Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Environmental Statement Chapter 15. Onshore
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xxxxxx xxxxxx Environmental Statement Chapter 15. Onshore Transport Assessment www.tidallagoonswanseabay.com www.tidallagoonswanseabay.com Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay plc Contents 15.0 Onshore Transport Assessment 15.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 15.2 Legislation, planning policy and guidance ................................................................................ 1 15.2.1 Planning Policy Wales ....................................................................................................... 1 15.2.2 One Wales: Connecting the Nation - The Wales Transport Strategy ............................... 2 15.2.3 Regional Transport Plan ................................................................................................... 2 15.2.4 Local Planning Policy ........................................................................................................ 3 15.2.5 Fabian Way Corridor Transport Assessment .................................................................... 5 15.3 Assessment methodology ........................................................................................................ 5 15.3.1 Sensitive receptors ........................................................................................................... 5 15.3.2 Significance criteria .......................................................................................................... 6 15.4 Baseline conditions and study area .......................................................................................... 7 15.4.1 Highway network .............................................................................................................. 7 15.4.2 Public transport ................................................................................................................ 9 15.4.3 Pedestrians and cyclists .................................................................................................. 10 15.4.4 Rail .................................................................................................................................. 11 15.4.5 Baseline traffic data ........................................................................................................ 11 15.5 Assessment of impacts ........................................................................................................... 15 15.5.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 15 15.5.2 Assessment of impacts during construction .................................................................. 18 15.5.3 Assessment of impacts during operation ....................................................................... 25 15.5.4 Mitigation measures ....................................................................................................... 39 15.6 Residual impacts ..................................................................................................................... 41 15.6.1 Construction phase ......................................................................................................... 41 15.6.2 Operation phase ............................................................................................................. 41 15.7 Cumulative impact assessment .............................................................................................. 41 15.7.1 Screening of potential cumulative schemes................................................................... 41 15.7.2 Swansea University Bay Campus .................................................................................... 45 15.7.3 SA1 Development, Swansea ........................................................................................... 45 15.7.4 Coed Darcy Urban Village ............................................................................................... 46 15.7.5 Summary of cumulative scheme traffic .......................................................................... 47 15.8 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................. 50 15.9 References .............................................................................................................................. 51 Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay – Environmental Statement Onshore Transport Assessment Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay plc 15.0 Onshore Transport Assessment 15.1 Introduction 15.1.0.1 This chapter provides an assessment of the potential impacts to and resulting from onshore traffic and transport arising out of the Project. 15.1.0.2 In order to assess these impacts this chapter describes the methodology used to conduct the assessment, baseline conditions for the Project and surrounding area, and mitigation measures required to prevent, reduce or offset any significant adverse effects identified during the assessment. It also presents the likely impact of the Project together with other schemes in the surrounding area - cumulative impacts. 15.1.0.3 This chapter describes the assessment of the impact of the Project on the surrounding highway network, public transport, cycling and pedestrian amenities. It is based on an assessment of the interaction between future development-related movements and existing patterns of vehicular, pedestrian and cycle movements. 15.2 Legislation, planning policy and guidance 15.2.1 Planning Policy Wales 15.2.1.1 The 2012 Planning Policy Wales (PPW) sets out the land use planning policies of the Welsh Government. It is supplemented by a series of Technical Advice Notes (TANs), circulars and policy clarification letters, and these documents together comprise national planning policy. 15.2.1.2 Chapter 8 of PPW sets out the Welsh Government’s transport objectives. These are to extend choice in transport and secure accessibility in a way that supports sustainable development and helps to tackle the causes of climate change. This will be achieved by encouraging a more effective and efficient transport system, with greater use of the more sustainable and healthy forms of travel, and minimising the need to travel. 15.2.1.3 The Welsh Government supports a transport hierarchy in relation to new development that establishes priorities in such a way that, wherever possible, they are accessible in the first instance by walking and cycling, then by public transport and then finally by private motor vehicles. 15.2.1.4 Land use planning can help to achieve the Welsh Government’s objectives for transport through: i. reducing the need to travel, especially by private car, by locating development where there is good access by public transport, walking and cycling; ii. locating development near other related uses to encourage multi-purpose trips and reduce the length of journeys; iii. improving accessibility by walking, cycling and public transport; iv. ensuring that transport is accessible to all, taking into account the needs of disabled and other less mobile people; v. promoting walking and cycling; Tidal L agoon Swansea Bay – Environmental Statement Onshore Transport Assessment Page 15 - 1 Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay plc vi. supporting the provision of high quality public transport; vii. supporting traffic management measures; viii. promoting sustainable transport options for freight and commerce; ix. supporting sustainable travel options in rural areas; x. supporting necessary infrastructure improvements; and xi. ensuring that, as far as possible, transport infrastructure does not contribute to land take, urban sprawl or neighbourhood severance. 15.2.1.5 TAN18: Transport (2008) describes how to integrate land use and transport planning and how transport impacts should be assessed and mitigated. 15.2.2 One Wales: Connecting the Nation - The Wales Transport Strategy 15.2.2.1 One Wales: Connecting the Nation (2008) is the Welsh Government’s strategy for transport. The identified goal is to promote sustainable transport networks that safeguard the environment while strengthening the country’s economic and social life. It sets out five key objectives: I. reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts; II. improving public transport and better integration between modes; III. improving links and access between key settlements and sites across Wales and strategically important all-Wales links; IV. enhancing international connectivity; and V. increasing safety and security. 15.2.3 Regional Transport Plan 15.2.3.1 The South West Wales Integrated Transport Consortium (SWWITCH) Regional Transport Plan (RTP) was adopted in 2009, and is the result of joint working between Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and Pembrokeshire authorities. It is intended to shape transport policy in the region for the period 2010-2015 and beyond. 15.2.3.2 The RTP was based on the following key transport issues 1) road traffic volumes in the region, which have grown considerably resulting in unreliable journey times, increased congestion, reduced air quality, increased noise, vibration and carbon emissions; 2) road safety issues; 3) car ownership and use, which has increased rapidly; and 4) public transport provision. Tidal L agoon Swansea Bay – Environmental Statement Onshore Transport Assessment Page 15 - 2 Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay plc 15.2.3.3 The RTP sets out the following specific objectives for the region: I. to improve access for all to a wide