I am submitting this Freedom of Information request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to obtain details regarding the costs and funding of footbridge replacement projects in Devon. Specifically, I request the following information:
1. Exeter Quay Footbridge Replacement:
a. The total estimated cost and actual cost of the project.
b. A full breakdown of the costs, including materials, labour, design, and project management.
c. Whether the project was subject to a competitive tendering process. If so, please provide:
* A list of all companies that submitted bids.
* Copies of all submitted bids (with commercially sensitive data redacted if necessary).
* The evaluation criteria used to award the contract.
* A copy of the final contract awarded.
d. The total amount of government funding applied for and received.
The Mallison Bridge project on Exeter Quay is yet to be procured, through a competitive tender process. The County Council applied for and received £1.1m Government funding.
2. Footbridge Replacement Projects in Devon (£1m – £1.2m Range):
a. A list of all footbridges replaced or constructed between 2013 and 2024 with a total cost.
b. The funding source for each project (local authority, government grants, other public funds).
c. Copies of any internal reports or communications discussing the estimated costs versus actual construction costs.
d. Any evidence of additional funds allocated beyond the original estimates and the justifications for these increases.
No footbridges in the £1m – £1.2m cost range were replaced or constructed by the County Council between 2013 and 2024.
Please note, this does not include any bridge that was built for cycles and pedestrians, as this they would not be classified as a footbridge.
3. Procurement and Financial Oversight:
a. Copies of any internal council policies on how government funding for infrastructure projects is allocated.
Devon County Council does not hold this information.
b. Any audits or reviews of procurement processes for footbridge replacements in the last five years.
Devon County Council does not hold this information.
c. Any instances where the final project cost was significantly lower than the amount applied for in government funding, and what was done with the surplus.
The majority of our replacement bridge schemes are funded using the annual Bridges and Structures Capital Maintenance budget and are not individual bids. Any ‘surplus’ would be reallocated to other works within the overall Highways Capital Maintenance budget.
If there is a surplus of funding for a scheme it will depend on who has provided funding to the project as to what happens to it. This additional funding will either be transferred to other schemes or repaid back to the funding provider depending on the terms of the funding agreements.