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14 August 2020 Transport Statement for Proposed 15 Pitch Tent Only Camp Site Timescale exceeding existing 28 Day (Currently 56 Day) Allowance within Part 4 of the General Permitted Development Order 2015 Land South of Letheringsett Road , Thornage, Holt Norfolk Office 01603 516319 Suffolk Office 01284 336348 Essex Office 01245 934 184 Orchard House The Northgate Business Centre, Moulsham Mill, Hall Lane 10 Northgate Street, Parkway, East Tuddenham, Bury St Edmunds, Chelmsford Norfolk, NR20 3LR Suffolk, IP33 1HQ Essex, CM2 7PX www.parkerplanningservices.co.uk © Copyright Parker Planning Services Ltd Information Date of Application August 20 20 Site Address Land South of Letheringsett Road, Thornage, Holt Development Use of Land for a Tent Only 15 Pitch Camp Site Description Local Planning North Norfolk District Council Authority Applicant Mr T om Wright Author: Howard Cardus IEng FIHE MA Principal Highways & Transport Consultant Report Revision: 1 www.parkerplanningservices.co.uk © Copyright Parker Planning Services Ltd Transport Statement – Use of Land for 15 Pitch Tent Only Camp Site Land South of Letheringsett Road, Thornage, Holt Contents 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Site Location and Description 3.0 Highways Discussion 4.0 Conclusion Appendix 1 Site Exit Routes Appendix 2 Major Road Network Junctions - Visibility Appraisal Appendix 3 Road Network – Passing Place Appraisal Appendix 4 Appeal Ref: APP/Y2620/W/19/3236740 Page 1 © Copyright Parker Planning Services Ltd www.parkerplanningservices.co.uk Transport Statement – Use of Land for 15 Pitch Tent Only Camp Site Land South of Letheringsett Road, Thornage, Holt 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Parker Planning Services Ltd have been instructed by Mr Tom Wright to investigate highways matters related to a proposed extended time period and continued seasonal usage of his land for a tent only camp site. 1.2 The applicant is proposing to extend his current permitted seasonal opening periods for operating a tent only camp site on his land to in excess of the statutory government allowance of 28 days in total, in any calendar year. Note: Corona Virus Restrictions ceased on 4 th July 2020. Where campsites have reopened in accordance with permitted development rights, the Government has allowed an extension to their statutory allowable opening from a period from 28 days, to 56 days until December 2020, without the need for planning permission. Demand for pitches on the applicant’s land during the summer period of 2020 has been high, with no recorded issues. 1.3 The applicant’s proposal includes imposing a limit on tent only provision for up to a maximum of 15 pitches at any one time, whilst noting the current permitted use on this land offers no upper limit on the numbers of pitches which he provides. With a site size of 2.4 acres and general conditions for campsites legalisation recommending a limit of up to 30 pitches per acre, the onsite capacity for pitches at his camp site location is considerably higher. 1.4 This proposal replaces the applicant’s earlier proposition for a 25 pitch tent only camp site. He decided to withdraw this original proposal based on particular concerns identified to him by Norfolk County Council in relation to highways safety and due to insufficient consideration of highways matters at that time. 1.5 In response, the applicant’s proposition is now based on seeking to continue the running of a more modest camp site on his land by proposing a significantly reduced maximum usage managed over an extended seasonal period in order that he can to continue to operate his site as a viable rural business. 1.6 Concern regarding the capability of the surrounding road network to accommodate additional traffic generated from a potential time unlimited camp site business offering 25 pitches was raised by Norfolk County Council, in its capacity as local highway authority, in October 2019. Page 2 © Copyright Parker Planning Services Ltd www.parkerplanningservices.co.uk Transport Statement – Use of Land for 15 Pitch Tent Only Camp Site Land South of Letheringsett Road, Thornage, Holt 1.7 Norfolk County Council provided comments regarding their highway safety concerns due to the location of the site some 1.5 miles away from the nearest main road, the A148 Holt Road with access into the site gained from the narrow and sinuous unclassified road, namely Thornage/Letheringsett Road, which is unlit and subject to the national speed limit. 1.8 Their comments continued by stating visibility at the site’s access is acceptable, however given the need to access the A148 to gain access to the wider road network, visibility considerations are also paramount along the route and in particular at the A148 separated heater island junction. Other routes are available to connect with the B1110 Thornage Road and onto the wider road network; however these routes are limited with single track rural roads which are considered to be unsuitable for the proposed increased use. 1.9 Consequently, highways considerations in relation to the applicant’s revised proposals include a detailed review of most likely and accessible routes to and from the application site plus a review of all passing place provisions and all associated junction visibility where users of the camp site will now emerge onto the principle road network. 1.10 In addition, a review of the site’s overall functions and associated on site operations will be provided based on its geographical location. This will ascertain whether any reduced or mitigated impacts on the highway network could be incorporated as part of the applicant’s proposals. 1.11 This report has been compiled by Howard Cardus, a Fellow of the Institute of Highways Engineers (FIHE), with experience in highways development control exceeding 30 years; including service as a local highway authority development control officer and representing the local highway authority as an expert witness. Page 3 © Copyright Parker Planning Services Ltd www.parkerplanningservices.co.uk Transport Statement – Use of Land for 15 Pitch Tent Only Camp Site Land South of Letheringsett Road, Thornage, Holt 2.0 Site Location and Description 2.1 The site is located approximately half a mile north of Thornage village centre. Thornage is located to the south west of Holt, approximately 3.0 miles away. 2.2 Surrounding villages also include Letheringsett to the north, Brinton and Sharrington to the west, Stody to the south and Hunworth to the south east. The nearest city of Norwich is located 25 miles away. 2.3 Thornage is located approximately 5 miles south of the popular North Norfolk Coastline. The nearest coastal village of Blakeney is located approximately 6 miles away. 2.4 The surrounding principle road network in proximity to the site comprises the A148 to the north and B1110 located to the south. Each of these roads run in a north easterly direction. 2.5 The site itself is accessed via the U14267 Thornage/Letheringsett Road which is classified as a 4A2 remaining link road. It is of single carriageway width with varying forms of passing places forming part of its identity as the secondary route network serving local traffic. SITE Figure 1 – Site Location 2.6 A 60 mph national speed limit exists in proximity of the application site. 2.7 On the same road, the nearby villages of Thornage to the south and Little Thornage to the north are subject to 30 mph speed limits. Page 4 © Copyright Parker Planning Services Ltd www.parkerplanningservices.co.uk Transport Statement – Use of Land for 15 Pitch Tent Only Camp Site Land South of Letheringsett Road, Thornage, Holt 2.8 A review of available accident data for the past 10 years, published by the Department for Transport, dating between 2009 and 2019, confirms 1 slight injury traffic accident recorded in 2013 in the immediate proximity of the existing site, (Ref. CrashMap). Further to the north at the above-mentioned A148junction in Letheringsett, the separated heater island junction, a number of accidents comprising 1 no. serious accident were recorded. Figure 2 – 10 Year Accident History Data Page 5 © Copyright Parker Planning Services Ltd www.parkerplanningservices.co.uk Transport Statement – Use of Land for 15 Pitch Tent Only Camp Site Land South of Letheringsett Road, Thornage, Holt 3.0 Highways Discussion Access Routes 3.1 Access to the site is achievable via a number of routes for visitors either arriving via the A148 located to the north or the B1110 located in Thornage village to the south. 3.2 The drawing in Appendix 1 further identifies the most likely and available routes to the site from the primary road network. 3.3 Whilst the surrounding secondary road network in proximity of the site is regarded as having a single lane carriageway width, further detailed analysis of the routes recorded from site visits identify a considerable number of passing places located throughout this road network. 3.4 Further, as part of this application the applicant’s site entrance will be enhanced to provide improved passing place provision for all road users within the public highway. 3.5 The passing places recorded on the drawing in Appendix 1 reflect carriageway areas either consisting of suitable widths of or in excess of 4.1 metres or where verge over run areas exist. The verge over run areas recorded show evidence of regular usage and have allowed the road network to function with its current traffic usage incorporating minimal recorded accidents over the past 10 years. 3.6 The characteristics of this type of public highway require the average user to drive more cautiously and at less speed. It is not uncommon for camps sites to exist in such rural areas with restricted carriageway provision. In which case camp site operators provide appropriate information at the time of booking to adopt the same driving manner.