North Yorkshire Council

Corporate Director – Environment

22 May 2026

Department for Transport Structures Fund Pre-Submission Response

Assistant Director – Highways and Infrastructure

1.0       PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1       To request approval from the Corporate Director of Environment in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer, sub-delegated to the Assistant Director of Resources and the Executive Member for Finance to submit a pre-submission response form for the Department for Transport (DfT) Structures Fund.

2.0       BACKGROUND

2.1       North Yorkshire Council (NYC) has received notification of transport funding from the DfT for a Structures Fund aimed to allow local highway authorities (LHA) to apply for funding for repairing or replacing highway structures, including bridges where the LHA cannot afford to maintain or restore the bridges themselves.  There is no upper limit to the amount which can be requested and LHA’s can put forward for repair or replacement a single structure or a ‘package scheme’ for a coherent set of structures in an area.

2.2       The funding is made available in support of the government’s missions:

· Growth - Reduction to journey times and congestion will improve business productivity and profitability across the country

· Cleaner energy - Every route closure and diversion avoided or ended through the Fund will reduce emissions and improve air quality. Structures that have suffered from and/or are vulnerable to the increasing risk of extreme weather due to climate change can be adapted, building climate resilience

· Healthier and safer streets - Repairing, enhancing or replacing key structures for public transport and walking and cycling routes will have positive health impacts for individuals using these

· Breaking down barriers - Repairing local highway structures will reduce community severance, helping reopen local transport networks and supporting travel routes to jobs in affected communities. Structures that are replaced or enhanced should meet current design standards, enabling them to be more easily utilised by all road users.

3.0       DFT STRUCTURES FUND

3.1       This is a one-off funding stream, with numerous submissions required all within tight timescales.

3.2       The scale of funding is considerable with no upper limit for a single package of schemes.  Schemes need to meet the requirements set out by the DfT.

3.3       LHA’s can put forward a single structure or a ‘package scheme’ for a coherent set of structures in an area.

3.4       The timeline for the structures fund is as follows:

· 25 May 2026 – Expression of Interest submission

· 19 June 2026 – Draft submission deadline. Recommended date to submit initial proposals for feedback before final submission

· 03 August 2026 – Final submission deadline. Deadline for full applications to the fund

· Autumn 2026 – Funding decisions. Successful schemes announced

· by March 2030 – Delivery deadline. All funded projects must be completed by this date.

3.5       Align Property Services is working with the NYC Bridges team to develop the submission required for the application to the structures fund, including the drafting of a business case.  This will be supported by numerous disciplines across NYC to ensure the proposals are aligned with the Selby Transforming Cities Fund and other council schemes and priorities.

4.0       NYC DFT STRUCTURES FUND SUBMISSION

4.1       NYC is proposing to submit a package scheme consisting of the two Selby swing bridges.

4.2       Selby Toll Bridge (A19).  This bridge was rebuilt in 1969 by the Selby Bridge Company and then later passed to North Yorkshire County Council in 1991 to maintain and operate.  The bridge was designed with a 60 year design life and numerous structural components are nearing end of life.  The submission will include for a replacement bridge at this location along with allowance for a temporary pedestrian bridge or bus service.  However, we accept extensive repairs could be carried out to extend the life of the bridge and believe they would be undertaken in a much shorter duration closure than a replacement bridge.  It may therefore not be possible to carry out a replacement bridge using funding from the DfT Structures Fund, in which case repairs to the existing structure would be carried out.  Until design and early contractor involvement (ECI) is progressed it is not possible to make a firm decision on this.

4.3       Engagement with a contractor through an ECI process for Selby Toll bridge will assist with early stage design decisions around deliverability of the bridge replacement given the funding deadline of completion by March 2030.  Various contractual options exist, including the YorCivils Framework, Scape and the NYC Civil Engineering Contractors Framework (CECF).  Given the expected value of this work the Scape framework is currently considered the most suitable.

4.4       The Selby bypass bridge (A63) was built in 2004 by the Highways Agency and responsibility for operation and maintenance passed to North Yorkshire County Council in 2007.  Extensive repairs, mainly to mechanical and electrical components are needed.  Since 2022 the bridge has been unable to swing for boats, which as yet has not prevented any boats passing the bridge however NYC is under a legal obligation to maintain the bridge in a condition where it could.  Unfortunately, it has become apparent that the funding settlement agreed in 2007 from the Highways Agency will not meet the costs to bring the bridge back into operation and funding from the highways capital budget would be required at the expense of other schemes. 

4.5       The improvements to Selby bypass bridge could be developed using an existing maintenance framework for the bridge.  Depending on final design and expected value for the works, it could be delivered through this framework or as a competitive tender.  There is already a defined scope for the improvements required.

4.6       The two structures are considered coherent in this instance, although being very different structures they are the only road crossings of the River Ouse close to Selby.

4.7       Consultation and engagement is suggested with in the guidance as part of the full submission by the 03 August 2026, this will include NYC Councillors, Members of Parliament, the YNYCA as well as other stakeholders.

4.8       Support is offered by the DfT though a Technical Advisory Board (TAB) to provide advice and assistance with submissions following the pre-submission application.  NYC are requesting “additional” support from the TAB rather than “standard” or “enhanced”.  Limited information is provided on exactly how much support will be on offer, and this may be prioritised by the DfT following all LHA pre-submission responses. 

4.9       There will be a resource demand on NYC for delivery of this project, this will be delivered either inhouse by recruiting or using seconded staff if required or through our consultancy partner APS.

5.0       CONTRIBUTION TO COUNCIL PRIORITIES

5.1       The ‘North Yorkshire Council ‘Council Plan 2024-2028’ sets out the priorities for the next four years. One such priority is to ‘promote and encourage active travel including walking, wheeling and cycling’. The replacement of Selby Toll bridge will allow a wider structure to be constructed making the crossing safer for pedestrians and cyclists. 

5.2       The YNYCA Strategic Transport Framework commits to ensuring that active travel is a core part of an integrated transport network. In the long term this means a comprehensive network of lit, well-maintained walking, wheeling and cycle routes across the Combined Authority. The schemes within this bid will improve walking, wheeling and cycling routes across North Yorkshire.

5.3       The emerging YNYCA Local Transport Plan acknowledges that structures such as bridges are critical pieces of infrastructure on the region’s highway network. As such they must be maintained to ensure that access is maintained for all users including active travel and public transport.

5.4       Engagement with the NYC team delivering the Selby Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) will be ongoing through this process with the potential for further highway improvements to the junction with Ousegate possible as a result of this scheme.

5.5       The ongoing maintenance to the swing bridges will have economic benefits to the Selby and wider area.  Further information will be included as part of the business case which will be contained in the full submission in August.

6.0       FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

6.1       If successful, the DfT funding for the swing bridge repairs would allow other capital funding to be allocated to other structures in North Yorkshire.

6.2       At the pre-submission stage the scheme costs are set at £30m including contingency, this will be reviewed through the next stages with a more detailed estimate and spend profile provided on the full submission in August. 

6.3       Local contribution must be included in the submission, however no minimum local contribution is set.  The funding guidance notes that proposals with a higher contribution will be assessed positively, but that must be offset against the schemes not appearing affordable to the LHA.  The Selby swing bridge maintenance budget was £334k in 2025/26 for three bridges (includes Cawood).  It is proposed an amount of £1.0m of match funding will be built into the submission, although this will be reviewed and refined as the bid is developed prior to the final submission.

7.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

7.1       If successful the funding settlement would ensure that NYC can continue to operate the bridges in line with acts of parliament without significantly impacting on our highways capital budget. 

7.2       As a Highway Authority NYC is under a legal obligation under the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the highway network.

7.3       The final submission due 3^rd August will be passed on for legal review and detail of that review included in a further report for that submission.

8.0       EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

8.1       Consideration has been given to the potential for any equality impacts arising from the recommendations. It is the view of officers that at this stage the recommendations do not have an adverse impact on any of the protected characteristics identified in the Equalities Act 2010.

9.0       CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

9.1       There are no climate change issues arising from this report. There will be implications from the delivery of schemes, but a future report will cover this.  

10.0     REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

10.1     The submission of an expression of interest to the DfT Structure’s Fund will allow NYC to develop a full bid which could have a significant impact in upgrading two key bridges on the NYC network.

11.0

RECOMMENDATIONS

11.1

It is recommended that the Corporate Director of Environment in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer, sub-delegated to the Assistant Director of Resources and the Executive Member for Finance approve the: i) pre-submission form for the “package scheme” consisting of Selby Toll and Selby Bypass Swing bridges to be considered for funding from the Department for Transport Structures Fund. ii) Commence early engagement through the Scape framework (Balfour Beatty) to secure input through an Early Contractor Involvement process for Selby Toll Bridge.

Barrie Mason

Assistant Director – Highways & Infrastructure

County Hall

Northallerton

DL7 8AD

Report Author – Philip Richardson, Bridges Manager

Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.