Decision details

Bracknell is in the process of rebuilding its Multi Modal Transport Model to be used to inform on the impact of both transport and development proposals within the Bracknell administrative area. To date the model has been used successfully to support the Council’s growth programme. The Site Allocations Plan was adopted in full in 2013 and work on the new comprehensive Local Plan is now underway. In addition to this, the model has been used to develop successful business cases that have secured approximately £25m towards transport infrastructure through various Government funding initiatives.

The DfT's WebTag guidance requires us to rebuild the Bracknell Forest Multi-Modal Transport Model (BFMMTM) every five to six years in order for it to remain robust and reliable enough to continue supporting the Council's Local Plan and infrastructure improvement programmes. Therefore to assist in the development of the new model, we need to commission transport consultants to assist us in taking this major project forward

We have been granted access to the Wokingham framework which allows us to commission WSP to build the main part of the model. Whilst this limits us in terms of providers, we feel comfortable with WSP as over the past 10 years we have worked with their main modelling personnel on various developments, business case work and bid development. Furthermore, WSP have performed to a high standard in all these areas. Having helped us develop previous versions of the model, it means their detailed knowledge of this specific model would reduce costs and timescales significantly. Legal have confirmed that we can access the Wokingham framework directly.

A lengthy OJUE process would expose the Council to consequential risk in terms of model validation and subsequent reliability. A sound, validated base model forms the foundations for sound forecast models, and these provide an essential technical platform on which our Local Plan will be built.

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