WALKING & CYCLING CONNECTIVITY STUDY WEST BLACKBURN June 2020 CONTENT: 1.0 Overview 2.0 Baseline Study 3.0 Detailed Trip Study 4.0 Route Appraisal and Ratings 5.0 Suggested Improvements & Conclusions 1.0 OVERVIEW West Blackburn 1.0 Introduction Capita has been appointed by Blackburn with Darwen expected to deliver up to 110 dwellings); pedestrian and cycle movement within the area. Borough Council (BwDBC) to prepare a connectivity • Pleasington Lakes (approximately 46.2 Ha of study to appraise the potential impact of development developable land, expected to deliver up to 450 Study Area sites on the local pedestrian network. dwellings;) • Eclipse Mill site in Feniscowles, expected to deliver The study area is outlined on the plan opposite. In This study will consider the implications arising 52 dwellings; general, the area comprises the land encompassed from the build-out of new proposed housing sites • Tower Road site in Cherry Tree, expected to deliver by the West Blackburn Growth Zone. The study area for pedestrian travel, in order to identify potential approximately 30 dwellings. principally consists of the area bounded by Livesey gaps in the existing highway and sustainable travel Branch Road to the north, A666 Bolton Road to the provision. It will also consider potential options for east, the M65 to the south, and Preston Old Road and The study also takes into account the committed any improvements which may be necessary in order to the Blackburn with Darwen Borough Boundary to the improvements that were delivered as part of the adequately support the developments. west Pennine Reach scheme. This project was completed in April 2017 to create new bus rapid transit corridors Findings will also be used to inform the Local Plan which will reduce bus journey times and improve the Review currently underway that will identify growth reliability of services. Of relevance to this study, the and infrastructure needs to 2037. project has delivered the now implemented upgrade of the Ewood Gyratory and A666 route. Background Study Structure A number of committed residential development sites within the study area have recently been granted, or The structure of this report is set out as follows: are close to being granted, planning consent. Several of these sites form part of larger masterplan Section 2 – sets out the extent of the study area and sites, which are included as allocated sites within the the proposed development sites, and considers the Local Plan. existing pedestrian, cycle and public transport provision When fully built out, these development sites will within the study area appraising the accessibility of the deliver up to 2,500 new dwellings across eight sites in proposed development sites. the West Blackburn area. These development sites are: Section 3 – looks in detail at each of the proposed • Bank Hey Masterplan area (approximately 45.6 Ha, development sites and considers the likely trip expected to deliver up to 650 dwellings). This site generation based on the local trip attractors. includes a proposed new link road connecting Bog These journeys are individually mapped along the Height Road with Jack Walker Way); identification of gaps in provision if applicable. • Gib Lane Masterplan area (approximately 43.2 Ha, expected to deliver up to 890 dwellings in total); Section 4 – is a quality appraisal of all the identified • The former Blackburn Mill (SAPPI) Masterplan area, routes within section 3. The routes will be graded (approximately 27.4 Ha, expected to deliver up to against an agreed set of parameters to assess their 450 dwellings plus 12,400 sqm of employment suitability as a pedestrian connection; floorspace). This site includes the potential for a new link road connecting Preston Old Road with Section 5 – considers gaps identified within the Livesey Branch Road; assessment undertaken in section 4. This assessment • Land off Parklands Way (approximately 7.6 Ha, allows the development of a series of interventions and outline designs as required to ensure the quality of Study Area 2.0 BASELINE STUDY West Blackburn 2.1 Overview The following section presents an overview of the In line with the CIHT and PPG13 guidelines, walking The level of accessibility on foot and by bicycle from existing walking and cycling infrastructure locations isochrones for distances of up to 30 minutes (c.2km) the development sites is considered in the following and conditions. It reviews the Public Rights of Way are presented on the plan in section 2.2 and illustrate sections. Based on these figures the vast majority of the within the development area, walking and cycling the level of pedestrian accessibility from each site in study area is within an acceptable cycling distance of routes, non-motorised user accessibility, and the key the context of the surrounding area. each site and also many of the sites, particularly those trip attractors in the area. Recommendations are to the north of the study area are within easy cycling made for improvements to general walking and cycling Based on these figures it is considered that the distance of the town centre. However it is considered conditions within the area. 2km catchment encompasses the vast majority of that conditions for cyclists may be improved to appeal the facilities within the area for all the proposed to those with differing levels of confidence and to Walking development sites. It is also noted that several of the improve their safety and security. Any gaps in provision development sites to the north of the study area would are highlighted and potential improvements considered Guideline walking distances provided in the Institution in section 4 & 5. of Highways and Transportation (IHT, 2000) document, be able to walk into the town centre within the PPG13 ‘Guidelines for Providing for Journeys on Foot’ are 30 minute guidelines. presented in the table below. Cycling Criteria Town Commuting/ Elsewhere Advice contained within the superseded PPG13 remains Centre Sightseeing the most up to date national expression of advice Desirable 200m 500m 400m on cycling distances; it states “Cycling also has the potential to substitute for short car trips, particularly Acceptable 400m 1,000m 800m those less than 5km (3 miles) and to form part of a Preferred 800m 2,000m 1,200m longer journey by public transport”. Therefore, cycling Maximum can form an attractive and genuinely viable mode of transport for short to medium length journeys. Accessibility on foot has been assessed in-line with the GUIDELINES FOR CIHT document discussed above and is based on an In addition, in respect of acceptable cycle journeys average walking speed of 4.8km/hr. distances “Local Transport Note 2/08: Cycling ROVIDING FOR Infrastructure Design” published by the DfT, states Planning Policy Guidance 13: Transport P Appropriate walking distances are considered that for many commuter journeys a distance of 5 miles JOURNEYS ON FOOT dependent upon the location of the specific (8km) is not uncommon. development; more remote locations will see people being prepared to walk further to their end destination. Analysis of the accessibility of each of the proposed Similarly, walking distances are also dependent upon development sites by bicycle has also been undertaken PUBLISHED BY the standard of existing pedestrian infrastructure using TRACC, using the most up to date data available THE INSTITUTION OF provision, with further walking distances achievable in at the time of analysis. Accessibility has been assessed HIGHWAYS &TRANSPORTATION locations with extensive and high-quality pedestrian in increments of 2, 3.5, and 5 kilometres (km) distance footways, crossings and pedestrianised areas. from the proposed site, in order to present the 2000 potential for cycling accessibility as a leisure offer and It is recognised in the now superseded Planning Policy as a viable option for commuting for the sites. Guidance 13 (PPG13) outlined by the Government, that walking is the most important mode of travel, and as such offers the most likely way of reducing short car journeys, in particular those under 2km. Assessment of development sites to this extent is still acknowledged PROVIDING FOR JOURNEYS ON FOOT 1 as ‘good practice’. West Blackburn 2.1 Overview The land use within the western section of the Blackburn with Darwen Local Plan Blackburn with Darwen Local Plan Review Sports Facility study area is predominantly residential whilst the Blackburn with Darwen Council adopted the Local Plan The council is in the process of updating its adopted eastern section, closer to the M65 connections is Part 2 in December 2015. Alongside the Core Strategy local plan. The new local plan will look at the growth Medical Facility predominately industrial and commercial. Therefore which was adopted in January 2011 and forms Part 1 of and infrastructure needs, including sustainable the eastern study area is the primary a point of origin the Local Plan, it aims to shape the future development transport, for the period 2018-2037. The findings of Educational Facility for trips to surrounding external destinations. of Blackburn with Darwen in order to create jobs, this study will therefore inform policy development and attract and retain a skilled labour force, and strengthen the infrastructure Delivery Plan. Amenity Space The main trip attractors in the vicinity of the study the borough’s competitive position in the North West. Community Facility area are the numerous schools, public green spaces and Royal Blackburn Hospital. Blackburn Town Centre, The plan identifies land allocations which are Library which provides a mix of retail and employment sites, considered essential to delivering these objectives is located approximately 2km north-west of the study and sets out the policies against which planning Church area. applications for development will be assessed by the Council. The study area includes a number of allocated Nursery Proposed Development Sites housing, employment and green infrastructure sites in The development proposals considered within this both council and private ownership.