Thanet District Council Local Plan Proposed Residential Allocations at Cliffsend,

Transport Appraisal September 2018

PTP 14 The Mill Tring Road Wilstone Herts HP23 4FP UK Tel: +44 (0) 1442-823377 www.ptplanners.com

Land at Cliffsend, Ramsgate Page i Transport Appraisal

Land at Cliffsend, Ramsgate Transport Appraisal September 2018

Author Aled Roderick Approved Paul Turner PMT

Document Number 21342-PTPR-01

Date Issued September 2018

Land at Cliffsend, Ramsgate Page ii Transport Appraisal

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION ...... 1

2 POLICY CONTEXT ...... 5

3 PROPOSED ALLOCATIONS ...... 11

4 POLICY COMPLIANCE ...... 25

5 TRANSPORT APPRAISAL ...... 29

6 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ...... 36

FIGURES

2.1: ...... Site Location Plan 3.1: ...... Access Strategy

APPENDICES

Appendix A: ...... Site A Consented Scheme and Access Layout Appendix B: ...... Site B Consented Scheme and Access Layout Appendix C: ...... Site C Consented Scheme and Access Layout Appendix D: ...... Thanet Parkway Station Access Proposals Appendix E: ...... Strategic Allocation Sites

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1 Introduction

1.1 PT Planners (PTP) has been appointed by E. Spanton Farms Ltd to advise on the transport issues associated with three potential housing allocation sites under its ownership located at Cliffs End, Ramsgate, . These sites are:

(i) Site A, land to the south of Cottington Road

(ii) Site B, land to the north of Cottington Road

(iii) Site C, land to the south of Road West (A253)

1.2 Figure 1.1 illustrates the location for these sites in relation to Cliffsend and the local highway network. In combination, they have the potential to deliver 600 – 800 dwellings depending on the housing densities with the majority being accommodated within Sites A to C. In addition, land owned by E. Spanton Farms Ltd is in the process of being acquired by Kent County Council for the purpose of developing the proposed Thanet Parkway Station, with a small residual section being potentially available for the development of 30-40 dwellings and / or the provision of local facilities. This is located to the south of the A299 Hengist Way.

1.3 The land owner has previously made representations in support of these sites to the 2013 Council Strategic Land Availability Assessment (SLAA) and the 2015 Draft Local Plan Preferred Options Consultation, as part of the overall Local Plan Review process. This resulted in a portion of sites A to C being allocated for housing within the Draft Local Plan with planning applications submitted and outline consent being achieved for each site. The Council has therefore accepted that these sites are a suitable location for residential development in transport and land use planning terms with reference to National and its own Local Plan policies. Table 1.1 provides a description of each site and outlines the scale of consented development.

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Table 1.1: Cliffsend, Proposed Housing Allocations Site Description Allocation Ref Planning Consented Application Ref Units Land South of A253 S468/435(1) TH/17/0152 65 Cliffsend Land North of S435(2) TH/17/0151 41 Cottington Road (West of Beech Grove) Land South of S416/S561 TH/17/0150 23 Cottington Road

1.4 For sites A to C in combination outline permission for 129 dwellings has been granted. This however represents a limited proportion of the potential housing numbers that each site could deliver which is in the range 600 – 800 dwellings in total, including the residual land adjacent to the Parkway Station. Within the Draft Local Plan the Council has taken the decision to make strategic allocations elsewhere within the district at Westwood, Birchington on Sea, Westgate on Sea, Manston Court / Haine Road, Manston Green and Hartsdown / Shottendane. The Council envisages that that these sites in combination could realise up to 7500 dwellings over the plan period to 2031.

1.5 The proposed Cliffsend allocation sites lie in close proximity to a significant new public transport hub being developed in Thanet, the Parkway Station. This will provide frequent rail and bus services to existing and future residents within Cliffsend and presents the opportunity for the development of new local facilities supported by rail passengers and new housing. The station will therefore significantly improve the sustainability of the Cliffsend area in transport terms. Set against this background this Transport Appraisal assesses in transport terms the suitability of sites A – C to accommodate significantly more housing than presently consented i.e. up to 800 units as an alternative to the strategic housing sites allocated within the Draft Local Plan. The report includes the following scope of work.

(i) A review of the National and Local sustainable transport and land use planning policies relevant to the Cliffsend allocations and the site’s level of compliance with policy.

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(ii) Presenting details for an access strategy for each site by all modes of transport with a particular focus on sustainable modes and proposed connections to the Thanet Parkway Station.

(iii) A review of the transport issues associated with development of the proposed Cliffsend allocations and Local Plan Strategic housing allocations drawing on the data and assessments contained within the Draft Thanet District Transport Strategy. This review establishes whether the Cliffsend allocations will be a more suitable location for new housing with respect to sustainable travel and the potential impact on the local highway network.

1.6 The report should be read in conjunction with previous transport submissions made by PTP in support of the proposed Cliffsend allocations and further to this introduction is structured as follows:

Section 2.0, Policy Context: Outlines the national and local transport policies and strategies relevant to the allocation sites set out within the NPPF, Draft Local Plan and Draft Thanet District Transport Strategy.

Section 3.0, Proposed Allocations: Provides a description of sites A to C the surrounding area, the local highway network and the facilities available to facilitate access by modes of transport other than the car. It then puts forward an access strategy for each site by all transport modes, including connections to the proposed Thanet Parkway Station. This section includes details for the consented development at each site and the Parkway Station proposals, drawing on the Transport Assessment recently submitted in support of the Station planning application.

Section 4.0, Policy Compliance: Taking into account the proposed access strategy and proximity to the Parkway Station this section reviews the sites compliance with the sustainable transport policies and strategies outlined within the NPPF and the Thanet District Draft Local Plan / Transport Strategy.

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Section 5.0, Transport Appraisal: Undertakes a review of the transport issues associated with development of the proposed Cliffsend allocations and Local Plan Strategic Allocations drawing on the data and assessments contained within the Draft Thanet District Transport Strategy. This Section also establishes whether the Cliffsend allocations will be a more suitable location for new housing with respect to sustainable travel and the potential impact on the local highway network.

Section 6.0, Summary and Conclusions: Presents a summary of the report and draws together its conclusions.

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2 Policy Context

2.1 This section provides an overview of the current national and local transport policies / objectives which relate to the proposed allocation sites.

2.2 The documents reviewed in this section are:

(i) The National Planning Policy Framework, Revised 2018;

(ii) The Thanet District Draft Local Plan;

(iii) The Thanet District Transport Strategy 2nd Draft 2018.

National Planning Policy Framework, Revised 2018

2.3 The Government’s Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) originally published the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in March 2012. A revised version was published in July 2018. Section 9 of the NPPF deals with promoting sustainable transport and recommends at Paragraph 102 that:

“Transport issues should be considered from the earliest stages of plan-making and development proposals, so that:

a) the potential impacts of development on transport networks can be addressed;

b) opportunities from existing or proposed transport infrastructure, and changing transport technology and usage, are realised – for example in relation to the scale, location or density of development that can be accommodated;

c) opportunities to promote walking, cycling and public transport use are identified and pursued;

d) the environmental impacts of traffic and transport infrastructure can be identified, assessed and taken into account – including appropriate opportunities for avoiding and mitigating any adverse effects, and for net environmental gains; and

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e) patterns of movement, streets, parking and other transport considerations are integral to the design of schemes, and contribute to making high quality places.”

2.4 Paragraph 103 continues that:

“The planning system should actively manage patterns of growth in support of these objectives. Significant development should be focused on locations which are or can be made sustainable, through limiting the need to travel and offering a genuine choice of transport modes.”

2.5 In relation to planning policies, paragraph 104 outlines that they should:

a) “support an appropriate mix of uses across an area, and within larger scale sites, to minimise the number and length of journeys needed for employment, shopping, leisure, education and other activities;

b) be prepared with the active involvement of local highways authorities, other transport infrastructure providers and operators and neighbouring councils, so that strategies and investments for supporting sustainable transport and development patterns are aligned;

c) identify and protect, where there is robust evidence, sites and routes which could be critical in developing infrastructure to widen transport choice and realise opportunities for large scale development;

d) provide for high quality walking and cycling networks and supporting facilities such as cycle parking (drawing on Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans).”

2.6 For the purpose of assessing development proposals whether through proposed allocation sites or specific planning applications paragraph 108 states that it should be ensured that:

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a) “appropriate opportunities to promote sustainable transport modes can be – or have been – taken up, given the type of development and its location;

b) safe and suitable access to the site can be achieved for all users; and

c) any significant impacts from the development on the transport network (in terms of capacity and congestion), or on highway safety, can be cost effectively mitigated to an acceptable degree.”

2.7 Paragraph 109 expands on this advice and outlines that developments should only be prevented or refused on highways grounds if there is an unacceptable impact on highway safety or the cumulative impacts on the road network are severe.

2.8 To encourage development that is sustainable in transport terms, paragraph 1.10 advises that planning applications for developments should:

a) “give priority first to pedestrian and cycle movements, both within the scheme and with neighbouring areas; and second – so far as possible – to facilitating access to high quality public transport, with layouts that maximise the catchment area for bus or other public transport services, and appropriate facilities that encourage public transport use;”

Draft Thanet Local Plan - 2031

2.9 The Local Plan is a key council document that will guide development, growth and the delivery of infrastructure within Thanet over the period to 2031. The current version of the document is currently going through the final stages of public consultation prior to submission for independent examination and eventually adoption.

2.10 The Local Plan at Section 6 addresses transport issues and from this Policy SP41 ‘Safe and Sustainable Travel’ outlines that:

“The Council will work with developers, transport service providers, and the local community to manage travel demand, by promoting and facilitating walking, cycling and use of public transport as safe and convenient means of transport. Land at Cliffsend, Ramsgate Page 7 Transport Appraisal

Development applications will be expected to take account of the need to promote safe and sustainable travel. New developments must provide safe and attractive cycling and walking opportunities to reduce the need to travel by car.”

2.11 With regard to the preferred location for new developments, Policy SP42 ‘Accessible Locations’ states that:

“Development generating a significant number of trips will be expected to be located where a range of services are or will be conveniently accessible on foot, by cycle or public transport. The Council will seek to approve proposals to cluster or co-locate services at centres accessible to local communities by public transport and on foot.”

2.12 In relation to public transport infrastructure, Policy SP45 ‘New Railway Station’ outlines the Council’s commitment to the provision of a new railway station within Thanet on land to the west on Ramsgate within Cliffsend. This policy outlines that planning permission for the station will be granted subject to:

1. “Satisfactory vehicular access arrangements from the A299

2. Suitable level of car parking

3. Integration with wider public transport services

4. Mitigation of any noise impacts on sensitive receptors

5. Compatibility with the landscape character of its location

6. Located to minimise the loss of best and most versatile agricultural land.”

Thanet District Transport Strategy, 2nd Draft 2018 2.13 The Transport Strategy has been prepared jointly by Kent County Council and Thanet District Council. It forms a key part of the evidence base which informs the Local Plan process, including decisions on specific housing allocations. The document covers the period 2015 to 2031 i.e. the Local Plan period and replaces the former Thanet Transport Plan (2005). The purpose of the Strategy is to provide a transport policy framework to the year 2031 to support planned growth within Thanet District. The main stated objectives are to:

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(i) Provide a policy framework for the district which is consistent with existing National and Regional policy.

(ii) Support delivery managed growth identified within Thanet District Council’s emerging Local Plan.

(iii) Identify a package of robust transport improvements and interventions to enable the highway network to effectively accommodate the likely increase in travel demand across the plan period.

(iv) Propose a funding and delivery mechanism for identified interventions and actions.

2.14 The Strategy overall adheres to the following key themes:

(i) Encourage sustainable travel habits

(ii) Manage journey times

(iii) Improve network resilience

(iv) Reduce the requirement to travel

2.15 The document provides a description of the existing highway and public transport network conditions within the district and highlights areas and locations currently experiencing problems in relation to traffic congestion and air quality. The Strategy, using the results of traffic modelling undertaken for key highway links and junctions, then establishes a program of interventions that will be required to enable the local network to accommodate trips associated with new housing and employment envisaged over the local plan period. The interventions range from proposed highway works at key locations to improvements in pedestrian / cycle infrastructure and bus service provision. The development of the Thanet Parkway Station is highlighted as being the main public transport project within the Strategy. The assessment of the network impact of planned housing and employment growth over the period to 2031 focuses on the Strategic Allocations included within the Draft Local Plan.

2.16 In light of the policy documents reviewed above, Section 4 of the Transport Appraisal will demonstrate that the proposed Cliffsend housing allocations will Land at Cliffsend, Ramsgate Page 9 Transport Appraisal

comply with the NPPF and Draft Local Plan policies in relation to sustainable transport, along with the Draft Transport Strategy key themes.

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3 Proposed Allocations

3.1 The location for the proposed allocation sites A to C within Cliffsend can be seen at Figure 1.1. This section of the appraisal provides a description of these sites, the surrounding area, the local highway network and the facilities available to facilitate access by modes of transport other than the car. It then puts forward an access strategy for each site by all transport modes, including connections to the proposed Thanet Parkway Station. This section includes details for the consented development at each site and the Parkway Station proposals, drawing on the Transport Assessment recently submitted in support of the Station planning application.

Sites A and B Land to South / North of Cottington Road

3.2 Site A is located approximately 300m to the west of Cliffsend village centre on the southern side of Cottington Road and has a frontage to this road. The site adjoins existing residential areas within Cliffsend and is currently occupied by agricultural land extending to the south of Cottington Road. The site is bounded to the north by a public highway, Cottington Road, to the east by existing dwellings and to the south and west by the St Augustine’s Golf Club. The land is currently accessed via a field gate to Cottington Road.

3.3 Site B is located approximately 350m to the west of Cliffsend village centre on the northern side of Cottington Road and has a frontage to this road. The site adjoins existing residential areas within Cliffsend and is currently occupied by agricultural land extending to the north of Cottington Road. The site is bounded to the north and west by a rail line, to the east by existing dwellings and to the south by Cottington Road. The land is currently accessed via a field gate to Cottington Road.

The Local Highway Network

3.4 In the vicinity of the site Cottington Road ranges in width from 5m to 6m and therefore accommodates two-way traffic. At the site frontage the road is subject to the national 60 mph speed limit, which reduces to 30 mph on the approach to Cliffs End village approximately 150m to the east of the site. Observations made

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at the time of a recent site visit and the road geometry suggests that vehicle speeds fall substantially below the existing limit and are more in keeping with the 30 mph roads within the village. Cottington Road does not provide footways or street lighting at the site frontages. The nearest footway commences to the east at the junction with Oakland Court. This leads directly to further footways and pedestrian routes within Cliffsend and the village centre. If allocated, the development of sites A and B would include new footway provision along Cottington Road to connect the development area with the existing village pedestrian network.

3.5 Cottington Road provides a route for traffic between Cliffs End in the east and the A299 Hengist Way to the west via the Cottington Link Road, which commences 550m from the site. Further to the west Cottington Road becomes Grinsell Hill which provides a route to the village of Minster. Within Cliffs End Cottington Road leads to Foads Lane which passes through the village centre and then Cliffs End Road, which enables traffic to access the wider Ramsgate highway network via its junction with the A256 Sandwich Road located 800m to the east of the village centre. An alternative route to Sandwich Road is provided by Foads Lane to the south of the village centre. From Sandwich Road traffic is able to access the A299 Hengist Way via a roundabout junction located 1.5 km to the northeast of the site. This junction also provides routes to Ramsgate town centre. Foads Hill, which heads north from Foads Lane provides an additional route to the wider network via Canterbury Road west, which it joins 700m to the north of the village. This route is however very lightly trafficked, which suggests that routes to Sandwich Road carry the majority of traffic associated with the village.

Accessibility

3.6 The allocation sites are located within a short walking distance of existing bus stops located on either side of Foads Lane and existing facilities within Cliffsend village that include a post office / convenience store and a new convenience store that is being developed as part of the Millwood Homes scheme close to the village centre. The sites are also located within a reasonable cycling distance of a wide range of local facilities available within the Cliffsend / Ramsgate area, including the Ramsgate town centre and its rail stations.

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Access on Foot

3.7 Cottington Road does not at present benefit from footways in the vicinity of the sites with the nearest footway commencing to the east at the junction with Oakland Court. This leads directly to further footways and pedestrian routes within Cliffs End and the village centre. The development of sites A and B would include the provision of new footways on the northern and southern side of Cottington Road connecting to the existing provision from Oakland Court. The review of pedestrian accessibility takes account of these footway improvements.

3.8 At the eastern end of Cottington Road, Beyond Oakland Court, an existing footway runs to the north of the carriageway and connects directly to bus stops and the village convenience store / post office located adjacent to Foads Lane. To the north of this point a further footway runs along the western side of Foads Lane leading to the proposed location for the convenience store within the Millwood Homes development. This footway is however interrupted over a section in the vicinity of the St Mary the Virgin church. As part of the Millwood Homes development proposals a new pedestrian crossing will be provided over Cliffsend Road. This will connect the Millwood Homes site with an existing footpath that runs across Marjorie Chapman meadow to the village hall / post office / convenience store / bus stops. The E Spanton Farms Ltd and Millwood homes footway proposals will therefore enable pedestrian access from the allocation sites to the proposed new convenience store within the village.

3.9 The existing bus stops within the village centre, together with the village hall / post office and convenience store are located 400m from the centre of the allocation sites. The new convenience store within the Millwood Homes development is located 650m from the centre of the site. The relevant advice on locating developments to encourage journeys by bus can be found within the document “Planning for Public Transport in Developments”, published by the IHT. This advises that bus stops should be located 400m from a development although slightly longer walking distances are not considered to be a significant deterrent to bus use. Both the existing bus stop locations in the vicinity fall just within the 400m IHT distance threshold, which equates to a very short walking time of only

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5 minutes. The existing Cliffsend bus services will therefore be convenient for those travelling on foot.

3.10 The relevant advice on locating developments to encourage pedestrian trips to local facilities by bus can be found within the document “Designing for Journeys on Foot”, also published by the IHT. This advises that a desirable maximum walking distance of 800m to local facilities. The existing Cliffsend village centre facilities and proposed new convenience store can be reached on foot well within this distance. Residential developments at the allocation sites will therefore be well placed to facilitate pedestrian trips to these facilities.

Access by Bicycle

3.11 It is commonly accepted that trips made by cycle have the potential to substitute for car journeys for distances up to 5 km. Significant areas within Thanet, including Ramsgate town centre and local rail stations can be reached within a reasonable 5 km cycle. There are no designated cycle routes in the immediate vicinity of the sites. However, a regional route the Viking Coastal Trail runs along Sandwich Road to the south of Cliffsend, which can be accessed within 5 km. Closer to the sites, the facilities available within Cliffsend village, which include a post office and convenience store, can be accessed within a short 450m cycle distance.

Access by Bus

3.12 The proposed allocations are well located to encourage trips by this mode of transport with bus stops located in close proximity on Foads Lane. These stops are served by the 42/42A routes which run between Ramsgate, Minster and Monkton with a frequency of 1 bus per hour in each direction during weekday AM and PM peak periods. In the local area the route gives access to Ramsgate town centre, the Westwood Cross shopping centre and Ramsgate rail station. Journey times to local facilities in Ramsgate are short (10 -15 minutes) The Foads Lane bus services will therefore enable residents to access a range of facilities and employment opportunities locally within the Ramsgate area. The 42 bus service runs along Cottington Road at the site frontage en-route to Cliffsend village centre. The allocation of Sites A and B would therefore provide the option to

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introduce a new stops at the frontage. The delivery of bus service enhancements would be explored further with KCC and the service operator.

Access By Train

3.13 The nearest rail station to the sites is Ramsgate, located 3 km to the east. The level of access rail services will however improve significantly with development of the Thanet Parkway Station which will be located a short distance from Sites A and B.

Sites A & B Planning History

3.14 A proportion of both of these sites have been allocated for housing within the Draft Local Plan with planning applications submitted and outline consent being achieved for each site. The Council has therefore accepted that these sites are a suitable location for residential development in transport and land use planning terms with reference to National and its own Local Plan policies. Site A has permission for 23 dwellings within an area of land at the eastern end of the proposed wider allocation, which abuts the existing Cliffsend village built up area. The approved access arrangements involve a priority junction connecting to the southern side of Cottington Road with associated footway improvements to enable pedestrian connectivity with the village. Plans illustrating the approved scheme layout and access arrangements can be seen at Appendix A. Site B has permission for 41 dwellings within an area of land at the eastern end of the proposed wider allocation which lies adjacent to the existing village built up area. Access is also via a priority junction, connecting to the northern side of Cottington Road with footway improvements to enable pedestrian connectivity with the village. The approved scheme layout and access plans can be seen at Appendix B.

Site C Land to the South of Canterbury Road West 3.15 This proposed allocation is located approximately 800m to the north of Cliffsend village centre on the southern side of Canterbury Road West and has a frontage to this road. The site adjoins existing residential areas within Cliffsend and is currently occupied by agricultural land extending to the south of Canterbury Road West.

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3.16 The site is bounded to the north by Canterbury Road West, to the east by residential areas and to the south and west by the A299 Hengist Way. The land is currently accessed via Canterbury Road West and Clive Road at the eastern boundary.

The Local Highway Network

3.17 In the vicinity of the site Canterbury Road West is a residential distributor road, approximately 6m wide and therefore accommodates two-way traffic. The road is subject to a 30 mph speed limit, is street lit and benefits from a footway running along the southern side of the carriageway heading east from the site, with a further footway also heading east commencing at King Arthur Road. Approximately 600m to the west of the site Canterbury Road West joins the A299 Thanet Way at a roundabout junction. To the east, 900m from the site, the road joins the A256 Haine Road and A299 Hengist Way at another roundabout junction. Cliffsend village centre to the south is accessed via Foads Hill / Foads Lane which joins Canterbury Road West at a point 150 to the east of the site. Foads Lane passes over a rail line via a barrier controlled level crossing en-route to the village.

3.18 Until relatively recently Canterbury Road West was the main traffic route into Ramsgate from Thanet Way to the west and consequently incurred two-way AADT traffic flows of 18-20,000 based on data from a permanent traffic counter located a short distance to the east of the site. During 2011 a new road (the A299 Hengist Way) was constructed to the south with the intention of relieving traffic from Canterbury Road West and Cliffsend. The new road involved a dual carriageway with major roundabout junctions and a tunnel under the rail line that bisects Cliffs End. The A299 now provides a route to Sandwich to the southwest of Cliffsend and Ramsgate to the east without through traffic using local residential roads. To further deter through vehicle movements along Canterbury Road West, KCC has implemented a traffic calming scheme, which in the immediate vicinity of the site, involved a reduction in carriageway width to the east enabling a significant increase in footway widths. This has had the effect of reducing vehicle speeds along this section of the road which is subject to a 30 mph limit.

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3.19 The A299 Hengist Way highway works and Canterbury Road West traffic calming has resulted in a significant reduction in traffic along Canterbury Road West. surveys undertaken during 2014 indicate that the road now incurs only 3965 two- way vehicle movements per day.

Accessibility

3.20 Site C is located within a short walking distance of existing bus stops located on either side of Canterbury Road West and a reasonable cycling distance of a wide range of local facilities available within the Cliffsend / Ramsgate area, including the Ramsgate town centre and its rail stations. A residential development will therefore be well placed to promote sustainable travel by modes of transport other than the car.

Access on Foot

3.21 Canterbury Road West benefits from an existing footway that runs to the east of the site along the southern side of the road, which is joined by a further footway along the northern side of the road commencing at King Arthur Road. These pedestrian routes give access to existing bus stops located on either side of Canterbury Road West to the east, which are located 150m - 200m from the proposed access location. The development of housing at the adjacent Jentex site will result in stops being located within 100m close to the site frontage. The relevant advice on locating developments to encourage journeys by bus can be found within the document “Planning for Public Transport in Developments”, published by the IHT. This advises that bus stops should be located 400m from a development although slightly longer walking distances are not considered to be a significant deterrent to bus use. Both the existing and proposed bus stop locations in the vicinity of the site fall well within the 400m IHT distance threshold making access to bus services convenient for those travelling on foot.

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Access by Bicycle

3.22 It is commonly accepted that trips made by cycle have the potential to substitute for car journeys for distances up to 5 km. Significant areas within Thanet, including Ramsgate town centre and local rail stations can be reached within a reasonable 5 km cycle. There are no designated cycle routes in the immediate vicinity of the site. However, a regional route the Viking Coastal Trail runs along Sandwich Road to the south of Cliffsend, which can be accessed within 5 km. Closer to the site the facilities available within Cliffsend village, which include a post office and convenience store, can be accessed within a short 800m cycle distance.

Access by Bus

3.23 Site C is well located to encourage trips by this mode of transport with bus stops located in close proximity to the site on Canterbury Road West. These stops are served by the 9/9X route which runs between Canterbury and Ramsgate, and Westwood with a frequency of 2 buses per hour in each direction during weekday AM and PM peak periods. In the local area the route gives access to Ramsgate town centre, the Westwood Cross shopping centre and local rail stations at Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Dumpton Park. Journey times to local facilities in Ramsgate are short (10 -15 minutes) with Canterbury being accessible within 30 minutes. The Canterbury Road West bus services will therefore enable the allocation site residents to access a range of facilities and employment opportunities both locally and within Canterbury.

Access By Train

3.24 The nearest rail station to the site is Ramsgate, located 3 km to the east. The level of access rail services will however improve significantly with development of the Thanet Parkway Station which will be located a short distance from Site C.

Site C Planning History

3.25 A proportion of this site has been allocated for housing within the Draft Local Plan with a planning application submitted and outline consent being achieved. The Council has therefore accepted that Site C is a suitable location for residential

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development in transport and land use planning terms with reference to National and its own Local Plan policies. Site C has permission for 65 dwellings within an area of land at the eastern end of the proposed wider allocation, which abuts existing residential areas. The approved access arrangements involve a priority junction connecting to the southern side of Canterbury Road West with associated footway improvements to enable pedestrian connectivity. Plans illustrating the approved scheme layout and access arrangements can be seen at Appendix C.

Parkway Station Proposals

3.26 Kent County Council has in 2018 submitted a planning application for the development of a new railway station on land adjacent to the existing rail line that passes through Cliffsend. This line runs between Ashford and Ramsgate and serves London Mainline and high speed services. The purpose of the new Thanet Parkway Station is to significantly reduce commuting times to London, as a means of supporting investment and growth in East Kent and Thanet. The new station forms a key part of the Thanet Transport Strategy and is supported by the District Council Local Plan policy SP45.

3.27 As shown at Figure 3.1, the station will be located on an area of land bounded to the north by the A299 Hengist Way and to the south by the existing rail line. The County Council has acquired this land from E. Spanton Farms Ltd, with a small residual area remaining adjacent to the station that could accommodate approximately 30 – 40 new dwellings or the provision of new local facilities to support the station and development new housing in the area. Drawing on information contained within a Transport Assessment (TA) submitted with the planning application this proposal includes the following main elements.

(i) Two parallel 12 car platforms with a bridge between

(ii) Parking for 319 cars and 40 cycles with provision for cycles and electric vehicle charging points.

(iii) Vehicular access via a new signalled junction connecting to the southern side of Hengist Way

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(iv) Pedestrian and cycle access via improvements to existing pedestrian routes to the north and south. To the north an existing path which crosses over the A299 will be extended surfaced and lit linking to Clive Road. To the south another existing path will be improved and lit. This will give access to Cottington Road via an existing underpass beneath the rail line.

(v) The introduction of bus services via the diversion of existing Stagecoach bus routes 9 and 43 to serve the station.

3.28 The station TA predicts that rail passenger numbers will be in the order of 291 at peak times during the 2021 opening year rising to 328 during 2031. The vehicular access will take the form of a three arm signalled junction connecting to Hengist Way. An extract from the TA illustrating the proposed junction layout can be seen at Appendix D. The report tested the junction traffic capacity at peak times during a 2031 assessment year, with the results demonstrated that the layout would operate with significant reserve capacity (30%). TA extracts illustrating the pedestrian and cycle access proposals can also be seen at Appendix D.

3.29 It is proposed that the 9 and 43 bus routes would divert to serve the station, operating at current service frequencies. The number 9 route currently runs between Westwood and Canterbury via Broadstairs and Ramsgate and operates with a service frequency of 1 bus per hour at weekday peak times. The number 43 route runs between Westwood and Canterbury via Ramsgate and Sandwich with a service frequency of 2 buses per hour at weekday peak times. It is considered likely that the growth in rail passenger numbers over the Local Plan period and additional demand generated by significant new housing in Cliffsend, if allocated, would be sufficient for bus service frequencies and provision to be increased at the station.

Sites A, B & C Access Strategy

3.30 Through the planning permissions obtained for a proportion of the Cliffsend allocations it has already been demonstrated that suitable access for all modes can be achieved for approximately 130 new dwellings within Cliffsend. This includes pedestrian and cycle access to the proposed Parkway Station as the District Council granted permission on the basis that each site could provide

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suitable connections to the station. The overall access strategy for all modes proposed to support the development of up to 800 dwellings at sites A, B and C plus the residual land adjacent to the station is illustrated at Figure 3.1. This is described in more detail for each site as follows:

Sites A and B Land to the South and North Cottington Road Vehicular Access

3.31 Both of these sites have extensive frontages along the northern and southern side of Cottington Road. The consented developments, totalling 64 dwellings will be served by new junctions connecting to the northern and southern side of this road, with the works including carriageway widening where necessary. The proposed allocations would involve a significant increase in housing numbers above the permitted level and to comply with the Kent Design Guide standards it is envisaged that additional highway access points to Cottington Road may be required. The extent of the E Spanton Farms Ltd land holdings on either side of this road suggests that should be no barriers to delivering additional highway access works or carriageway widening along Cottington Road if required.

Pedestrian / Cycle Access

3.32 If allocated, these sites would provide new lit footways running along the northern at southern side of Cottington Road connecting the development area with the existing pedestrian provision within Cliffsend village to the east. The outline permissions for housing at Sites A and B include the provision of these footway works and hence it has been demonstrated that they can be delivered.

Access to Bus Services

3.33 Sites A and B are located within a short walking distance, within 400m of the existing bus services available within Cliffsend village and the 42 bus service currently runs along Cottington Road at the site frontage. The allocation of Sites A and B would present the opportunity to introduce a new stops at the frontage, bringing services closer to residents. The delivery of bus service enhancements would be explored further with KCC and the service operator. These sites will also benefit from proximity to the bus services that will be introduced as part of the Parkway Station proposals. Measured from the centre of each site the walking Land at Cliffsend, Ramsgate Page 21 Transport Appraisal

distance between Sites A and B and the station will be only 500m and 300m respectively which is in accordance with the IHT guidance on locating developments to encourage bus travel.

Access to Rail Services

3.34 Both Sites A and B are located within a short walking distance from the proposed Parkway Station. The relevant guidance on locating developments to encourage rail journeys is published by the IHT within the document ‘Planning for Public Transport in Developments’. This recommends a maximum walking distance of 800m to stations and both sites fall well within this threshold.

Connections to the Parkway Station

3.35 Both allocations will be able to provide suitable pedestrian and cycle access to the new station via the existing footpath which connects the north east corner of Site B with the station site via an underpass beneath the existing rail line. As outlined within the Station TA report, this route will be upgraded to a shared pedestrian and cycle facility and will also be lit. If allocated, the internal layout of roads and footpaths within Sites A and B would be designed to enable suitable connections to this path and the station.

Site C, Land to the South of Canterbury Road West Vehicular Access 3.36 This site has an extensive frontage along the southern side of Canterbury Road West. The consented development involves 65 dwellings served by new junction connecting to southern side of this road, with the works to include footway improvements where necessary. The proposed allocation would involve a significant increase in housing numbers above the permitted level and to comply with the Kent Design Guide standards it is envisaged that an additional highway access point to Canterbury Road West may be required and potentially also to the A299 Hengist Way. The extent of the E Spanton Farms Ltd land holdings at these locations suggests that should be no barriers to delivering additional highway access points if required. At the A299 the three arm signalled access junction proposed to serve the Parkway Station could be expanded to include a northern arm serving Site C if required. The junction assessments undertaken as

Land at Cliffsend, Ramsgate Page 22 Transport Appraisal

part of the Station Transport Assessment confirm that the Hengist Way signalled access will operate with significant reserve capacity for traffic. It therefore has the potential to accommodate this proposal.

Pedestrian / Cycle Access 3.37 If allocated, this site would deliver footway improvements along the southern side of Canterbury Road West connecting the development area with the existing pedestrian provision to the east. In addition connections would be provided to the existing residential estates located at the eastern site boundary via Clive Road. The outline permissions for housing at Site C includes the provision of footway works and hence it has been demonstrated that they can be delivered.

Access to Bus Services

3.38 Site C is located within a short walking distance, within 200m of the existing 9/9X bus services available at Canterbury Road West .This site will also benefit from proximity to the bus services that will be introduced as part of the Parkway Station proposals. Measured from the centre of the site the walking distance between site C and the station will be approximately 600m. This is slightly further than the 400m distance recommended by the IHT guidance but equates to a relatively short walking time of 7 – 8 minutes.

Access to Rail Services

3.39 Site C is located within a short walking distance (600m) from the proposed Parkway Station. This falls well within recommended IHT distance threshold of 800m.

Connections to the Parkway Station

3.40 This allocation will be able to provide suitable pedestrian and cycle access to the new station via the existing footpath which connects the south east corner of Site C with the station and crosses over the rail line. As outlined within the Station TA report, this route will be upgraded to a shared pedestrian and cycle facility and will also be lit. If allocated, the internal layout of roads and footpaths within Site C would be designed to enable suitable connections to this path and the station.

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Residual Land Adjacent to the Parkway Station

3.41 The Parkway Station will be developed on land acquired from E. Spanton Farms Ltd. Once completed, a residual area located to the northwest of and adjacent to the station will remain with the landowner and it has been identified that this area will have the capacity to develop approximately 30 – 40 dwellings and / or local facilities such as a convenience store that would serve rail passengers and new housing in the area. It is proposed that development on this land would be accessed via a connection to the proposed access road that would serve the new station and its junction with Hengist Way. The junction assessments undertaken as part of the Station Transport Assessent confirm that the Hengist Way signalled access will operate with significant reserve capacity for traffic. The access proposals submitted with the station planning application should therefore be suitable to accommodate the modest level of development envisaged within the residual land.

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4 Policy Compliance

4.1 Taking into account the proposed access strategy and proximity to the Parkway Station this section reviews the sites compliance with the sustainable transport policies and strategies outlined within the NPPF and the Thanet District Draft Local Plan / Transport Strategy.

NPPF Paragraph 102

4.2 This advises how transport issues should be addressed at the early stages of the plan making and development process to ensure that sustainable transport modes can be encouraged, existing / proposed transport infrastructure can be fully utilised and road traffic / environmental impacts mitigated. The proposed allocations within Cliffsend will meet these objectives for the following reasons.

(i) The proposed allocations are in locations which provide a good level of access to existing public transport services and local facilities and new housing will be in close proximity to the proposed Thanet Parkway Station. The proposed additional residential development within Cliffsend will therefore encourage the take up of sustainable modes.

(ii) Due to their close proximity, the allocations will be well placed to take advantage of the Parkway Station, which will be a significant public transport hub and thus assist in ensuring that new transport infrastructure and services will be utilised.

(iii) The proposed allocations being located in accessible and sustainable locations in transport terms will reduce reliance on the private car which will assist in mitigating the traffic and environmental impacts of new development.

Paragraph 103

4.3 This recommends locating significant new developments in locations that are or can be made sustainable to encourage the take up of non-car modes. The proposed allocation sites are currently considered to be sustainable in travel terms, as planning permission for residential development has already been Land at Cliffsend, Ramsgate Page 25 Transport Appraisal

granted on a proportion of each site. The existing level of transport sustainability will be significantly enhanced by the provision of new rail and bus services associated with the Parkway Station. The sites will therefore comply with this aspect of the NPPF.

Paragraph 104

4.4 This encourages the development of a mix of uses for larger schemes, including the provision of local facilities to reduce the number of trips required to sustain new development. It also advocates the provision of high quality pedestrian and cycle networks. The proposed allocations within Cliffsend will meet these objectives for the following reasons.

(i) The location of significant new housing development and a public transport hub in close proximity presents the opportunity to develop new local facilities that will be supported by both residents and rail / bus passengers. This will assist in reducing the number of car trips associated with new residential development within Thanet District.

(ii) The Parkway Station proposals include good quality pedestrian and cycle links to existing residential areas within Cliffsend, including Sites A, B and C. If allocated, the internal network and roads and footways within these development areas would be designed to ensure good quality connections to the station.

Paragraph 108

4.5 This lists the factors to be considered when assessing the suitability potential allocation sites or specific development proposals. It focuses on the need for developments to encourage the take up of sustainable modes of transport, provide safe access for all users and ensure that impacts on the highway network can be satisfactorily mitigated. The proposed allocations at Cliffsend will comply with these provisions as:

(i) The proposed allocations are in locations which provide a good level of access to existing public transport services and local facilities and new housing will be in close proximity to the proposed Thanet Parkway Station. Land at Cliffsend, Ramsgate Page 26 Transport Appraisal

The proposed additional residential development within Cliffsend will therefore encourage the take up of sustainable modes.

(ii) Section 3 of this Transport Appraisal provided details for access arrangements that have been approved at part of the planning permissions granted for Sites A, B and C. The principle of safe access in line with the NPPF requirements has therefore been accepted by the planning authority for these sites. In addition, the land owner controls sufficient land at the site frontages to Cottington Road and Canterbury Road West for additional access works to be implemented if necessary, to serve up to 800 dwellings over the three sites as a whole.

(iii) In relation to mitigation the proposed allocations are located in accessible and sustainable locations in transport terms that will reduce reliance on the private car which will assist in mitigating the traffic and environmental impacts of new development. In addition, the Cliffsend allocations are proposed to fall within the overall housing numbers set out within the Draft Local Plan as an alternative to the Strategic Allocation sites. The highway and planning authority has, through the Draft Thanet District Transport Strategy, committed to implementing a package of intervention measures aimed at mitigating the impact of additional traffic generated by new development over the plan period. This would include the Cliffsend sites, if allocated.

Paragraph 110

4.6 This encourages sustainable development by giving priority to pedestrian and cycle movements and facilitate access to high quality public transport that maximises the catchment area for bus and other public transport. The proposed Cliffsend allocations will comply well with these objectives as good quality pedestrian and cycle connections will be provided to the Parkway Station and surrounding residential areas. In addition the development of up to 800 dwellings with a short walking distance of the station will provide a substantial catchment and patronage for the new rail and bus services.

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Draft Thanet Local Plan – 2031

4.7 The key Local Plan transport policies, relevant to the proposed Cliffsend allocations are SP41 and SP42 which deal with the need for developments to promote safe and sustainable travel, promote walking and cycling and locate developments that can take advantage of existing and planned services and facilities to reduce reliance on the car. In addition Policy SP45 outlines the Council’s commitment to the Thanet Parkway Station. These policy objectives follow similar themes to the NPPF and it has been demonstrated above that the Cliffsend allocations will comply with the NPPF sustainable travel objectives. The allocations will therefore also comply well with the requirements of policies SP41 and SP42. In relation to the Parkway Station the development of significant new housing in Cliffsend will provide a valuable catchment and patronage for the new rail and bus services proposed and will support the Council’s policy objectives.

Thanet District Draft Transport Strategy

4.7 The Strategy, described at Section 2 of this report, adopts four key themes. These are:

(i) Encourage sustainable travel habits

(ii) Manage journey times

(iv) Improve network resilience

(v) Reduce the requirement to travel

4.8 The proposed allocations at Cliffsend adhere well to these objectives as proximity to the Parkway Station will encourage sustainable travel and reduce the requirement to travel as residents will be within walking distance of rail and improved bus services. In relation to highway network issues, Section 5 of this Transport Appraisal demonstrates that developing additional housing within Cliffsend will lead to a reduced impact on key traffic congestion points over the network when compared with the Strategic Allocations being promoted by Thanet District Council. This will assist in managing journey times and improving network resilience.

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5 Transport Appraisal

5.1 This section of the report undertakes a review of the transport issues associated with development of the proposed Cliffsend allocations and Local Plan Strategic Allocations drawing on the data and assessments contained within the Draft Thanet District Transport Strategy. This Section also establishes whether the Cliffsend allocations will be a more suitable location for new housing with respect to sustainable travel and the potential impact on the local highway network.

Thanet District Transport Strategy, 2nd Draft 2018

5.2 The Transport Strategy has been prepared jointly by Kent County Council and Thanet District Council. It forms a key part of the evidence base which informs the Local Plan process, including decisions on specific housing allocations. The document covers the period 2015 to 2031 i.e. the Local Plan period and replaces the former Thanet Transport Plan (2005). The purpose of the Strategy is to provide a transport policy framework to the year 2031 to support planned growth within Thanet District.

5.3 The document provides a description of the existing highway and public transport network conditions within the district and highlights areas and locations currently experiencing problems in relation to traffic congestion and air quality. The Strategy, using the results of traffic modelling undertaken for key highway links and junctions, then establishes a program of interventions that will be required to enable the local network to accommodate trips associated with new housing and employment envisaged over the local plan period. The interventions range from proposed highway works at key locations to improvements in pedestrian / cycle infrastructure and bus service provision. The development of the Thanet Parkway Station is highlighted as being the main public transport project within the Strategy. The assessment of the network impact of planned housing and employment growth over the period to 2031 focuses on the Strategic Allocations included within the Draft Local Plan. Table 5.1 lists these strategic sites along with the housing numbers anticipated over the plan period to 2031.

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Table 5.1: Local Plan Strategic Allocations Site Housing Allocation (Dwellings) Westwood 1450 Birchington on Sea 1600 Westgate on Sea 2000 Land at Manston Court / Haine 1200 Road Manston Green 700 Hartsdown / Shottendane 550 Total 7500

5.4 An extract from the Transport Strategy illustrating the location for the strategic sites can be seen at Appendix E.

Highway Capacity Issues

5.5 The Transport Strategy lists a number of specific locations over the Thanet network which currently experience traffic delays during peak hour demand periods, to the extent that these locations will require interventions in the form of highways improvements to increase capacity or better manage travel demand and route choices. The following have been identified:

(i) B2050 / B2190 Spitfire Junction, which is a convergence of two distributor roads located in the middle of the district with Manston Road. It has been identified that significant queues form at peak times on the B2190 from the west and on the westbound approach of Manston Road.

(ii) A28 / Marine Terrace / Marine Parade ( Seafront). This sits at the end of the A28 primary route corridor into Thanet and incurs delays due to traffic volume along with other factors.

(iii) A256 / A255 Dane Court Roundabout. This serves as a central convergence point for distributor routes to Westwood, Margate, Broadstairs and St Peter’s and suffers from significant queue lengths at peak times.

(iv) B2052 Coffin House Corner. This operates as a signalled junction and is the intersection of four important local routes. It has been identified as being one of the busiest junctions in the district.

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(v) The Westwood Cross area. This is the main retail and leisure destination in the district and consequently junctions here incur congestion issues, especially at weekends.

(vi) A254 / B2052 Victoria Signalled Junction. This is a complex five way junction linking College Road, A254 Ramsgate Road and Beatrice Road, which incurs congestion at peak times.

(vii) A28 / Birchington Square. This junction links Station Road with the A28 Canterbury Road, which is the main road corridor leading to Margate. It incurs long delays during peak periods.

(viii) A255 St Lawrence Junctions. The junctions along the A255 within the St Lawrence area suffer from extended peak hour queueing.

(ix) A256 Haine Road / Westwood Road corridor. The A256 is the main road corridor for traffic entering and leaving Thanet from the south and the popularity of Westwood Cross as a shopping destination leads to significant traffic volumes in this area during weekday peak periods and at weekends.

Air Quality Issues

5.6 The Transport Strategy highlights that Thanet has the highest fine particles mortality rate in Kent and that transport is recognised to be one of the largest causes of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) pollution. Within the district, two locations have been identified as currently experiencing NO2 levels exceeding the recommended health objective due to road transport emissions. These are The Square, Birchington and High Street St Lawrence in Ramsgate.

Transport Strategy Highway Interventions

5.7 Having established the key areas on the Thanet Network currently experiencing traffic and air quality problems the Strategy identifies program of highway improvements aimed at reducing traffic congestion and managing demand assuming the Local Plan projected growth in employment and housing over the period to 2031. This exercise was informed by network traffic modelling undertaken using SATURN. The proposed interventions form part of the Inner Circuit Route Improvement Strategy (ICRIS). This is aimed at providing direct

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access to and from the A28 and A299 major road network without impacting on built up areas or causing additional congestion on the network.

5.8 In relation to the Strategic Allocation sites, the Transport Strategy establishes that a number of them will have a significant impact on currently congested highway routes and junctions, including the locations where air quality thresholds are currently being breached. As a consequence a number of development led highways improvement schemes will be required to enable the Strategic Allocations to proceed. These are summarised over the following sections for the locations where significant traffic congestion has been identified.

Birchington

5.9 The allocations here, totalling 1600 dwellings, will be required to provide new internal road connections, designed as a distributor road, linking the A28 with Minnis Road to the north and Park Lane to the east. It is stated that these highway improvements will have the potential to divert traffic from Birchington Square. There is however no evidence within the Transport Strategy to demonstrate that these highways works will reduce NO2 emissions at Birchington to an acceptable level given the significant increase in traffic that will occur with a development of 1600 dwellings.

Westgate / Margate

5.10 The Transport Strategy identifies that the Strategic Allocation in this location (2000 dwellings) will impact on the A28 route corridor with significant junction improvements required along the entire A28 mitigate the impact of additional trips. In addition improvements on Shottendane Road would be required plus a new link road between Shottendane Road and Manston Road using development land.

Westwood

5.11 Due to its popularity as the main retail and leisure destination within the district it is predicted that highways in the Westwood Cross area will experience traffic growth arising from the adjacent Westwood allocation (1450 dwellings) and the other Strategic Allocation sites within the district. To tackle traffic congestion Land at Cliffsend, Ramsgate Page 32 Transport Appraisal

issues Kent County Council is in the process of implementing the Westwood Relief Strategy, which over time is intended to deliver a single carriageway ring road around the fringes of Westwood Town Centre.

5.12 In summary the Transport Strategy highlights that a significant proportion of the Strategic Allocation sites, in terms of housing numbers, will impact on the operation of the Thanet Network, especially the A28 corridor to such an extent that a major program of highway improvement works will be necessary. It is also evident that the Birchington allocation is located in an area where NO2 levels exceed the recommended limits with no clear evidence that additional traffic will not impact on air quality.

Proposed Cliffsend Allocations

5.13 The Transport Strategy did not test the traffic impact associated with the three proposed housing allocations in Cliffsend and the SATURN network model used by Kent County Council to inform the Strategy has not been made available for this Transport Appraisal. A desktop exercise has therefore been undertaken to establish how the proposed Cliffsend allocations would impact on the Thanet highway network when compared with the Strategic Allocations assessed within the Transport Strategy.

5.14 As shown by Figure 1.1 Cliffsend is located on the western side of Ramsgate and is served primarily by the A299 route (Hengist Way) and A256 Haine Road. In this area the A299 carries traffic between Thanet and the M2 motorway but also gives access to the A28 serving Canterbury. The A299 links to the A28 to the west of the Thanet urban area and from this point the A28 corridor towards Canterbury is significantly less congested than locations such as Margate Sea Front, Westgate and Birchington Square. None of the highway junctions within Cliffsend which carry traffic to the west of Thanet are identified as incurring traffic congestion issues. The A256 Haine Road is the main route carrying traffic between Cliffsend and the Westwood Cross retail and leisure facilities and traffic congestion issues have been identified for this corridor. To the east of Cliffsend the A299 links to the A256 Canterbury Road East, which is the main route into Ramsgate.

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5.15 Due to their location, the proposed Cliffsend allocations and associated traffic will have a lesser impact on the most congested points on the Thanet Highway network when compared with the Strategic Allocation sites for the following reasons.

(i) Destinations to the west of Thanet, such as the M2 motorway which leads to the rest of Kent and London and A28 serving Canterbury will be a significant draw for residents, especially for employment related trips. Cliffsend residents will be able to access these routes avoiding the most congested highways within the Thanet urban area which are located to the northeast of Cliffsend. Employment trips will make up a significant proportion of the overall traffic generated by the proposed Cliffsend allocations.

(ii) To the east of Cliffsend, the A256 corridor leading to Westwood and A299 / A256 leading to Margate will be a draw for residents. However accessing these locations will not require traffic to use the most congested routes such as the A28 corridor in the vicinity of the Margate, Westgate and Birchington Strategic Allocations. In relation to Westwood, Kent County Council has put in place The Westwood Relief Strategy to address traffic congestion issues over the Local Plan Period.

5.16 In relation to air quality, none of the highway routes and junctions at and in the vicinity of Cliffsend that will carry the majority of additional residential traffic, currently breach the accepted NO2 thresholds. Due to their location the proposed Cliffsend allocations will also not generate significant additional traffic at the two locations where air quality problems have been identified, namely Birchington Square and High Street St Lawrence. The Transport Strategy has identified that the Strategic Allocations will generation significant additional traffic in the areas, especially at Birchington.

5.17 Given the above factors, it would therefore be beneficial in highway capacity and air quality terms to develop housing sites at Cliffsend as an alternative to the Strategic Allocations, as these could be delivered without the major program of highways improvements associated with some of the Strategic sites.

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Sustainable Travel 5.18 A proportion of the proposed Cliffsend allocations have been granted planning permission for a total of 126 dwellings. The District Council has therefore considered Cliffsend to be a sustainable location for new housing in line with NPPF and Draft Local Plan policies and objectives. The Transport Strategy review of the Strategic Allocations does not supply much detail for the extent of public transport, pedestrian and cycle interventions required to make them sustainable in travel terms. However it is clear that none of the Strategic sites benefits from a close proximity to one of the district’s existing rail stations. One of the key benefits of developing housing in Cliffsend will be proximity to the new Thanet Parkway Station with the proposed allocations being located within a short walking / cycling distance (under 800m) from the station.

5.19 The Transport Strategy highlights that one of the key factors presenting a barrier to rail travel within Thanet is a lack of affordable and accessible parking at existing stations. This has led to commuters travelling out of the district to access rail facilities increasing the length of car journeys. Development of the Parkway Station has been identified as a solution to this issue, with significant commuter parking being introduced as part of the proposals. The new station will however still result in a significant number of car journeys being generated from the Strategic Allocations on the Thanet network. Allocating housing sites that are located within walking distance of the station, such as the proposed Cliffsend allocations will be a far more sustainable alternative in transport terms as the number of car journeys associated with a commuter journey out of the district will be significantly reduced. In this regard additional housing at Cliffsend will be better placed to comply with the NPPF and Local Plan policy objectives of reducing the number of car journeys required to sustain new developments.

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6 Summary and Conclusions

Summary

6.1 This Transport Appraisal has been prepared to consider access traffic and sustainable travel issues associated with transport issues associated with three potential housing allocation sites located within at Cliffs End, Ramsgate, Kent. These sites have the potential to deliver 600 – 800 dwellings within the Draft Thanet District Local Plan over the period to 2031. A proportion of the proposed allocations have consent for 129 dwellings and these sites lie in close proximity to a significant new public transport hub being developed in Thanet, the Parkway Station. This will significantly improve the sustainability of the Cliffsend area in transport terms making it a suitable location for significantly more housing that presently consented.

6.2 Set against this background the report has assessed in transport terms the suitability of proposed allocations in Cliffsend to accommodate up to 800 units as an alternative to the strategic housing sites allocated within the Draft Local Plan.

Conclusions

6.3 Further to the assessments undertaken, the following main conclusions can be drawn:

(i) A portion of the proposed Ciffsend allocation sites benefit from planning permission for 129 dwellings. The Council has therefore accepted that these sites are a suitable location for residential development in transport and land use planning terms with reference to National and its own Local Plan policies.

(ii) A suitable access strategy for each site can be developed to provide connections to the local highway network and pedestrian / cycling connectivity with the Thanet Parkway Station. These connections will enable residents to access rail services and proposed new bus services within a short walking distance (300m – 600m).

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(iii) A review of the proposed Cliffsend allocations with respect to the NPPF, Draft Thanet District Local Plan sustainable travel policies and the Thanet District Transport Strategy indicates that the proposed Cliffsend allocations will comply well with the key objectives of reducing the need to travel by car and encouraging the take up of sustainable modes, namely walking, cycling and public transport. The proposals will also assist in managing travel demand and improving highway network resilience.

(iv) The development of significant new housing in close proximity to the Parkway Station will provide an important catchment and patronage to support the development of the station and potentially adjacent local facilities. This is consistent with the Draft Local Plan and Transport Strategy objectives.

(v) Due to their location, the proposed Cliffsend allocations and associated traffic will have a lesser impact on the most congested points on the Thanet highway network when compared with the Strategic Allocation sites put forward within the Draft Local Plan, especially those at Birchington and Westagte on Sea. In addition, the Cliffsend allocations will not generate significant additional traffic at locations on the Thanet Network that currently breach the acceptable air quality thresholds, when compared with the Strategic Allocations.

(vi) Delivery of housing at the proposed Cliffsend allocations will not require the same extent of highways improvement works required to deliver a number of the Strategic Allocation sites.

(vii) In relation to the proximity to rail services Cliffsend will be a more sustainable location for new housing development than the Strategic sites within the district as allocations here will be within walking distance from the Parkway Station reducing the number of car journeys required as part of an overall commuter journey. A number of the Strategic Allocations are remote from the station and cannot provide sustainable links to it.

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(viii) Overall in transport terms the development of up to 800 dwellings at Cliffsend should be considered as a sustainable alternative to the Strategic Housing Allocations promoted by Thanet District Council and will comply with the Local Plan and Transport Strategy policies and objectives.

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Figures

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Appendix A Site A Consented Scheme and Access Layout

40

Appendix B Site B Consented Scheme and Access Layout

41

Appendix C Site C Consented Scheme and Access Layout

42

Appendix D Thanet Parkway Station Access Proposals

43

Thanet Parkway Station Transport Assessment

5. The Proposed Development

5.1 Introduction The proposed Thanet Parkway Station will comprise the station (i.e. the platforms and station buildings) and the associated car park and forecourt. This section provides further information regarding the station, car park and forecourt. It also discusses the infrastructure and services which will be provided to enable access to the station by a variety of travel modes.

5.2 Summary Description of the Proposed Thanet Parkway Station The GRIP 3 station options were prepared by AECOM’s design team in accordance with the Station Specification prepared by KCC in conjunction with Network Rail and Southeastern (the present Train Operating Company). Where the specification was not prescriptive suggested types / sizes / locations etc. were proposed for consideration. Figure 5-1 shows the layout of the proposed development, excluding the highway junction access works on the A299 Hengist Way.

Figure 5-1: Layout of Proposed Thanet Parkway Station

The proposed Thanet Parkway Station will be located on and adjacent to, the section of railway line between Cottington Road and the A299 Hengist Way underpass beneath Foads Lane. The station will consist of two platforms, each measuring up to 252m in length and therefore able to accommodate trains of up to 12 cars in length. Each platform will include customer information displays, shelters and a passenger help point. In addition, CCTV and public address speakers will be mounted on lighting columns at the back of each platform.

A station forecourt, forming the main access to the station, will be located to the north of the platforms. A car park will also be situated to the north of the station platforms. Connectivity to the platform on the other side of the station will be enabled by either a footbridge or underpass, with lifts in place to enable users with impaired mobility to traverse the railway lines. Disabled access will be further considered during the detailed design of the station, taking account of the gap between the platform and the train, and the height of the platform.

AECOM 43

Thanet Parkway Station Transport Assessment

 A new signalised T-junction with dedicated turning lanes that will provide access to/from the station at A299 Hengist Way; and  A two-way single access road to/from the station. This layout enables the station and car park to be located close to the main road.

KCC has confirmed that they have had a Road Safety Audit Stage 1 undertaken for these proposals. The access road to the station from its junction with Hengist Way will have a nominal carriageway width of 6.75m. Pedestrian footways are not proposed alongside this road as there are no existing pedestrian facilities on Hengist Way.

The junction layout and general arrangements for this junction are shown in Figure 5-2.

Figure 5-2: General Arrangement of Proposed New Junction on A299 Hengist Way

Source: Based on Constructability Plan, Thanet Parkway Station. Buckingham Group Contracting Limited for KCC, Issue 4, dated 23 April 2018

5.6 Station Car Park and Forecourt The proposed development will include 311 parking spaces. The car park will also include disabled bays, a dedicated area for motorcycles, 16 spaces offering electric car charging points and spaces for cycle storage. The car park will also have lighting and CCTV cameras to aid security. There will also be a dedicated area for pick up/drop off and a reserved taxi rank. Charges for parking at the station will be decided by Kent County Council, who will operate the car park following submission of the planning application.

The footprint of land for the station facilities, including the car park and forecourt, has been designed so that it can accommodate the forecast future travel demands.

AECOM 50

Appendix E Strategic Allocations

44

Thanet District Transport Strategy 2015-2031 (Draft)

1 3

4 2

5

6

© Crown Copyright and database right 2016. Ordnance Survey 100019238

Figure 18 - Key Strategic Development Sites

(1) Margate 8.2.3 This site is located to the south of Margate. It comprises of two land parcels to the north and south of Shottendane Road. The site provides the opportunity to provide new highway links between Hartsdown Road and Manston Road, which allows traffic to travel to and from Westwood and the Waste and Recycling Centre without negotiating Coffin House Corner or the existing Shottendane Road/Manston Road junctions.

(2) Birchington on Sea

8.2.4 An open site located to the south and west of Birchington settlement to both sides of the A28 Road corridor. This site provides an opportunity to improve highway access to Minnis Bay and Quex Park, providing a level of managed growth in relation to the A28 Birchington Square.

(3) Westgate on Sea

8.2.5 A residential development located to the south of existing settlements in Westgate and on both sides of Minster Road. The site provides an opportunity for sustainable development and can deliver contributions towards wider improvements within Shottendane Road. A new highway link between Shottendane Road and the A28 could also be delivered (subject to land).

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