensure the rail scheme contributes to the creation and improvement of the neighbourhoods around the proposed two new stations.

The CBL budget is £4,560,000.

• Committed spend for the delivery of the Full Business Case and project Management (including legal support) is £3,603,095.

• Committed spend for the delivery of feasibility and design work cycle and footbridge near the proposed Oxford Cowley Station is £133,484

• Remaining budget after this decision is £326,572.

This commission will support the successful strategy and implementation plan for a regionally significant transport scheme. Comprising a funding and finance solution for the project delivery stage of CBL, as well as a spatial framework for the area most affected by the CBL, it will enable Oxford City Council and other local parties to ensure the rail scheme contributes to the creation and improvement of the neighbourhoods around the proposed two new stations.  

It will rely on high quality work at pace during 2024, including stakeholder engagement, infographics, concept design and forming a successful working relationship with the Network Rail-led programme, as well as other supporting pieces of work coordinated by Oxford City Council.

Not to proceed with the commission of the Infrastructure Place Study would prevent Network Rail from completing Full Business Case and we would be unable to meet the requirements for the planning applications for the stations.