Project Director's Report

 

Canal Reinstatement Progress Report, First Quarter 2009

 

Since issuance of our public notifications for our outline planning permission, announced December 16th 2008, we have experienced a minor set back. The lead planning authority, Derby City, require a revised submission of the Environmental Impact Assessment and a formal pre qualification of flood risk with the Environmental Agency. Although, the requirement to revisit aspects of the submission are frustrating - we are encouraged by this outcome - indicating that the planning authorities are endeavouring to eradicate any contentious issues during formal consultation from the host of agency bodies, land owners and service & utilities companies.

We have appointed a lead engineering and environmental consultant, BWB, to perform the contingent environmental assignments needed for the OPP to be formally registered. Furthermore, BWB, shall be producing pre and final designs for the Spondon mile, one section providing a balancing tank and water frontage to the new sustainable housing development.

In order for the canal reinstatement to attract funding and deliver the most efficient and lowest cost of build, we are involving Dew Construction, Tarmac, Network Rail, and IWA into the design process. By creating a design competition we are confident we can produce optimum sustainable build.

 

Our commitment to appoint the engineering and environmental consultants, seventy percent funded through our DDEP grant, has created a need to secure bridging funding for the remaining finances. By focusing on various funding initiatives, private scheme sponsors, new website advertisements, appointment of a volunteer fund manager and various society driven initiatives, we are confident that the funding gap can be filled.

In the meantime we continue to focus on securing the registration of our planning application for the canal corridor layout. I am more than willing to discuss any details of the entire project and value your continued support.

 

 

Rob

Rob Hartley

Projects Director, DSCT.