Treforest Industrial Estate Transport Statem Ent SEGRO Industrial Estates Ltd on Behalf of the Treforest Unit Trust October 2008
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Treforest Industrial Estate Transport Statem ent SEGRO Industrial Estates Ltd on behalf of The Treforest Unit Trust October 2008 QM Issue/revision Issue 1 Revision 1 Revision 2 Revision 3 Remarks Draft Issue Date September 2008 October 2008 Prepared by Stephen Foxcroft Stephen Foxcroft Signature Checked by Mike Sheehan Mike Sheehan Signature Authorised by Mike Sheehan Mike Sheehan Signature Project number 11012327 11012327 File reference Transport Statement ISSUE.doc WSP Development and Transportation Mountbatten House Basing View Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 4HJ Tel: +44 (0)1256 318800 Fax: +44 (0)1256 318700 http://www.wspgroup.com WSP UK Limited | Registered Address Buchanan House, 24-30 Holborn, London, EC1N 2HS, UK | Reg No. 01383511 England | WSP Group plc | Offices worldwide Contents 1 Introduction 1 2 Policy Context 2 3 Existing Conditions 7 4 Developm ent Proposals 11 5 Traffic Im pact and Access 14 6 Sum m ary and Conclusion 15 Figure 1 Site Location Figure 2 Existing Public Transport Netw ork Figure 3 PIA Locations Appendix A Bus Tim etables Appendix B Personal Injury Accident Records Appendix C Developm ent Layout Appendix D Trics Output Appendix E Sw ept Path Analysis 1 Introduction 1.1 PREAM BLE 1.1.1 WSP Development and Transportation (WSPD/T) has been commissioned by SEGRO Industrial Estates Ltd on behalf of The Treforest Unit Trust to provide transportation and highways advice in support of a planning application for the proposed rationalisation of Unit B13 of the Treforest Industrial Estate. 1.1.2 As illustrated in Figure 1 the site lays within Treforest Industrial Estate which is located approximately 15km northeast of the centre of Cardiff and approximately 3km southeast of the town of Treforest (Welsh: Trefforest). The site is presently comprised of 5,062.4m2 Gross Floor Area (GFA) of mixed B1 and B2 uses. 1.1.3 This Transport Statement has been produced in line with guidance set out in ‘Technical Advisory Note 18: Transport’, March 2007 (Welsh Assembly Government). 1.1.4 The content and scope of this Transport Statement has been guided in part by pre-submission discussions with the local planning authority, Rhondda Cynon Taf. 1.2 STRUCTURE 1.2.1 This Transport Statement is structured as follows: 1.2.2 Section 2 provides an overview of national, regional and local policy in relation to the site and the development proposals; 1.2.3 Section 3 describes the existing conditions of the surrounding area, including existing transport facilities and local highway conditions; 1.2.4 Section 4 outlines the development proposals and trip generation from the development compared with that of the extant uses; 1.2.5 Section 5 provides a review of the traffic impacts of the development proposals and reviews the access and parking arrangements; and 1.2.6 Section 6 provides a summary and conclusion. 1 2 Policy Context 2.1 INTRODUCTION 2.1.1 Planning at the national, regional and local level is a material consideration in determining development proposals that are progressing through the planning process. 2.1.2 This section summarises the relevant national, regional and local transport policy relevant to the proposed development within Treforest Industrial Estate. The following policy and guidance documents have been referred to: Government Transport White Paper, The Future of Transport: A network for 2030; Planning Policy Wales; Technical; Advisory Note 18: Transport; South East Wales Draft Regional Transport Plan; Rhondda Cynon Taf Draft Local Development Plan; and South Wales Parking Guidelines and Addendum. 2.2 NATIONAL POLICY THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT: A NETW ORK FOR 2030 2.2.1 The Department for Transport’s latest White Paper sets out the government’s strategy for transport during the period to 2030. 2.2.2 The publication of this White Paper seeks to bring about improvements to all modes of transport through the creation of a coherent network with: “the road network providing a more reliable and freer-flowing service for both personal travel and freight, with people able to make informed choices about how and when they travel”; “the rail network providing a fast, reliable and efficient service, particularly for interurban journeys and commuting into large urban areas”; “bus services that are reliable, flexible, convenient and tailored to local needs”; and “making walking and cycling a real alternative for local trips”. 2.2.3 The strategy supports a multi-modal approach that seeks to capitalise on the benefits offered by each mode, whilst mitigating detrimental impacts. Each mode will play a vital role in bringing forward the development through facilitating the range of trips and journey patterns associated with it. 2.2.4 The need to provide a more efficient road system for road users is promoted, whilst mitigating adverse impacts of road traffic on the environment and other people. To achieve this five key objectives are identified: Improve road safety; Increase capacity where appropriate; Improve performance through management; Manage demand for road use; and Adopt new approaches to funding road use. 2 2.2.5 The continuing role of rail is seen to be of paramount importance in carrying a large proportion of travellers. Emphasis is placed on utilising the existing network and not just focusing on new infrastructure. 2.2.6 The White Paper highlights the increasing role that bus services could play in delivering modal shift from the private car if genuine choice is offered. “We need bus networks that provide flexible and convenient services tailored to local needs, offering a reliable way to travel to and from jobs schools, shops and other services”. 2.2.7 The contribution of walking and cycling as a realistic choice for short journeys is supported through the White Paper. Authorities are encouraged to ensure that these modes are more convenient and attractive particularly for journeys to work and school. In part, this is to be promoted though the delivery of better designed local roads and reallocating road space to benefit pedestrians. PLANNING POLICY W ALES. 2.2.8 Planning Policy Wales (PPW), published in 2002, sets out the Welsh Assembly Government’s land use planning policies. It is supplemented by a set of detailed Technical Advisory Notes (TANs) which, in combination with PPW, are used by local planning authorities in Wales to prepare unitary development plans. They may also be material in the determination of individual planning applications. 2.2.9 Section 8 of PPW outlines the Welsh Assembly Government’s transport objectives and policies. The principal objective within transport is to extend choice and secure accessibility in a manner which supports sustainable development through the establishment of an integrated transport system. This will be achieved through integration: within and between transport modes; between transport measures and land use planning; between transport measures and policies to protect and improve the environment; and between transport measures and health, education, social inclusion and wealth creation. 2.2.10 PPW continues further by identifying that land use planning can help to achieve the overall transport objectives via, inter alia: reducing the need to travel, especially by car, through the locating of developments in places with good access to non-car modes; Improving accessibility on foot, by cycle and by public transport; Supporting the provision of high quality public transport; and Ensuring that, as far as possible, transport infrastructure does not contribute to land take, urban sprawl or severance. TECHNICAL ADVISORY NOTE 18: TRANSPORT 2.2.11 Technical Advisory Note 18 (TAN 18) is the Welsh Assembly Government’s technical policy document on transport which complements Planning Policy Wales. The document provides planning guidance on, inter alia: the integration of land use planning 3 and transport; the location of developments; parking; walking and cycling; public transport and transport assessments. 2.2.12 As with Planning Policy Wales, the emphasis within TAN 18 is on accessibility through sustainable modes of transport. With regard to walking it states that: “Local authorities should promote walking as the main mode of transport for shorter trips through the use pf their planning and transport powers.” In the context of cycling TAN 18 delivers a similar message in that it identifies that cycling has the potential to substitute shorter car journeys or form part of a longer journey in combination with public transport. 2.2.13 In the context of public transport TAN 18 identifies that new or improved public transport provision can potentially provide an alternative to the use of private cars and alter prevailing travel demands and characteristics. Public transport can be a fundamental element of the accessibility of a site. Pertinent to this is the importance of interchange facilities between different modes. With regard to transport interchange TAN 18 states that: “The development of safe and efficient public transport facilities where different modes of transport intersect, including cycling, is essential for the integration of transport provision.” 2.3 REGIONAL POLICY SOUTH EAST W ALES TRANSPORT ALLIANCE (SEW TA) DRAFT REGIONAL TRANSPORT PLAN 2.3.1 The SEWTA Outline Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) was produced in 2007 and underwent consultation. As a result the Draft Regional Transport Plan was produced and another period of consultation followed which will end at the end of September 2008. Although as yet unpublished, it will form the regional