Hastings Academy, Site of Hillcrest School, Hastings Transport Assessment East Sussex County Council December 2010

East Sussex Academies – Hastings Academy, Site of Hillcrest School, Hastings Transport Assessment East Sussex County Council December 2010

Issue/revision Issue 1 Revision 1 Revision 2 Revision 3

Remarks Draft to Client Issue

Date 19th Nov 2010 3rd Dec 2010

Prepared by D. Dixon/ D. Dixon/

N. Billingham N. Billingham

Signature

Checked by M. Foyle M. Foyle

Signature

Authorised by K. Kay K. Kay

Signature

Project number 11012842 11012842

File reference N:\East Sussex N:\East Sussex Academies\TEXT Academies\TEXT \REPORTS\1012 \REPORTS\1012 03 TA.docx 03 TA.docx

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Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 Policy 2

3 Existing Conditions 4

4 Development Proposals 8

5 Framework Travel Plan 15

6 Traffic Impact 16

7 Summary and Conclusion 17

Figure 1 Site Location Plan Figure 2 Walking Isochrone Figure 3 Cycling Isochrone Figure 4 Existing Public Transport Network Figure 5 Location of Residence and Mode of Access to Hillcrest School by Students – Wider East Sussex Area Figure 6 Location of Residence and Mode of Access to Hillcrest School by Students – Local Hastings Area Figure 7 2010 Hastings Academy AM Peak Traffic Flows

Drawing 24550158/SK/T/001-B - Phasing Plan Drawing 24550158/SK/T/002-B - Proposed Service Access Arrangement Drawing 24550158/SK/T/003-B - Proposed Academy Access Arrangements Drawing 24550158/SK/T/004-A – Comparison of Existing and Proposed Access Arrangements

Annex A - ESCC ‘Transport Assessment Stage 1 Scoping Report’ June 2010 Accident Data Summary Annex B - Morning Peak Manual Classified Count Annex C - Edco Masterplan Annex D – Stage 1 Road Safety Audit and Designers Response Annex E - ESCC ‘Transport Assessment Stage 1 Scoping Report’ June 2010 TRICs Data Outputs Annex F - PICADY Junction Assessment

1 Introduction

1.1 INTRODUCTION 1.1.1 WSP Development and Transportation (WSPDT) were appointed by Kier on behalf of East Sussex County Council (ESCC) to provide transport advice in support of the redevelopment of Hillcrest School in Hastings to provide a new Academy with provision for 900 students. 1.1.2 This Transport Assessment Report (TAR) has been undertaken in accordance with national guidance, provided in the Department for Transport’s ‘Guidance on Transport Assessment’ (March 2007), and ESCC’s ‘Transport Assessments Guidance for Development Proposals in East Sussex’ (Oct 2009). Further to this a Travel Plan has been prepared and submitted in relation to the new Academy. 1.1.3 Pre-application discussions were held with officers of ESCC at a meeting on 15 October 2010 followed by further consultation during the preparation of this TAR.

1.2 THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL 1.2.1 The proposed Hastings Academy will cater for approximately 900 students and will replace the existing Hillcrest School situated on the same site. This Academy will be one of two new academies that are proposed in the Hastings area, the other being to the west in St Leonards-on-sea. The Academy will be a state funded all-ability school funded by a number of sponsors, with the principal sponsor being the University of Brighton, supported by BT and ESCC. The Education Brief for the Academy has been defined as follows: “The sponsors’ vision is to provide an inclusive, sustainable and innovative lifelong education environment where the Academy works together with community education and business partners to equip and encourage individuals to contribute to a prosperous future". 1.2.2 The proposals will create a new environment which is more conducive to learning. Improvements to the built environment also have their part to play in regenerating the area and facilitating access to ensure the new facilities are appropriately connected to the community that they serve. 1.2.3 This TAR sets out the principles to be adopted in the design of the site as well as those measures to be implemented in seeking agreement to the proposals from ESCC Highways Department.

1.3 REPORT STRUCTURE 1.3.1 Section 2 of this report will consider the national and local policy that will impact the provision of this scheme, while Section 3 will provide information on the current site and local conditions. 1.3.2 Section 4 will outline the development proposals, including the phasing issues impacting the development, and Section 5 will review the existing Hillcrest School Travel Plan undertaken in 2008, further to this a separate Travel Plan in relation to the Academy proposals has been prepared and submitted. Section 6 will provide the necessary evidence base that the proposed access can satisfactorily serve the development. 1.3.3 Finally Section 7 will provide a summary and conclusion to the report.

2 Policy

2.1 THE NATIONAL POLICY CONTEXT 2.1.1 There are a number of National Polices that are central to the vision for the new Academy in Hastings. These are:

Children’s Plan

The Department for Children, School and Families: Every Child Matters

Harnessing Technology/Next Generation Learning

14-19 Agenda

Extended Schools and Community Access

Workforce Reform

2.2 PLANNING POLICY GUIDANCE NOTE 13: TRANSPORT (MARCH 2001) 2.2.1 PPG13: Transport, published in March 2001, sets out the Government’s overarching objectives for the development of transport infrastructure in co-ordination with land-use policies. 2.2.2 PPG13 advocates that a Transport Assessment should be prepared and submitted alongside the planning application. This TAR is in line with the parameters and advice set out in PPG13. 2.2.3 The main sustainability thrust is that walking is the most important mode of travel at the local level and offers the greatest potential to replace short car trips, particularly those under two kilometres. The document acknowledges that cycling also has the potential to substitute for short car trips, particularly those less than five kilometres, and to form part of a longer journey by public transport. PPG13 states that the likely availability and use of public transport is also a very important ingredient in determining local policies designed to reduce the need to travel by car. 2.2.4 PPG13 also states that: “Further education and schools are major generators of travel, and where existing sites should develop, expand or redevelop, they should improve access by public transport, walking and cycling.” 2.2.5 Parking is identified as having a major influence on the means people use for their journeys suggesting that it can be more significant than public transport levels. 2.2.6 In summary, the guidance set out in PPG13 forms a framework which seeks to help people to reduce the need to travel, reduce the length of journeys and make it safer and easier for people to access jobs, shopping, leisure facilities, schools and services by public transport, walking and cycling.

2.3 LOCAL POLICY CONTEXT 2.3.1 The proposed development at Hastings Academy aims to follow the direction set out in the ‘Hastings Local Development Framework Core Strategy – Preferred Approaches’ and incorporate some of its set objectives;

Objective 3 – indicates the need to identify sufficient land and floor space that will support the needs and opportunities for business, retail, education and skill sectors

to strengthen the local economy and enable increases in economic activity rates, employment rates and average wages.

Objective 8 – indicates the need for major developments to identify and promote alternatives to car use including walking, cycling and public transport. 2.3.2 The Core Strategy also discusses the issues with education in Hastings when it discusses ‘the need for improved educational attainment is considered to be the cornerstone of many regeneration initiatives in the town’. 2.3.3 In addition, the Core Strategy indicates that restricted land availability for development means that there is a need to make the best use of previously developed land in urban areas much as in the case for this Academy.

3 Existing Conditions

3.1 SITE LOCATION 3.1.1 The existing school is located on the eastern edge of Hastings in East Sussex as shown in Figure 1. The school is currently accessed from the A259 Rye Road, a single lane carriageway which contains a number of frontage accesses along the route. On-street parking is permitted along this section, however, double yellow lines and ‘SCHOOL KEEP CLEAR’ markings restrict parking in front of the existing Hillcrest School. The A259 Rye Road forms part of the County’s strategic highway network and connects Hastings Town Centre and Eastbourne to the west, and Rye and Folkestone to the east.

3.2 SURVEYS 1.1.1 As part of the 2008 Hillcrest School Travel Plan a survey of travel habits of both pupils and staff was undertaken in January 2008. The results of the survey are summarised below in Table 3.1. Table 3.1 – Summary of 2008 Pupil and Staff Survey (mode of travel to and from school)

Pupils Staff TO FROM TO FROM Mode School School Preferred School School Preferred Walk 58% 61% 43% 8% 8% 26% Cycle 0% 0% 7% 5% 5% 16% Car 8% 6% 12% 66% 74% 39% Train 0% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% Car Share 11% 11% 14% 16% 11% 11% Bus 22% 19% 13% 5% 3% 3% Other 0% 2% 4% 0% 0% 5% SOURCE: Hillcrest School Travel Plan, 2008. 1.1.2 Amongst pupils the most popular mode of travel is walking, making up roughly 60% of journeys to and from the site. Roughly a fifth of pupils travel via bus, making it the second most popular mode of travel, and in comparison this is roughly equal to the number that travel by car. Surprisingly, there are no pupils that currently travel to and from the school site via bike although 7% stated that they would wish too. The reasons given for not using their bike was the lack of secure bike racks and the steep hill at the entrance to the school. 1.1.3 Amongst staff the most popular method of travel to and from school is the car equating for roughly 70% of trips made, the reason stated for using the car was the distance that teachers lived from the school and the amount of books that they had to carry, the results showed that the majority of teachers lived over three miles from the school, which put them beyond a reasonable distance of walking. Car Sharing is the second most popular method of travel at 16% on the way to school, dropping to 11% on the way home. The formalisation of such arrangements as part of the travel planning measures may help to further increase its popularity. Complementary to the pupil’s response 10% more of staff, than presently do, would wish to cycle to school, the reasons given for not doing so were the same as the pupils.

3.3 JOURNEYS BY FOOT AND CYCLE

WALKING 3.3.1 The existing school is located within close proximity to local residential neighbourhoods and on the A259 Rye Road that links the school with other areas of Hastings. WSP Figures 2 and 3 show that the school is located within close proximity for walking and cycling modes of transport to the majority of these residential estates. 3.3.2 The largest modal share for the students to the school is walking, with the majority of students coming from the centre of Ore and east Hastings. On-site observations and reference from the analysis presented in the Travel Plan noted that the majority of the children walk to the school along these routes:

From Ore Village up both sides of Rye Road (including Winchelsea Road)

From Churchill Avenue and the small estate to the west side of Rye Road

From Downs Farm Estate via a foot/bridle path to a rear-entrance gate at the south- east of the schools ground 3.3.3 There is currently a third access opportunity to the rear of the school accessed from Crowborough Road. While the Travel Plan indicates that this access is used, anecdotal evidence from staff at Hillcrest School indicated that this route is not currently promoted and that the gate is locked. This route is a wide footpath/bridleway that is aligned both sides with high steel fencing for the most part. The footpath/bridleway itself is in very bad condition and not suitable for a formalised access arrangement without significant improvement which may not be justified based on the level of usage suggested. However, the entrance should be retained in the interest of maximising connectivity. 3.3.4 Of these routes the observations made suggests that, the A259 Rye Road is used by the majority of students. Local low trafficked residential routes, where additional footpaths are provided, act as feeder routes to the A259 Rye Road. Footways are provided on both sides of the road of approximately 2-3m in width along its full length. However, these footways are currently in poor condition. 3.3.5 To the front of the school along the A259 Rye Road, a signalised crossing is provided on the southern edge of the school providing a safe crossing point for students coming from Ore and Hastings. In addition, a single uncontrolled crossing is provided close to Churchill Avenue for students coming from that direction.

CYCLING 3.3.6 Currently, there is a small storage area to the rear of Block A1 for current students to store their bikes. However, the school Travel Plan and on-site observations indicate that cycling is not a mode of transport that is used in high proportions by the students or staff which may be due to the low provision of storage facilities. 3.3.7 There are currently very few available cycling facilities on the A259 Rye Road, with no noticed cycleways in the vicinity of the school. However, ESCC have proposed to provide a new route called the Ridge & Hillcrest Link which will link Hastings to Ore Station and onto Hillcrest School (Hastings Academy). This will utilise the existing footway provision along parts of the A259 Rye Road which are 3m in width, and low trafficked routes off the main road. No date has been provided on when this link could be implemented however, it is the intention of the Academy proposals to tie-in with the

proposals by providing a relocated signalised crossing in the vicinity of the new school entrance.

3.4 EXISTING BUS SERVICES 3.4.1 At present there are a number of bus services that pass by the existing school. Services used by the existing students include service 22A and 22B which caters for the pupils from Hastings and runs every 20mins, Services 100 and 337 which both run hourly with additional school only services provide access from Rye to the east. These services can be seen on Figure 4. In addition to the above, there are a number of other routes which pass the school but provide limited accessibility to the school for students and staff. 3.4.2 There are currently 2 covered bus stops located on both sides of Rye Road just south of the existing access. These bus stops are in a close location for the students to access the school.

3.5 RAIL TRAVEL 3.5.1 Ore Railway Station is the closest station to the school located approximately 1.5 miles away. The station only serves 2 routes, one to Brighton and one to London (Charing Cross), both of which have a 60 minute frequency. In addition, this station does not have any regular bus services that connect to the school. Having reviewed the existing school Travel Plan, it is noted that less than 2% travel to the school by train and there is limited opportunity for further significant growth.

3.6 JOURNEYS BY CAR 3.6.1 The school currently caters for 699 students and 118 members of staff. For this 60 car parking spaces are made available. There is an apparent under-provision of car parking with approximately 106 employees trying to park at the school, resulting in a number of staff currently parking on-street where restrictions do not apply. 3.6.2 The A259 Rye Road is a wide single carriageway road with centre line hatching. The A259 Rye Road runs along the length of Hastings and as discussed in Manual for Streets 2, incorporates a number of different characteristics along its route, from a typical high street form to arterial route providing access between settlements. As discussed in section 3.1, the A259 Rye Road, in front of the school, allows on-street parking which is achievable with an approximate road width of 10.5m. Along this section to the front of the school wide centreline hatching is provided with a right turn lane access into Churchill Avenue. 3.6.3 The current speed limit in front of the school is 30mph; however this quickly changes to 40mph on the northern fringe of the school. To the south, the 30mph speed limit continues into the centre of Hastings

3.7 ACCIDENT ANALYSIS 3.7.1 An assessment of road safety was provided in the ESCC Report of June 2010 entitled ‘Transport Assessment Stage 1 Scoping Report’ which looked at the previous 3 years data commencing 01/01/2007. The summary information has been re-produced in Table 3.2 below.

Table 3.2 – Accident Data Summary Accidents were reported on the A259 between 01/01/2007 and 21/12/2009 No. of Accidents Involved Comments

1 Horse Rider/Car 4 Vehicle Only 3 Older Pedestrian/Car 2 Child/Car School times 1 Child/Car Playing out of school hours 1 Moped Out of school hours Source: ‘Transport Assessment Stage 1 Scoping Report’ (June 2010) Appendix 8 Accident Data Summary (Annex A) 3.7.2 There were 12 accidents recorded in total with only two featuring school children during school travel times. The analysis indicated that risks to school children would not be a major factor in considering a new Academy on the existing site. 3.7.3 In addition, there are to be some minor safety improvements suggested in the area which will include moving the 30mph speed limit zone towards Rye and the right turn lane into the Academy.

3.8 TRAFFIC FLOWS AND ON-SITE OBSERVATIONS 3.8.1 A Manual Classified Count was undertaken on Wednesday 18th November 2010 at the Rye Road junction with the school access. These flows are provided within Annex B. 3.8.2 The count indicated that 408 vehicles headed southbound along the A259 Rye Road, with 419 heading northbound in the morning peak hour (08:00-09:00). In addition, 39 vehicles entered the school from both directions with four exiting. Before the survey started at 08:00 it was noted that 25 vehicles were already on-site. 3.8.3 The survey also provided evidence that a number of vehicles use the existing access as a u-turning area while dropping students off. While the survey was undertaken, 30 vehicles were noted for doing this.

4 Development Proposals

4.1 PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT CONSTRUCTION 4.1.1 The proposed Academy will be constructed over a number of phases to allow the continued use of the school during the development. Therefore, it is imperative that a robust and reliable access strategy keeps pace during these different phases to ensure safe and convenient access for both pedestrians and vehicles. The proposed phases and access provision are shown in WSP Drawing 24550158/SK/T/001-B and are discussed in detail below.

ENABLING WORKS 4.1.2 The enabling phase of development will involve the decanting of some of the existing facilities to temporary accommodation constructed in the northern sections of the site. No changes are proposed to the existing access arrangements and it is anticipated that some selected movements of construction vehicle would need to be accommodated though only at low levels, at appropriate times and with control procedures in place (e.g. trained banksman). 4.1.3 The delivery of five temporary classrooms associated with the enabling works will be undertaken by both the use of flatbed trucks and the construction of a temporary steel road along the site access to allow for the necessary clearance to be achieved. Further to this, if the trucks are unable to get through the existing access an all-terrain crane will be set up behind Block A to pick up the prefabricated units from trucks that will be parked on Rye Road. All appropriate licences required for temporary lane closures will be acquired before any works begin.

PHASE 1 – DEMOLITION WORKS 4.1.4 This phase involves the preparation of the Academy site ready for construction. To facilitate this first phase, a new construction access will be provided close to the southern boundary of the school. This access will be constructed into the embankment with a 1:11 gradient to reach the level of the proposed Academy. Once the Academy is constructed the construction access will revert back to a service and delivery vehicle access. This access will include a widened bell mouth to a width of 6m to allow two vehicles to pass within 15m of the bellmouth onto the A259 Rye Road. 4.1.5 The existing school during this phase will continue to be served by the existing vehicular and the northern pedestrian accesses. The existing pedestrian access on the southern boundary of the site will be removed in light of the introduction of the construction access. 4.1.6 To facilitate pedestrian movements and minimise the number of pupils crossing the new construction/delivery access, the existing signalised crossing will be relocated approximately 40m northwards. Given the forthcoming construction of the pedestrian access serving the Academy, it is proposed for this relocation to be permanent.

PHASE 1 – CONSTRUCTION 4.1.7 The construction of the new Academy will take place and continue to be served from the new construction access. Two cranes will be erected to facilitate construction of the new buildings. All other implemented access arrangements in previous phases will remain unchanged.

PHASE 2 – DEMOLITION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS AND ALTERATIONS TO ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS 4.1.8 This phase of development will start once the new Academy has been constructed and handed over and been occupied by staff, administration staff and students. This existing old Hillcrest School building which is no longer in use will then be cornered off with full height hoarding, which then allows removal of remaining asbestos, strip out services and demolition, to make way for landscape works, new footpaths, roads and car parks. 4.1.9 Access for construction vehicles will continue to be from the construction access, however, this access will now also be used by service vehicles accessing the Academy and for the demolition of the existing school. 4.1.10 Pedestrians will access the site from the existing vehicular entrance. The remaining pedestrian-only access will be removed in conjunction with the demolition of Hillcrest School. The existing staff parking will be re-allocated outside of the sports hall and other temporary areas. 4.1.11 The demolition of the remaining buildings on-site will take place via the existing access and care will be taken to minimise disruption at key times and periods.

PHASE 2A – PROVISION OF NEW PEDESTRIAN ACCESS 4.1.12 Phase 2a is characterised by the construction of the new pedestrian access. This access is shown indicatively on WSP Drawing 24550158/SK/T/002-B and will be in the vicinity of the relocated signalised crossing. 4.1.13 A new vehicular access, at a 1:10 gradient, will be built to facilitate the construction of the new staff car park. The existing vehicular access will continue to be used by staff parking near the sports hall. This may involve temporarily having two active entrances while the new car park is being built. 4.1.14 The construction access discussed in Phase 1 and 2 will now revert to being for service delivery vehicles only.

PHASE 2B CONSTRUCTION OF ALL WEATHER PITCH 4.1.15 This final stage of the development moves a step-closer to establishing the final access strategy. 4.1.16 Service vehicles will access via their dedicated access road, while pedestrians will access via the new pedestrian access opposite the relocated signalised crossing. 4.1.17 The new vehicular access to the development will allow for the staff parking and general drop-off area to be fully used. This new access will be a minor ghost island priority junction allowing two way movements through a 6.8m wide carriageway. 4.1.18 The existing vehicular access will revert to being a construction-only access before being closed at the termination of the works. This will be to facilitate the building of the all-weather pitch and other landscaping works. 4.1.19 It is proposed that the works on site will finish by June 2013 when the existing main access will be removed and access will therefore be from the new three points of access.

4.2 SITE ACCESS PROVISION 4.2.1 As discussed during the phasing of the development, the proposed access strategy includes the provision of two new vehicular accesses and a single pedestrian access into the Academy which are shown on the Edco Masterplan in Annex C. Further to this WSP Drawing 24550158/SK/T/004-A shows a comparison between the existing Hillcrest School and finalised proposed Hastings Academy access arrangements. Further to this a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit and Designers Response written in relation to the access arrangements is contained in Annex D.

VEHICULAR ACCESS 4.2.2 The proposed Academy access junction will comprise a simple ghost island priority junction allowing access to the car parks and drop off area. This arrangement is detailed on WSP Drawing 24550158/SK/T/003-B. This new access will replace the existing main point of entry which was a simple priority junction with no formal right turning facilities on Rye Road. 4.2.3 The new right turn facility will formalise the existing movements which take place into and out of the site and provide a betterment in relation to road safety and capacity along this section of the A259 (a strategic road within Hastings). The proposed right turn lane facility dimensions are below those which are prescribed within the current Design Manual for Roads and Bridges standards. The facility has been provided with due consideration to the location of the new access junction, construction access junction, pedestrian and cyclist access points to the Academy and local conditions such as private driveways. 4.2.4 The proposed pedestrian crossing location and resultant length of right turning lane is considered to represent the best compromise against all of the constraints and against the backdrop of minimising disruption along Rye Road (i.e. excluding the potential for providing a temporary crossing). 4.2.5 The junction capacity tests presented in Section 6 show that the new site access junction will operate within capacity with the need to accommodate up to 2 vehicles. 4.2.6 The proposal for the drop off area within the Academy will be primarily for bus/coach drop off, with the students continuing to be dropped off off-site. It is noted that some students will be dropped off at the Academy by parents (for example disabled), however, the drop-off area will not be for parents use during the start and finish of a typical school day.

PEDESTRIAN ACCESS 4.2.7 Pedestrian access into the development will be provided from a new access point. The main pedestrian route has been proposed as a flight of stairs to navigate the changes in levels, however, a separate route has been provided to the east of the stairs that meanders along the contours of the land to provide a safe 1:21m gradient accessible to disabled people. 4.2.8 The existing signalised crossing located on the southern corner of the school will be relocated further north of the proposed service access in close proximity to the proposed pedestrian access. The location of the pedestrian crossing has been dictated by both the new accesses and the existing frontage access along the A259 Rye Road.

To facilitate the crossing, a new footway will be required across the existing verge. This crossing can be seen on WSP Drawing 24550158/SK/T/002-B. 4.2.9 The position of the signal controlled crossing has been dictated by a number of factors including the position of the construction/service access, new vehicular access to the Academy and local private driveways. Further to this the position of the proposed non-motorised-user access has been dictated by the site topography and delivery of a design compliant arrangement (including appropriate gradients). An area has been provided at the bottom of the stairs and ramp which will act as a small informal ‘square’. This space could be used as a place for students to meet and, as such, it is considered that a small level of activity would dissuade pupils from taking a direct path through the gates and into Rye Road. The design team have sought to provide a stagger between the access and crossing which is reflected on the drawings submitted. 4.2.10 Further consideration could be given to moving the crossing to increase the stagger distance. The limitations are discussed below: 4.2.11 North: A private driveway located to on the western side of Rye Road would only allow the crossing to be moved 3m north from its current position. If the crossing was moved this short distance, the risk of pupils running out of the access and directly into Rye Road would significantly increase. Locating the crossing north of the private driveway would place it directly on the exit radius of the new school entrance. This is also considered to be detrimental to the safety of the crossing and its users. 4.2.12 The potential of locating the crossing north, while retaining its delivery south of the new Academy access junction, is considered to be extremely limited. 4.2.13 South: The current proposed location of the crossing is mainly limited, to the south, by the proposed construction/service access (as discussed above). The crossing has been designed to limit the interaction of the crossing and entrance which would be utilised by delivery vehicles. The proposed crossing could be positioned further south subject to East Sussex Highways accepting that the crossing marking i.e. zig-zags would overhang the access junction. Further consideration will also need to be given to the position and potential impact of the crossing, and connecting footpath connections to it, on the existing tree and any major services running through the verge ( on the western side of Rye Road). 4.2.14 The proposed crossing position will be the subject of further discussion through to the detailed design stage of the project and should be considered in the context of the collective development site offer. The design team proposed to engage with East Sussex Highways on this matter through post application discussions.

4.3 LOW TRAFFICKED ROUTES 4.3.1 From on-site observations three routes have been identified that are predominantly used by students and staff of Hillcrest School to access the site by foot. Figures 5 and 6 show where all students live in relation to the school and their usual daily method of travel. This analysis aligns with the routes observed so far as the areas of Hastings where large numbers of the students are walking from would utilise one of the routes identified.

4.3.2 The Travel Plan considers these routes in terms of the provision which can be made to promote their use by pupils from the Academy. These routes are:

From Ore Village up both sides of Rye Road

From Churchill Avenue and the small estate to the west side of Rye Road

From Downs Farm Estate via a foot/bridle path to a rear-entrance gate at the south- east of the schools ground

PUBLIC TRANSPORT 4.3.3 As part of the development, it is considered that the existing bus provision is acceptable for students and staff to access the school. In addition, the site layout now provides the necessary facility for a bus drop off area to be used potentially in connection with school buses or for events. It is proposed that the bus would access the site through the vehicular access and do a loop of the internal link, dropping pupils off at the bus drop off area before exiting through the same junction. WSP Drawing 24550158/SK/T/003-B, shows the tracking of the school bus through the Academy site. 4.3.4 The ESCC Bus Co-ordinator provided some useful comments on the Academy proposals to GTA as part of the Stage 1 Transport Report:

Currently all students attending Hillcrest School use the local bus service

Only a small number of students receive free bus travel to the school

With a larger catchment area with the Academy, additional financial subsidies for some pupils may be attracted but is not considered a major factor. 4.3.5 Due to the above, the GTA Stage 1 Transport Report considered that there are no requirements or justifications to warrant any additional public transport support and that the infrastructure proposals in themselves represent significant betterment on the existing situation while providing feasibility for the future. 4.3.6 Currently, the majority of students live locally around the school and do not need to use the rail service. Whilst it is understood that with the use of the Academy there is to be a larger catchment area, Ore rail station only provides 2 hourly services which is unlikely to accommodate the needs of any students. Therefore no improvements are planned for rail access to the school.

PARKING STANDARDS 4.3.7 Currently 60 parking spaces are provided at the school. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this is an under provision. With the introduction of the new Academy, and the increase in students, it is important to reassess the current parking needs and provide sufficient car parking, without however, leading to over-provision. 4.3.8 ESCC Supplementary Planning Guidance: Parking Standards at Developments has been used to provide a basis for the parking provision and is shown in Table 4.1 below.

Table 4.1 – ESCC Parking Standards at Developments

Use Class Maximum Car Parking Minimum Cycle Parking Standards Standards D1 – No Residential 1 space per teaching Secondary schools, member of staff plus 1 community colleges, sixth space per 3 non-teaching form colleges 1 l/t space spaff members plus 2 per 5 students spaces for visitors plus 1 space per 10 pupils over the age of 17. Note: on- site area for setting down and collection that should be able to accommodate school buses as well as parents cars

Source: ESCC Supplementary Planning Guidance 4.3.9 Taking the above table into account, the new Academy will provide a maximum of 47 teaching staff spaces, 25 non-teaching staff spaces and 2 visitor spaces. The ESCC Supplementary Planning Guidance also indicates the required disabled parking provision. The guidance indicates that for a premise that the public has access to for recreation and leisure, 6% of the total capacity is required. Six spaces have been provided which equates to 8%. 4.3.10 The total provision of 72 on-sites staff parking spaces aligns with the recommendations outlined in the GTA Stage 1 Transport Report. Further to this, Hastings Academy is expected to maintain the 120 staff currently employed at Hillcrest School, and the 2008 Travel Plan suggested that approximately 70% of staff travel to the school by car equating to a requirement for roughly 84 staff spaces. With the introduction of Travel Planning measures aimed at reducing single occupancy car trips the provision of 72 staff parking spaces is thus deemed appropriate. 4.3.11 Within the spirit of the Travel Plan, car parking provision is considered to be only one part of the story. The availability and promotion of alternative modes of transport combined with an elevated status of transport in the mindset of staff (and possibly within the curriculum) should assist in increasing the sustainability of the site. 4.3.12 In addition to the car parking spaces, new cycling parking facilities will be provided, ESCC standards dictate that the maximum number of spaces that should be provided is 180. However, it may be more prudent to provide lower but higher quality provision which aligns with the actual demand generated by students and staff.

4.4 TRIP GENERATION 4.4.1 Trip generation for the site was agreed in the formulation of the Stage 1 Transport Report, which were included in Appendix 5 of their TRICS data outputs. These data outputs have been included within Annex E of this report. 4.4.2 The TRICS data for a 900 pupil school indicates that a total of 871 all-mode trips would be made. This is an approximate net additional 194 trips from the existing school. However, the staff numbers are not set to increase at the Academy, therefore

the additional trips will be associated only with the additional students at the school which exhibit a very high level of walk trips and less significant number of car trips. 4.4.3 This net change in trips does not exceed the quantum of demand associated with the consented Hillcrest School development.

5 Framework Travel Plan

5.1 INTRODUCTION 1.1.4 Hillcrest Hastings College produced a Travel Plan in 2008 in order to obtain Capital Grants Funding for a number of improvement schemes the school wished to undertake on-site. The Travel Plan was deemed appropriate to meet the criteria outlined by the DfT/DCSF to qualify for Capital Grants funding and as such it is proposed that the Academy Travel Plan will act as an update to that Plan. 1.1.5 The Travel Plan has been linked to the ‘Healthy Schools’ and ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda which has both a national status as well as being adopted by Hillcrest College. As part of this, the focus of the school is to ensure that safety and health education is promoted to all. Principally the school Travel Plan aims to reduce the number of car journeys by facilitating car sharing options and increasing the number of those walking and cycling to school.

5.2 REVISED TRAVEL PLAN 5.2.1 Based on the principles outlined in the previous incarnation of the Travel Plan, a revised document has been prepared in support of this planning application. This should be read in conjunction with this TAR.

6 Traffic Impact

6.1 TRAFFIC IMPACT 6.1.1 To fully support the proposed development of Hastings Academy, it was deemed important to assess the new junction arrangement and assess its performance in catering for the new development. 6.1.2 As discussed in Section 3.8, a traffic survey was undertaken on Wednesday 18th November 2010 during the morning peak hour (08:00-09:00). These traffic flows provide the baseline data required to assess the capacity of the junction. 6.1.3 The assessment of the junction has been undertaken using PICADY modelling software and the results are shown in Table 6.1 below, while the PICADY assessment run is provided within Annex F. 6.1.4 The assessment undertaken will include for the additional 14 car parking spaces proposed on site. In addition, additional trips associated with parent drop off have been included. These additional trips have been assessed using the existing Travel Plan mode shares, which indicate that 19% of students come to the school via car or car share. Using this percentage we have arrived at an additional 57 trips (based on an additional 300 students) that will be coming to the Academy by car. While this is an over provision as the 19% includes children that car share, it is felt that this will provide a robust assessment. 6.1.5 To assess these additional parent drop-off trips, we have added the trips in both directions. We have assumed that parents will drive past the new access to drop off students and then turn around and drive back past the access. Table 6.1 – Proposed Academy Access 2010 AM Peak Capacity Run

AM Peak (08:00-09:00) RFC Queue

Academy Access 0.061 1 Rye Road (NB) 0.139 1 Source: WSP Calculation 6.1.6 The construction of the new vehicular and pedestrian accesses may require ESCC to consider additional car parking restrictions on the A259 Rye Road to maximise performance and minimise the risk of potential disruption. The re-location of the signalised crossing provides an opportunity to rationalise the car parking restrictions across a greater length of A259 Rye Road given that its implementation will be accompanied by a requirement to install advance ‘zig-zag’ road marking where parking is prohibited.

7 Summary and Conclusion

7.1 SUMMARY 7.1.1 Hillcrest School has been earmarked to be re-developed and re-branded as an Academy. The existing site currently has a capacity for approximately 1,000 students although the roll call suggested that it has not been operating at the level of consent for some time with only 600-650 student currently enrolled. 7.1.2 The proposals are to raise the educational achievement and aspiration of local pupils by providing a state-of-the-art facility catering for up to 900 pupils. In parallel, it is hoped that the Academy will provide the necessary impetus to foster the regeneration of the area. 7.1.3 In terms of transport, the new Academy will continue to be served off the A259 Rye Road and changes have been proposed to its access regime to facilitate the construction and operation of the new school. 7.1.4 A Travel Plan has also been produced in tandem with this TAR which sets out those ‘softer’ measures which can be implemented to complement the ‘hard’ infrastructure improvements proposed. Both documents should be read in conjunction with each other.

7.2 CONCLUSION 7.2.1 The proposed new school is forecasted to lead to a pattern of movement which is similar in scale to the existing consented use of the site. 7.2.2 An increase of 14 car parking spaces has been proposed in order to meet the required ESCC standards along with a reconfiguration of this area to provide for greater circulation on-site and provision for a bus/coach drop-off point. 7.2.3 Changes in the location and configuration of the vehicular and pedestrian accesses have been presented in view of the benefit these provided in terms of linking with the new facility. These proposals have been considered in light of the requirement to phase the construction of the facility whilst maintaining suitable access for all users whilst the majority of Hillcrest School remains operational. 7.2.4 This has included meeting the needs of construction vehicles by way of a new dedicated access along the southern boundary of the site, which would be retained to provide access for service and delivery vehicles. 7.2.5 The new end-state vehicular access has been designed to provide a dedicated right-turn lane for vehicles wishing to access the Academy from the south. Traffic counts have been carried out at this location to confirm the suitability of the proposed design and a Road Safety Audit was undertaken to address any safety concerns. Junction capacity tests have been run to demonstrate that its operation would provide betterment over the existing situation and minimise the potential for queuing on the A259 Rye Road. 7.2.6 A pedestrian connection with the A259 Rye Road will be provided allowing for all abilities to gain access to the Academy with the use of shallow gradient footways. This pedestrian access will also be segregated from the vehicular access providing a safer environment for the students. The existing signalised crossing on Rye Road will be re-located to coincide with the location of the pedestrian entrance. 7.2.7 New facilities will be provided on site including cycle storage that will promote more sustainable modes of transport, alongside a new Travel Plan, with such measures like the new cycleway promoted by ESCC linking the school to Hastings.

7.2.8 The new Academy will help the students from the local area, as well as becoming an integral part of regenerating the area. This report demonstrates that the access strategy has considered a range of matters to ensure it is both appropriate in scale and flexible in its delivery.

Annex, Figures & Tables

Halfhouse Wood Little Hides Farm Cottage Eight Acre Wood KEY Site Guestling Wood Blackbrook Farm

Rodger's Wood Hoad's Wood Guestling Green Brickyard Wood Lord's Wood

Glebe Wood Hulls Wood Hurst Wood DrawnBy: DateModified: Friar's Hill Water Shaws Riley Gill Fishpond Wood Coghurst Wood Three Acre Wood Ten Acre Wood Alder Shaw Coghurst Bumpkin's Shaw Birchen Knoll Plantation A259

B2093 Home Farm Cottage

Bachelor's Bump St Helen's Mallydams Wood

Valley Farm Stables

Ore

Little Warren

St Helen's Wood Bourne Stream Place Farm Cottages Pinders Shaw Broomgrove Brakey Bank

Glen Wood Fishponds Farm House Wet Wood Halton Coneyburrow Shaw Clive Vale

Belmont A2101 Covehurst Wood Hastings Country Park

High Wickham

Old Town

West Hill East Hill

Covehurst Bay A21 HASTINGS

Stade

Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2010. Contains 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right 2010. All rights reserved. Kilometres License No. 0100031673. © 2008 NAVTEQ

TITLE: FIGURE No:

SITE LOCATION PLAN 1 File: Oak Wood Great Maxfield Barn Farm KEY Site Doleham Ditch Sailor's Stream Plashet Wood Broomham CottagesPedestrian Accessibility Kiln Wood A259 0 to 5 minutes Popland Wood Park Cottage Decoyland6 to 10 Shaw minutes Eighteen Pounder Farmhouse Five Acre Wood 11 to 15 minutes Fraysland Wood Halfhouse Wood Church Farm Cottages16 to 20 minutes Eight Acre Wood DrawnBy: DateModified: 21Guestling to 25 minutesWood Blackbrook Farm 26 to 30 minutes

Glebe Wood Hulls Wood Hurst Wood Friar's Hill Sims's Wood Water Shaws Riley Gill Fishpond Wood Coghurst Wood Three Acre Wood Lower Cherry Garden Farm Ten Acre Wood Alder Shaw Coghurst Bumpkin's Shaw Birchen Knoll Plantation

Home Farm Cottage Hoad's Wood Bachelor's Bump B2093 St Helen's Mallydams Wood

Badgers Wood Valley Farm Stables

Fairlight Ore

Little Warren

St Helen's Wood Bourne Stream Place Farm Cottages Pinders Shaw Broomgrove Brakey Bank

Glen Wood Fishponds Farm House Wet Wood Halton Coneyburrow Shaw Clive Vale

Belmont Covehurst Wood Hastings Country Park

High Wickham

Old Town

West Hill East Hill

Covehurst Bay HASTINGS

Stade Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2010. Contains 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right 2010. All rights reserved. Kilometres License No. 0100031673. © 2008 NAVTEQ

TITLE: FIGURE No:

PEDESTRIAN ACCESSIBILITY 2 File: Plashet Wood Moat Shaw Sailor's Stream Broomham Cottages KEY Factory Wood Whiteland Wood Kiln Wood A259 Pickham Farm Pannel Farm Popland Wood SiteInnisfree Park Cottage Decoyland Shaw Malthouse Wood Pannel Place Farm Eighteen Pounder Farmhouse Cycle Accessibility Five Acre Wood 0 to 5 minutes Babylon Wood Roughland Wood Fraysland Wood Halfhouse Wood Church Farm Cottages Great Hides Wood 6 to 10 minutes Eight Acre Wood The Cedars Carter's Farm Dine's Wood Little Hides Farm Cottage Baldslow Shaw Guestling Wood 11 to 15 minutes Cockmartin's Farm Blackbrook Farm Eastlands Shaw Red River 16 to 20 minutes A21 Fairlight Wood 21 to 25 minutes Hoad's Wood Pett Great Crab Wood Rodger's Wood A28 Guestling Green 26 to 30 minutes DrawnBy: DateModified: Brickyard Wood Woodlands Lord's Wood Roughter's Wood Isochrones generated using Network Sandhole Wood Glebe Wood Hulls Wood Analyst 9.2 ©1999-2006 ESRI Inc. Maplehurst Wood Hurst Wood Sims's Wood Marsham SewerAll Rights Reserved. A2100 Friar's Hill Water Shaws Cliff End AllMarket cycle Woodtimes portrayed are Baldslow Riley Gill Fishpond Wood Moneypenny Wood on-road cycle times. Coghurst Wood Three Acre Wood Ten Acre Wood Park Wood Alder Shaw B2093 Coghurst Bumpkin's Shaw Birchen Knoll Plantation Marsham Farm

Stumblet Wood Stonelink Wood Pook Hole Shaw Hollington Stream Home Farm Cottage Hoad's Wood Bachelor's Bump St Helen's Mallydams Wood

B2159 Badgers Wood Valley Farm Stables Fairlight Cove

Silverhill Park Fairlight Wood Field Ore Old Roar Gill Willowbed Shaw Hollington Wood Little Warren

St Helen's Wood Bourne Stream

-CycleIsochrones.mxd Place Farm Cottages Pinders Shaw Fire Hills Broomgrove Brakey Bank

Silverhill A2101 Glen Wood Blacklands Fishponds Farm House Wet Wood Halton Coneyburrow Shaw Clive Vale Gillsman's Wood

A21 Belmont Hollington Park Newgate Wood Covehurst Wood Alexandra Park Hastings Country Park Bohemia High Wickham

Leonard's Green Old Town A2102 West Hill East Hill

24550158\Analysis\ArcGIS\MapDocuments\PT1\0158-Fig3 St Leonards Summerfields Wood Covehurst Bay HASTINGS A21 Stade TITLE:

CYCLE ACCESSIBILITY

FIGURE No:

Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown 3 copyright and database right 2010. Contains 0 0.2 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right 2010. All rights reserved. Kilometres License No. 0100031673. © 2008 NAVTEQ File:Q:\WSP_UK\WSP_D\Basing\East Sussex Academies Great Hides Wood Halfhouse Wood Eight Acre Wood KEY Little Hides Farm Cottage Site Blackbrook Farm A28 Bus Stops in Vicinity of Site Route 20B Rodger's Wood Hoad's Wood

Route Brickyard21 Wood Route 22A Lord'sand 22BWood Sandhole Wood RouteHulls Wood 70 Hurst Wood Friar's Hill DrawnBy: DateModified: Route 100 Riley Gill Fishpond Wood Route 347 Coghurst Wood Three Acre Wood Ten Acre Wood Park Wood Birchen Knoll Plantation Coghurst Bumpkin's Shaw A259

B2093 Home Farm Cottage

Bachelor's Bump St Helen's

Valley Farm Stables

Silverhill Park Ore Willowbed Shaw

St Helen's Wood Bourne Stream Place Farm Cottages Pinders Shaw Broomgrove Brakey Bank

Glen Wood Blacklands Fishponds Farm House Wet Wood Halton Coneyburrow Shaw Clive Vale

A2101 Belmont Covehurst Wood Hastings Country Park

High Wickham

Old Town

West Hill East Hill

Covehurst Bay A21 HASTINGS

Stade

Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2010. Contains 00.080.160.240.32 Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right 2010. All rights reserved. Kilometres License No. 0100031673. © 2008 NAVTEQ

TITLE: FIGURE No:

LOCAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK 4 File: 0 1 0 2 / River Roth 1 KEY er r

1 e / h 7 Robertsbridge t 1 Studeo nt Home Postcodes

: R

d r

e e i f Tranv sport to School Type i i d R o A259(T)

M Bus Type not Known Peasmarsh e t a

D Car or Van Car sharing A21(T) Public Service Bus 1 2 0 R m m i v gha Taxi x er T illin k k u

Walking : am y gh B n i ill n RYE R r T w ive Rive a r T r e illing D red ha m River B Broad Oak

d e r B

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i Udimore R

R iv Bred e Brede iver e r B Sedlescombe iver Riv R re R e r B de rede R iver Brede WINCHELSEA

al an Winchelsea Beach C ry Icklesham ta BATTLE ili l M a y Westfield o R

Pett Level

n Beauport Park a C

Telham y r ta Pett ili l M ya o R

Coghurst

Ninfield Crowhurst A21

Fairlight

Alexandra Park p Combe Haven Hastings Country Park m t . 8 8 7 5 F D ~ \ 1 \ p m e T \ 1

~ TITLE: S L A C O L \

1 HILLCREST TRAVEL PLAN 2

0 BEXHILL m x Cooden k k u \ 1 FIGURE No: ~ E M U C

l Kilometres i License No. 0100031673. © 2008 NAVTEQ F C: : e l ~1 i F UME OC \ D m021 x \ ukk \ LOCALS~1 mp mp t e \ T \ 1 \ ~DF5788. DrawnBy:ukkxm021 2010 11/ ed:17/ i f eModi Dat All Flows in PCUs Academy Access

2010 Base Flows 3 31

A259 Rye Road

5 64 420 437

Academy Access

2010 Base + Additional Parking Provision 3 31

A259 Rye Road

5 64 420 437 t i a r t r Note: o P

4 Right turns into and left out include U-Turners that dropped of students A \ s w o l F c i f f TITLE FIGURE No: a r T \ l e c x E \ 2010 Hastings Academy AM d a 6 C \ : Peak Traffic Flows V