Dog Wood Cycle Path Design

The Knutsford Neighbourhood Plan and Cycle Infrastructure Plan identified the desirability of creating a cycle path linking Church Walk with Parkgate Lane via Dog Wood. The route would pass through multiple landownerships including a section of Tatton Park and would connect the town centre with the new housing development and the industrial park as well as providing a safe cycling/walking route from the eastern edge of town to the town centre.

In 2024, using a grant through the Shared Prosperity Fund, the council commissioned a preliminary design for the route to enable the project to be progressed. The report recommended further pre-tendering works to undertake more detailed land investigations including a topographical survey and ground investigations. We now wish to undertake this work. The initial report outlined two options (A and B). It is intended that only one option would be developed under this commission; which option would be selected as part of the process.

The most challenging stakeholder to secure permission from is likely to be the National Trust and they will require a more detailed report on the impact to the historic landscape alongside tree surveys and an ecology report for their portion of the route (Tatton Park, the red area between the two blue sections on page 11). It has also been discussed that an ecological appraisal would be beneficial for the whole route.

TENDER REQUIREMENTS

Please provide a tender to:

a) undertake a topographical / land survey (incl. tree survey, services, levels, fence lines, etc) to inform the development of the preferred route for the path

b) undertake necessary ground investigations / testing

c) prepare a detailed / construction design / tender documentation for a single route option

d) provide a historic landscape impact assessment (limited to the section which would pass through the National Trust's landholding)

e) provide an ecological appraisal for the creation of the path