Caulmert Limited Engineering, Environmental & Planning Consultancy Services

The Marine & Property Group Ltd

Proposed Development of 11 No Apartments

at Porth Y Llechen, Y Felinheli

Transport Statement

Prepared by Phil Smith

Caulmert Limited Units 21 & 22 c/o Glyndŵr Innovations Ltd, St Asaph Business Park, St Asaph, Denbighshire, LL17 0JD Tel: 01745 530890 Email: [email protected] Web: www.caulmert.com

Document Reference: 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300.C1

January 2021

Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

APPROVAL RECORD

Site: Porth Y Llechen, Felinheli

Client: Powell Dobson

Project Title: Proposed Development of 11 No Apartments at Porth Y Llechen, Y Felinheli

Document Title: Transport Statement

Document Ref: 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300.C1

Report Status: Draft

Project Manager: Jonathan Sykes

Caulmert Limited: Units 21 & 22, c/o Glyndŵr Innovations Ltd, Ffordd William Morgan St Asaph Business Park, St Asaph, Denbighshire LL17 0JD

Phil Smith Author Date January 2021 Principal Engineer Lauren Eaton-Jones Reviewer Date February 2021 Senior Planner Neil Foxall Approved Date February 2021 Associate Director

Revision Log Revision Description of Change Approved Effective Date C1 Issued for publication -- --

DISCLAIMER

This report has been prepared by Caulmert Limited with all reasonable skill, care and diligence in accordance with the instruction of the above-named client and within the terms and conditions of the Contract with the Client.

The report is for the sole use of the above-named Client and Caulmert Limited shall not be held responsible for any use of the report or its content for any purpose other than that for which it was prepared and provided to the Client.

Caulmert Limited accepts no responsibility of whatever nature to any third parties who may have been made aware of or have acted in the knowledge of the report or its contents.

No part of this document may be copied or reproduced without the prior written approval of Caulmert Limited.

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 1 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 4 1.1 Background ...... 4 1.2 Scope of Report ...... 4

2.0 PLANNING POLICY ...... 5 2.1 Planning Policy (PPW) ...... 5 2.2 & Joint Local Development Plan (JLDP) ...... 5

3.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS ...... 6 3.1 Site Location & Surrounding Land Use ...... 6 3.2 Pedestrian Access ...... 9 3.3 Cycle Routes ...... 12 3.4 Public Transport ...... 14 3.5 Railway Services ...... 15 3.6 Vehicular Access ...... 15 3.7 Personal Injury Accidents...... 17 3.8 Existing Accessibility Summary ...... 17 3.9 Existing Parking Arrangements ...... 18

4.0 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ...... 18 4.1 Scheme components ...... 18 4.2 Traffic Generation ...... 19 4.3 Proposals for clearing the Site of Stored Boats ...... 19 4.4 Proposed Parking Arrangements ...... 20

5.0 CONCLUSIONS ...... 23 5.1 Summary & Conclusions ...... 23

6.0 REFERENCES ...... 24

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 2 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

FIGURES

Figure 1 – Location Plan Figure 2 – Footway Location Plan Figure 3 – Cycle Route Location Plan Figure 4 – Bodarwydd Bus Stops Location Plan Figure 5 – Personal Injury Accident Locations (2015-2019) Figure 6 – Existing Committed Parking Areas Figure 7 – Proposed Development Parking Areas Figure 8 – Scheme Layout Showing Cycle Store Figure 9 – Example of Cycle Store Facilities

TABLES

Table 1 – Local Amenities within 1 Mile Walking Distance Table 2 – Bus Service 5C Timetable

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 3 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

1.1.1 This report has been prepared to accompany a planning application for a development of 11 new build apartments on land at 14 Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli, Gwynedd. It reviews the transport and access arrangements applicable to the development.

1.2 Scope of Report

1.2.1 PPW TAN 18: TRANSPORT, Annex D provides indicative scales of development at which it may be appropriate to prepare a Transport Assessment to assess the potential traffic impact of a development on the surrounding highway network and a Transport Implementation Strategy (TIS) to outline mitigation measures. For housing TAN 18 indicates a threshold over 100 dwellings, confirming that the development of 11 apartments to which this report relates does not require the preparation of a detailed Transport Assessment.

1.2.2 In line with accepted practice, the local Highway Authority () was nonetheless consulted to discuss the nature and scope of report appropriate to the scale of the development proposal. It was agreed that a simplified Transport Statement was required, to include the following elements:

• An overview of baseline Existing Conditions including description of site, access arrangements, travel modes available to the area etc, • Confirmation of areas of around the site of already committed development and the associated car parking allocations - to confirm their relationship to the proposed development, • A description of the proposed development and confirmation of the location of on and off-site parking provisions, • An assessment of the proposals in comparison to the CSS Wales Standards, • Confirmation of where boats currently stored at the site to be developed would be relocated.

1.2.3 The highway authority indicated that as a method statement to examine construction period access arrangements could be requested by the imposition of an appropriate planning condition, should the scheme be approved, this report did not need to assess construction period activities.

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 4 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

2.0 PLANNING POLICY

2.1 Planning Policy Wales (PPW)

2.1.1 Gwynedd Council’s planning guidance confirms support to PPW Edition 7 (111-112) transport objectives and land use which seek to:

• reduce the need to travel, especially by private car, by locating development where there is good access by public transport, walking and cycling; • locate development near other related uses to encourage multi-purpose trips and reduce the length of journeys; • improve accessibility by walking, cycling and public transport; • ensure that transport is accessible to all, taking into account the needs of disabled and other less mobile people; • promoting walking and cycling;

2.1.2 This report will confirm that the proposed development supports these policies.

2.2 Anglesey & Gwynedd Joint Local Development Plan (JLDP)

2.2.1 The JDLP confirms that “Gwynedd Council’s Transport and Street Care Service Street Care refers to the County Surveyors' Society of Wales Parking Standards (2014) when considering the details of planning applications”.

2.2.2 An assessment to these standards is provided later in this report.

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 5 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

3.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS

3.1 Site Location & Surrounding Land Use

3.1.1 The Site is located at the eastern part of Porth Y Llechen, accessed off Hen Gei Llechi (The Old Slate Quay) adjacent to Dinorwic Marina, Y Felinheli. A general location plan is provided below (map obtained on-line).

Figure 1: Site Location Plan (source on-line OS based mapping)

3.1.2 Historically the port was where slate from the was loaded onto ships. Nowadays Dinorwic Marina functions as a pleasure / sailing boat facility with the quayside adjacent to the site including a boat yard at the east end, private housing along much of the south side of the quay and a café and the offices to the western end.

3.1.3 The Site, located roughly halfway along the quay, is currently surrounded by a security fence/gates and used for boat storage associated with the marina operations (Photograph 1). Later in this report it will be described how forthcoming changes to berthing arrangements will significantly reduce quayside boat storage needs making the current site use unnecessary.

3.1.4 The highway at the west end of the quay (Hen Gei Llechi) is adopted by Gwynedd Council however Porth Y Llechen is privately owned and terminates at the boat yard approximately 70m beyond the Site.

3.1.5 Signs at the access point to Porth Y Llechen confirm that the quay road is subject to a 5 miles- per-hour speed limit. Initially the road acts as a shared surface for use by pedestrians, cyclists, and motor vehicles but beyond the marina offices there is a 3m wide margin along the water side of the quay that has bollards along the roadside to preclude vehicles from parking on it (Photographs 2 & 3). This area can be used as a pedestrian route.

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 6 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

3.1.6 Double yellow lines are in place along the quay to confirm that parking is not permissible, except outside of the existing dwellings along the south side and at designated parking spaces adjacent to the marina offices close to Hen Gei Llechi.

3.1.7 Views of the Site Porth Y Llechen and Porth Y Llechen are provided below.

Photograph 1: The Site

Photograph 2: Looking to Porth Y Llechen from Hen Gei Llechi. (marina offices first building visible)

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 7 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

Photograph 3: Looking east, towards the boat yard, from the Site. (3m road margin / footway to quayside visible on the left)

Photograph 4: Porth Y Llechen viewed from the boat yard at east end of quay

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 8 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

3.2 Pedestrian Access

3.2.1 The Site lies within an established residential area and links with it by means of existing roadside footways that are shown below. From Y Felinheli, pedestrians can also use traffic free routes to and, in part, Bangor city. Footway 1 follows Hen Gei Llechi to Bangor Street and provides the most direct route between the Site and the nearest bus stop. It continues west to the village centre. There is also a more direct link to the village centre via steps from Hen Gei Llechi (see further comments to follow). Footway 2 follows Hen Gei Llechi westward and provides an alternative route to the village centre and is the route that pedestrians would use when accessing amenities along Beach Road.

Figure 2: Footway Location Plan

Photograph 5: Footway 1 leading to Bangor Street

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 9 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

Photograph 6: Footway 2 heading west of the site along Hen Gei Llechi

3.2.2 As noted, there is a direct pedestrian link to Bangor Street via a footpath opposite to the site access junction to Hen Gei Llechi and using this route roughly halves the walking distance between the site and centre of Y Felinheli when compared to using the roadside footways. As it involves negotiating 2 flights of steps (shown below) it is only suitable for able bodied users and consequently this route was discounted when calculating the walking distances that follow in this report.

Photograph 7: The Footpath link via steps between Hen Gei Llechi & Bangor Street

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 10 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

3.2.3 Planning Policy Wales seeks to promote walking as a mode of travel instead of using a private car. Guidance to the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 confirms “Walking as a mode of travel predominates for journeys of less than 2 miles” and whilst acknowledging that there has been some historic decline in walking rates across most of Wales it states that “Walking rates are relatively high, particularly for journeys of less than 2 miles” (Design Guidance to the Active Travel Wales Act, 4.1.4).

3.2.4 It therefore follows that sites located within 2 miles walking distance of amenities and with suitable infrastructure are best placed to support these objectives. The following assessment shows the proximity of the Site to local amenities to demonstrate that reliance on a car would not be a prerequisite of reaching these for those living at the development.

3.2.5 Table 1 provides a list of the main local amenities along with their distance from the site and walking times indicted by Google Maps. Each of the amenities is well within the 2 miles distance indicated in the Active Travel Wales Act (2013) as being convenient for undertaking on-foot.

Amenity Location Distance / Walking Journey Time

Café (The Swellies) Porth y Llechen 50m from site

Convenience Store / Post Office Bangor Street 0.45 mile (0.7km) 10 minutes *

Takeaway Bangor Street 0.45 mile (0.7km) 10 minutes

Thai Restaurant Bangor Street 0.45 mile (0.7km) 10 minutes

Bar / Bistro Beach Road 0.45 mile (0.7km) 10 minutes

Gym / Fitness Centre Beach Road 0.70 mile (1.1km) 13 minutes

Felinheli & Beach Road 0.80 mile (1.3km) 16 minutes Medical Surgery

Ysgol Gynradd Y Felinheli Y Wern 1.0 mile (1.6km) 19 minutes

(* The distance/time to Bangor Street would be less if path via steps was used) Table 1: Local Amenities within 1 mile walking distance

3.2.6 The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation draft report ‘Planning for Walking’ (2015) comments that “Across Britain about 80 per cent of journeys shorter than 1 mile are made wholly on foot – something that has changed little in thirty years. In 2012 walkers accounted for 79 per cent of all journeys shorter than 1 mile”.

3.2.7 Table 1 confirms that local amenities including the nearest junior school are all within 1 mile of the Site and the above comments from the CIHT report indicate that residents of the proposed development could be expected to walk when visiting these.

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 11 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

3.3 Cycle Routes

3.3.1 The Design Guidance to the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 indicates that “cycling is convenient for longer journeys, typically of up to 5 miles” and “take up is growing.” (4.1.4).

3.3.2 The Lon Las Menai path is a 3.5 mile / 5.6km shared pedestrian / cycle route between Y Felinheli and Caernarfon. It forms part of the Bangor/Caernarfon Cycle Route (which is part of the National cycle network Route 8). It is signed along Hen Gei Llechi and thus runs adjacent to the site, as shown on the map below that is taken from the Sustrans cycle route website.

3.3.3 Access to it from the site is initially along Hen Gei Llechi and Beach Road but beyond the site of the health centre the route runs along a disused railway line and hence is completely traffic free and follows flat terrain. A branch from the route also leads into the centre of Y Felinheli to Pen Yr Allt past the old station which is now utilised as employment workshops. A view of this part of the route is provided at Photograph xx below.

Figure 3: Cycle Route 8 Location Plan

3.3.4 The Sustrans website indicates a time of just 17 minutes to cycle the full length of the route between Y Felinheli and Caernarfon, where employment opportunities and a full range of shops and other facilities are located. Whilst the route is longer than the 2 miles indicted within which most walking journeys are made it could nonetheless also be completed on foot within an hour assuming a typical walking speed.

3.3.5 Route 8 continues east via a mixture of traffic free and roadside shared paths to connect with National cycle network Route 5 at Penrhosgarnedd, from where Route 5 continues into Bangor city via roads. A branch also links onto Ynys Môn via the . Bangor to Y Felinheli via cycle Routes 8 and 5 is approximately 4.7 miles (7.5km) with on-line mapping indicating a cycling time of around 30 minutes.

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 12 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

Photograph 8: Shared foot/cycleway near to Old Station Workshops

3.3.6 There is also a shared path cycleway between Bangor city and Y Felinheli via the A4087 which follows more level terrain and has an estimated cycling time of 25 minutes.

3.3.7 Both Caernarfon and Bangor city are therefore within the 5 miles distance for which the Design Guidance to the Active Travel Wales Act (2013) indicates cycling represents a convenient mode of transport. It would therefore be entirely viable for residents of the proposed development working in either Bangor or Caernarfon to cycle to work and in the case of latter via a predominantly traffic-free route.

3.3.8 The CIHT draft report ‘Providing for Cycling’ notes that “The majority of cycling trips are for short distances, with 80% being less than five miles and with 40% being less than two miles. However, the majority of trips by all modes are also short distances (67% are less than five miles, and 38% are less than two miles); therefore, the bicycle is a potential mode for many of these trips (DfT, 2014a). Electric bicycles extend the range that can be cycled comfortably”.

3.3.9 The Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 “requires local authorities in Wales to produce active travel maps and deliver year on year improvements in active travel routes and facilities. It requires highways authorities in Wales to make enhancements to routes and facilities for pedestrians and cyclists in all new road schemes and to have regard to the needs of walkers and cyclists in a range of other highway authority functions”.

3.3.10 It is entirely feasible therefore that the enhancements will be made by Gwynedd Council to the existing pedestrian and cycling routes described, perhaps by adding to the traffic free elements, and that consequently there will be more encouragement for using these modes of travel in future years. Residents of Y Felinheli, and thus the proposed apartments, are clearly well located to take advantage of any such improvements.

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 13 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

3.3.11 The above exercises confirm that the site is located where local amenities can be accessed conveniently on-foot and that the nearest major shopping and employment zones are within an acceptable cycling distance and can be reached via established cycle routes that include traffic free sections.

3.4 Public Transport

3.4.1 The Bodarwydd stops located on Bangor Street are the nearest to the site with Google Maps indicating a walking distance of ¼ of a mile or 350m (not using the footpath steps) and time of approximately 5 minutes. The stops are therefore within the 400m distance indicated in design guides as being desirable. The Bodarwydd stops include shelters for passengers and bus lay-bys.

Figure 4: Bodarwydd Bus Stops Location Plan

3.4.2 Signs at the stops indicate they are used by the 5, 5A, 9A and 72 services; however, a check made via the Traveline Cymru website suggests these services have been replaced by the 5C Bangor/Caernarfon. That runs at hourly intervals in both directions Monday-Saturday and two-hourly on Sunday as shown below (times relate to those applicable at the Bodarwydd stops). The weekday timetable covers the start and end of a typical working day and thus confirms that commuting trips by bus between the Site, Caernarfon and Bangor city are possible.

Service Route Monday - Saturday Sunday

Hourly 06:23 to 19:23 5C Bangor / Caernarfon Two-hourly 09:17 to 19:17 and then 20:18 Hourly 07:00 to 19:00 5C Caernarfon / Bangor Two-hourly 10:00 to 20:10 then 20:10 and 20:42 Table 2: Bus Service 5C Timetable

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 14 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

3.4.3 There are supermarkets and other shops at Caernarfon and Bangor has a wide-ranging retail offer from the town centre to out of town retail park which includes large scale outlets for home and motoring goods and a Tesco superstore. The main hospital for northeast Wales (Ysbyty Gwynedd) is at Penrhosgarnedd on the outskirts of Bangor and is also on bus route 5C and thus is accessible by public transport from the Site.

3.5 Railway Services

3.5.1 Bus service 5C provides a direct connection to Bangor railway station, which is on the Chester/Holyhead North Wales Coastal Line and thus connects with the UK national rail network. The station is 4.2 miles / 6.75km from the site and the journey takes 17 minutes using bus service 5C, 10 minutes by car/taxi or 24 minutes by bicycle.

3.6 Vehicular Access

3.6.1 The quay forms a dead-end so traffic movements are low and primarily confined to the boat yard, existing residents and a small amount relating to the café and offices to the western end of the quay. Vehicular access is gained from Hen Gei Llechi via a simple dropped kerb access as shown in Photograph 2.

3.6.2 Views from the access to Hen Gei Llechi are provided below.

Photograph 9: Looking right from Porth Y Llechen (adopted highway ends at bridge)

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 15 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

3.6.3 The side road serving Porth Y Llechen and the Port Dinorwic residential area accessed via the lifting bridge shown above connects to the rest of Hen Gei Llechi via a simple tee-junction. Views to the left and right from the junction are provided below.

Photograph 10: Looking left from Hen Gei Llechi junction

Photograph 11: Looking right from Hen Gei Llechi junction

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 16 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

3.6.4 Hen Gei Llechi runs in an east/west direction with Bangor Street at its eastern end, to which it connects via a tee junction. Hen Gei Llechi is subject to a 30mph speed limit and has lighting columns. Traffic-calming road humps are provided at regular intervals to encourage low traffic speeds and double yellow lines are provided around the junction to the swing bridge / site and generally along the north side of Hen Gei Llechi.

3.6.5 The road terminates at a dead end within housing to the west and thus on a day-to-day basis use of the road is primarily limited to the residents and local businesses including the marina operations.

3.6.6 The tee junction between Hen Gei Llechi and Bangor Street Street includes suitable visibility splays to the main road, which is also within a 30mph speed limit zone and as there is a bypass of Y Felinheli, Bangor Street serves as a local distributor road only.

3.7 Personal Injury Accidents

3.7.1 A check made via the ‘Crashmap’ website for the 5-year period 2015-2019 (latest data available) indicates that no personal injury accidents have occurred at Hen Gei Llechi in the vicinity of the site. 2 slight severity accidents were shown to have occurred at Bangor Street, both dating from the first half of 2015 and thus more than 5 years ago (Figure 4 refers). No incidents were reported along Hen Gei Llechi or the junction serving the site which indicates that the current highway infrastructure is operating safely.

Figure 5: Personal Injury Accident Review (Extract from Crashmap Website)

3.8 Existing Accessibility Summary

3.8.1 The review of existing conditions confirms that the location is supported by infrastructure that includes roadside footways and traffic free cycle routes that form part of the national network with good public transport connections to Caernarfon and Bangor. The Site is therefore well located to enable residents to make journeys on-foot, by bicycle, via public transport and car. Dependence on a private car is not therefore a prerequisite for living at the site.

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 17 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

3.8.2 The provision of apartments at Porth Y Llechen is therefore compliant with Planning Policy Wales in providing a setting where people have travel mode choices supported by infrastructure and amenities that reduce reliance on using a private car for both local journeys and to the nearest town/city.

3.9 Existing Parking Arrangements

3.9.1 Existing parking demand and spaces at Porth Y Llechen currently includes those associated with the existing residential units, which are provided with parking spaces in front of each dwelling, and 8 marked out parking bays on the roadside to the west side of the marina offices. These already utilised areas are highlighted in red on the following plan.

Figure 6: Existing Committed Parking Areas

3.9.2 The Site owners also control the car park to the west of Porth Y Llechen marina bridge. It will be explained that proposed changes to the marina berthing agreements will free up space at the car park which is currently used for storing boats; however, there are no proposals to provide parking for the 11 apartments at this location.

4.0 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

4.1 Scheme components

4.1.1 The proposal seeks full planning permission for the erection of an apartment block comprising 11 units in total (4 No. 1 bedroom / 7 No. 2 bedroom), along with associated parking and infrastructure including drainage, bin storage and landscaping.

4.1.2 It has been confirmed that the site is in an established residential area that is already supported by suitable transport infrastructure capable of supporting the addition of 11 apartments.

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 18 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

4.2 Traffic Generation

4.2.1 As noted, at 11 units the development falls well below the threshold of 100 units indicated in TAN 18 as when an assessment of potential traffic generation and impacts would typically be required, and this was reaffirmed during the scoping discussions Gwynedd Council as it was indicated that a detailed appraisal of existing and future traffic movements around the Site was not required.

4.2.2 By way of illustrating why this is appropriate, an assessment of the change in traffic which could result from the development was made by comparing the scheme with the current number of dwellings accessed via Hen Gei Llechi. Reference to the Post Office website indicates there are around 240 properties in the area over the Port Bridge, 20 at Porth Y Llechen and 88 along the westernmost part of Hen Gei Llechi, giving an existing total of around 348 dwellings being served off Hen Gei Llechi. The addition of 11 apartments would thereby represent an increase in dwelling numbers of just 3% on that total.

4.2.3 It is not likely that 11 one and two bed apartments would generate a pro-rata increase in traffic to the current housing stock which includes a substantial number of houses; however, even allowing for such a 3% change in traffic volumes using the east part of Hen Gei Llechi to Bangor Street would probably be indiscernible compared to the current situation because day-to-day traffic flows along roads can vary by more than 3% in any case. At Bangor Street and beyond the background flows will be higher again and so the percentage change resulting from the proposed development would obviously be even less.

4.2.4 A review of accident history for the area indicates that no incidents have been reported along Hen Gei Llechi and the existing access serving the quay / Site in the past five years, which suggests that the existing road network is operating acceptably. There is no obvious reason to conclude that the small increase in traffic movements that could be generated by a development of this scale would be detrimental to the current situation.

4.3 Proposals for clearing the Site of Stored Boats

4.3.1 In consultation it was confirmed that the Highway Authority was interested to understand if the proposed development would impact on the existing marina operations, and specifically in relation to boat storage which currently uses land areas at Dinorwic Marina, including at the proposed site. Clarification was sought on where boats currently stored at the Site would be accommodated post development.

4.3.2 The site operators recently installed new pontoons in the outer harbour and made other efficiencies in relation to their operations. These changes have facilitated increased off-land storage capacity and will enable vessels currently stored on land around the quay, including at the proposed apartment Site, to be relocated to the water. Consequently, there is no requirement to find an equivalent size area of on-land space to the Site on which to store the displaced boats.

4.3.3 This obviously means there would be no conflict between the development proposals and the operation of the marina from a boat storage perspective.

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 19 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

4.3.4 Related to this is the fact that the berthing package offered to boat owners at Porth Dinorwic marina has historically included an option to have wintertime boat lifting for onshore storage at no extra cost. These activities are expensive and inefficient and consequently are not commonly offered free of charge at marinas. The option to make use of the service without incurring additional costs has led to a high proportion of owners of boats berthed at Porth Dinorwic requesting wintertime onshore storage and a resultant requirement for the owners to find potentially unlimited quayside space for storing boats over winter months, including at the area now earmarked for the proposed apartments.

4.3.5 As part of the review of working practices and efficiencies the marina owners will be introducing revised berthing agreements from 2021 which will align with those more commonly applied at other marinas. Under the new agreements any customers wanting to remove a boat from the water will be required to pay extra for the lifting and on-land storage service. This change to berthing agreements will have two primary benefits:

1) It will significantly reduce the overall number of boats being stored ashore, which in turn will improve the amenity of the landside environment and increase the space available generally. 2) By no longer be obligated under contract to lift boats whenever requested, the revised berthing agreements will enable the marina owners to numerically limit the number of boats being taken ashore.

4.3.6 In relation to Porth Y Llechen, these revised berthing and storage arrangements will mean that space currently utilised will instead be freed up, including at the development Site and at the nearby boat yard where it is proposed to locate some of the car parking for the apartments.

4.4 Proposed Parking Arrangements

4.4.1 Gwynedd Council apply the CSS Wales Parking Standards when assessing development requirements. The Standards confirm the amount of parking that should be provided for various types of development depending on the location, which varies from Zone 1 (city core) to Zone 6 (deep rural).

4.4.2 Y Felinheli has more facilities than apply to Zone 5 (countryside), which the Standard indicates relate to small villages, and best aligns with Zone 4 Suburban or Near Urban. The Standards describe Zone 4 as “the whole of smaller settlements offering a range of local facilities. There is an at least hourly bus service to the town centre and there may also be a railway station in the town. Local facilities include a local centre within 400m walking distance. Some basic amenities such as a doctor’s surgery are also available within the same walking distance.”

4.4.3 It is noteworthy however that the ratio of parking for residential developments under the CSS Wales Standards are common across Zones 2 – 6 and so matching the exact description of a Zone in this range is not critical.

4.4.4 Reference to the Standards confirms that parking bays measuring 2.6 x 4.8m should be provided and for residential developments in Zones 2-6 at a ratio of provision of 1 space per bedroom (3 max) for residents with an additional 1 bay per 5 units for visitors.

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 20 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

4.4.5 The proposed development includes 4 No. 1 bed apartments and 7 No. 2 bed, and thus the maximum number of car parking spaces required would be (4x1) + (7x2) = 18 for residents and (11/5) = 2 for visitors giving a total of 20 spaces.

4.4.6 The proposed scheme meets the full requirement of parking spaces and has 9 located in front of the apartments and 11 within an area of the existing boat yard 100m to the east. The area within the boat yard would be rearranged to be accessible by residents and visitors at any time, and signage would be installed to confirm the area as being for private use by the apartments only. The scheme proposals include providing two electric vehicle charging stations at the parking spaces directly outside of the apartments.

4.4.7 The proposed parking arrangements are shown below.

Figure 7: Proposed Development Parking Locations

4.4.8 The CSS Wales Parking Standards indicate that cycle parking should be provided at a ratio of 1 stand per 5 bedrooms and so for the proposed scheme this equates to 18(beds) / 5 = 3.6 and thus a minimum provision of 4 stands to the nearest whole number.

4.4.9 It has been shown that future residents of the development would be able to access excellent existing cycle infrastructure. In acknowledgement of this and to ensure cycling will be a viable mode of travel for residents, the scheme includes the provision of a separate cycle store that would provide communal secure storage for 12 bicycles.

4.4.10 The proposed location for the shelter is shown below. By locating the store out of sight from the quay to the side of the apartments at the southwest corner of the site it would be readily accessible to residents but in a secure location.

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 21 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

Figure 8: Scheme Layout Showing Proposed Bike Store at Southwest Corner

4.4.11 The cycle store will be covered and would contain locking facilities similar to the shelter shown below.

Figure 9: Example of cycle locking facilities similar to the type proposed.

4.4.12 The scheme will therefore provide cycle locating facilities well above meeting the CSS Wales standard requirement to encourage and support sustainable travel choices by residents.

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 22 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

5.0 CONCLUSIONS

5.1 Summary & Conclusions

5.1.1 This report has been prepared to accompany a planning application to construct 11 apartments at 14 Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli.

5.1.2 The area around the Site is connected by existing roadside footways and it has been confirmed that these provide routes to a range of local amenities that are within the distance of the development Site within which it is commonplace for people to make journeys on foot.

5.1.3 The area also benefits from a good provision of public transport with the nearest bus stops being within the preferred 400m walking distance of the Site and served by an hourly service each way between Caernarfon and Bangor. The bus route includes a stop at Bangor railway station and thus access to the national rail network for residents using public transport is also feasible.

5.1.4 A review of the site and surrounding area has confirmed that it is served by highway infrastructure which a review of accident records indicates is operating safely. It has been shown that the scale of the development in comparison to the existing settlement would not be expected to alter the existing situation as the change in traffic activity resulting from the scheme would probably not be discernible beyond Porth y Llechen.

5.1.5 The car parking proposals for the development meet the requirements of the CSS Wales Standards for residents and visitors and include electric vehicle charging points to support and encourage the use of electric cars.

5.1.6 Three-times the minimum amount of cycle parking required to meet standard provision is proposed as part of the development. This is to ensure that each apartment will be have access to secure cycle storage to encourage this mode of travel and in recognition that the area is served by good cycle infrastructure. This includes a largely traffic free and level cycleway providing a safe route to the nearby employment and retail centre of Caernarfon and in addition a mixture of off and on-road cycleways providing routes to Bangor city.

5.1.7 Residents of the existing area, and therefore the proposed development, are thus able to make sustainable travel choices and it can be discerned that living at the proposed development would not be dependent upon owning a car.

5.1.8 This review has demonstrated that from an accessibility and transport provision perspective the proposed development satisfies both national and local planning policy requirements.

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 23 January 2021 Client: The Marine & Property Group Ltd Project: Development of 11 No. Apartments, Porth y Llechen, Y Felinheli

6.0 REFERENCES

• Planning Policy Wales

• TAN 18: Transport

• CSS Wales Parking Standards

• Gwynedd / Anglesey Joint LDP

• CIHT Providing for Journeys on Foot / Providing for Walking / Providing for Cycling

• Sustrans Website

• Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 / Guidance thereto

• Traveline Cymru Website

Caulmert Ltd 4462-CAU-XX-XX-RP-C-0300 24 January 2021

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