ST FAGANS COMMUNITY COUNCIL Mixed Residential Scheme LAND AT WEST CARDIFF Transport Appraisal Project Number: 1209-59 Report Number: 1209-59/TA/01 Date: December 2012 Mixed Residential Scheme, LAND AT WEST CARDIFF St Fagans Community Council Transport Appraisal DOCUMENT SIGNATURE AND REVIEW SHEET Project Details Project Title: Mixed Residential Scheme , LAND AT WEST CARDIFF Project No.: 1209-59 Report No.: 1209-59/TA/01 Client: St Fagans Community Council Prepared By: Checked By: Approved for issue Name James Morgan Peter Evans Peter Evans Signature Date December 2012 December 2012 December 2012 Document Review Revision Date Description Checked By Issued by: Bristol Transport Planning Associates Cambridge 32 Windsor Place Cardiff Cardiff London CF10 3BA Welwyn Garden City 029 2023 0303 [email protected] www.tpa.uk.com 1209-59/TA/01 Transport Planning Associates December 2012 i Mixed Residential Scheme, LAND AT WEST CARDIFF St Fagans Community Council Transport Appraisal CONTENTS PAGE 1 INTRODUCTION 1 2 EXISTING SITUATION 3 Introduction Pedestrian Infrastructure Cycling Infrastructure Local highway network Bus Infrastructure Rail Infrastructure Technical Advice Note (TAN) 18 3 LDP PREFERRED STRATEGY 14 Introduction LDP – Preferred Strategy LDP – Background Technical Paper No.12 - Transportation LDP – Background Technical Paper No.5 – Summary of Scrutiny Findings 4 COMMITTED DEVELOPMENTS 18 Introduction St Fagans National History Museum Ely Bridge Rhondda Cynon Taf – LDP allocations 5 ARUP’S MOVEMENT STRATEGY 20 6 IMPACT OF LDP PREFERRED STRATEGY AND COMMITTED DEVELOPMENTS 24 Introduction Pedestrian Infrastructure Cycling Infrastructure Local Highway Network Rail Infrastructure 7 LDP: BACKGROUND TECHNICAL PAPER NO. 12 –TRANSPORTATION 32 8 CONCLUSIONS 34 Summary Conclusion 1209-59/TA/01 Transport Planning Associates December 2012 ii Mixed Residential Scheme, LAND AT WEST CARDIFF St Fagans Community Council Transport Appraisal LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Providing for Journeys on Foot – acceptable walking distances Table 2 Existing bus services in the vicinity of the site Table 3 Total residential traffic attraction Table 4 Total residential traffic attraction with reductions LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Site boundary plan Figure 2 Site location in wider context Figure 3 Existing highway network and infrastructure Figure 4 Straight line walking isochrones Figure 5 Extent of single lane carriageways Figure 6 Extent of congestion on local highway network Figure 7 LDP enhancements to local infrastructure 1209-59/TA/01 Transport Planning Associates December 2012 iii Mixed Residential Scheme, LAND AT WEST CARDIFF St Fagans Community Council Transport Appraisal 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Transport Planning Associates (TPA) has been commissioned by St Fagans Community Council to consider the highways and transportation issues associated with the redevelopment of land located in the west of Cardiff, as detailed within Cardiff Council’s LDP (LDP) Preferred Strategy. 1.2 This report will focus on site 82 of the LDP Preferred Strategy which is referred to as ‘ land to the West of Cardiff’ or the ‘Waterhall Urban Extension’ . The proposals include a comprehensive development comprising approximately 7,500 new homes, employment and associated community uses. 1.3 This report will also take into consideration the potential impacts of allocations located at Creigiau and to the north of Junction 33, which are shown by Cardiff Council to reside in the same transport corridor as north-west Cardiff. 1.4 A location plan, illustrating the location of the Waterhall sites and other development sites in relation to St Fagans is included as Figure 1 of this report. 1.5 A number of documents have been considered as part of this appraisal including: • LDP – Preferred Strategy (Cardiff Council); • LDP – Background Technical Paper No.5 – Summary of Scrutiny Findings; • LDP – Background Technical Paper No.12 – Transportation; • Waterhall Urban Extension – Movement Strategy (Arup); • Ely Bridge Transport Assessment (Arup); • St Fagans Museum Transport Assessment (Arup); • Technical Advice Note (TAN) 18: Transport (2007); 1.6 The LDP Preferred Strategy will form the main focus of this report. In addition, particular attention will be paid to Arup’s report ‘Waterhall Urban Extension – Movement Strategy’ which provides a review of the existing transport conditions in north-west Cardiff and the potential for improvements which will form part of an overall concept movement strategy to support the development land use aspirations. 1.7 The structure of this Appraisal is as follows: 1209-59/TA/01 Transport Planning Associates December 2012 Page 1 of 38 Mixed Residential Scheme, LAND AT WEST CARDIFF St Fagans Community Council Transport Appraisal • Review the existing transport infrastructure in west Cardiff in light of national guidance TAN 18 and identifying any issues that are currently present on the local pedestrian, cycle, and highway network; • Provide a summary of the LDP Preferred Strategy proposals for the north- west Cardiff region. This includes a review of the LDP Background Paper No. 5 – Summary of Scrutiny Findings; • Review committed developments in respect of land use and transportation with relevance to west Cardiff. This includes a review of allocated developments associated with neighbouring RCT; • Provide a review of Arup’s movement strategy identifying any potential issues relating to the LDP Preferred Strategy proposals; • Identify the impact of the Waterhall site and committed development proposals on the local pedestrian, cycle, and local highway network; • Undertake a review of the LDP Background Paper No. 12 – Transportation; • Provides a conclusion outlining the feasibility of the LDP Preferred Strategy; 1209-59/TA/01 Transport Planning Associates December 2012 Page 2 of 38 Mixed Residential Scheme, LAND AT WEST CARDIFF St Fagans Community Council Transport Appraisal 2 EXISTING SITUATION Introduction 2.1 This section of the report will review the existing infrastructure in west Cardiff and will make reference to a review that was carried out by Arup as part of their Movement Strategy submitted in support of the Waterhall site. 2.2 The site location in the wider context of Cardiff is shown in Figure 2 of this report. Pedestrian Infrastructure 2.3 There are a number of public rights of way in the vicinity of the Waterhall site, but they are almost exclusively rural and provide little connection with the surrounding urban areas. In their Movement Strategy Arup identify that there are few footpaths in the west Cardiff area except for the disused rail line; they also considered that the boundaries of the surrounding residential estates have not been designed to allow regular or strategic links to be developed. 2.4 Arup summarised the pedestrian infrastructure in the area is as containing a ‘disjointed footway and footpath network, with a lack of interconnectedness between neighbourhoods’. 2.5 Table 1 provides a summary of the standard guidance for acceptable walking distances as contained ‘Providing for Journeys on Foot’ (IHT). Table 1 Providing for Journeys on Foot – acceptable walking distances Facilities, Commuting Other shops, bus /School stops etc. Desirable 200m 500m 400m Acceptable 400m 1000m 800m Preferred 800m 2000m 1200m maximum 1209-59/TA/01 Transport Planning Associates December 2012 Page 3 of 38 Mixed Residential Scheme, LAND AT WEST CARDIFF St Fagans Community Council Transport Appraisal 2.6 Given the location and size of the proposed development it is reasonable to assume that walking is not going to be a viable modal choice for the vast majority of residents for day to day activities that occur away from the development site itself. Figure 4 illustrates walking distances at five minute intervals from the site. The plan shows that the site is located over 90 minutes walk from Cardiff city centre. A full assessment of the achievable walking distance will need to be undertaken at the master planning stage of the planning application. Cycling Infrastructure 2.7 The Arup report states that the ‘cycling network in north-west Cardiff is largely comprised of advisory cycle routes. The main exception to this is the Taff Trail which is, for most part, an off-road, forming part of the National Cycle Network’ . 2.8 For the most part, the existing cycle network is not considered to be of a good standard to accommodate the level of cycle trips that could accompany a new development in this area. The Arup report states that; ‘The remaining cycle provision around north-west Cardiff is made up of on- street advisory routes and main road routes, many of which are not sign posted Many of the on-road routes do not have cycle lanes The usable road widths are further impacted by kerbside car parking’. 2.9 The Arup report further notes that the area suffers a number of challenges including; a lack of signed on-road routes, infrequent crossings of the River Taff, high traffic speeds on some main routes, road space impacted by kerbside parking and locations on the network where cyclists need to dismount all of which are contradictory to personal safety. Visual inspection indicates that a lot of the routes are subject to poor road conditions which present a potential safety hazard to cyclists. 2.10 National Cycle Network Route 42 (Ely Trail) runs to the south of the development site and use of this route should be promoted. 2.11 The existing cycle infrastructure will need considerable improvements in order to provide a safe and viable options for sustainable travel. Local highway network Introduction 2.12 The performance of the local highway network is important for both private vehicular travel and for bus travel. 1209-59/TA/01 Transport Planning Associates December 2012 Page 4 of 38 Mixed Residential Scheme, LAND AT WEST CARDIFF St Fagans Community Council Transport Appraisal 2.13 The existing highway network, including strategic and arterial routes and location of local railway stations is included as Figure 3 of this report. Llantrisant Road 2.14 Cardiff Council highlights the A4119 as the principle route in the area; access to the route is the definition of the ‘north-west transport corridor'.