Framework School Travel Plan

Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd Reef Way School

Reef Way School, East Sussex Framework School Travel Plan © MLM Consulting Engineers Limited

Notice

This document and its contents have been prepared and intended solely for Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd information and use in relation to Reef Way School, East Sussex.

MLM Consulting Engineers Limited assumes no responsibility to any other party in respect of or arising out of or in connection with this document and/or its contents.

Document History

Client: Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd Project: Reef Way School Document Title: Framework School Travel Plan Document Reference: 6100034-MLM-ZZ-XX-RP-TP-0002 MLM Reference: JIR/6100034/JT

Revision Status Description Author Checked/Approved Date R01 Final Framework School Travel Plan Lauren Elliott Faye Murray 03/04/2019

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Contents

1 Introduction ...... 1

2 Background Information ...... 2

3 Baseline Travel Information ...... 4

4 Travel Plan Objectives ...... 5

5 Management of the Travel Plan ...... 6

6 Targets and Monitoring ...... 7

7 Travel Plan Measures ...... 8

Appendix 1 – Site Location Plan

Appendix 2 – Proposed Site Layout

1 Introduction

MLM Consulting Engineers have been appointed by Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd to prepare a Framework School Travel Plan to accompany a planning application for the development of a Special Educational Needs (SEN) School located off Reef Way, in Hailsham, East Sussex. The school will accommodate up to 80 pupils with 48 teaching staff and 17 non-teaching staff.

A site location plan is provided in Appendix 1 and a plan showing the proposed site layout is provided in Appendix 2. The site forms part of a wider area that received outline planning permission in 2010 (Ref: WD/2009/2705/MEA). The approved development is for: “The erection of a mixed use development comprising up to 170 dwellings, 55 extra care units, an education establishment (up to 5,000sqm), up to 4,000sqm of office space, health centre and either a library or alternative provision for another community or recreational use such as a skate park, and open space with associated highways and landscaping”.

The operator of the school is unknown at the time of writing. It is in intended that this Framework School Travel Plan will be used by the operator in the formation of a Detailed School Travel Plan once operational characteristics are known. It is also envisaged that the Detailed School Travel Plan would be developed using the Modeshift STARS platform. Modeshift STARS is a school awards scheme that has been established to recognise schools that have demonstrated excellence in supporting cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable travel. The scheme encourages schools across England to increase levels of sustainable and active travel in order to improve the health and well-being of students. Every school in England (excluding London) can participate in Modeshift STARS for free. Schools are awarded a gold, silver or bronze accreditation depending on the number of sustainable travel measures that they have implemented and the corresponding level of mode shift.

The Framework School Travel Plan draws upon information contained within the Transport Statement for the proposed development that has also been prepared by MLM Consulting Engineers. The Transport Statement highlights the importance of the Framework School Travel Plan in terms of reducing the predicted traffic of the proposed development.

1.1 Report Structure

Subsequent to this introduction, the Framework School Travel Plan is structured as follows:

• Section 2 describes the adjacent transport network and reviews existing transport conditions and infrastructure within the study area – with a particular focus on sustainable transport infrastructure. • Section 3 provides an estimate of modal split for the proposed development. • Section 4 outlines the objectives of the Travel Plan. • Section 5 details the management arrangements for the Travel Plan and establishes the role and responsibility of the Travel Plan Coordinator who will have overall responsibility for project management of the Travel Plan and its full implementation. • Section 6 identifies targets for modal shift and sets out a mechanism for the regular monitoring and review of the Travel Plan to determine the extent to which its objectives and targets are being achieved. • Section 7 describes the specific Travel Plan measures that would be considered to achieve the modal shift targets that have been set. This section also includes an Action Plan for delivering the Travel Plan measures.

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2 Background Information

2.1 Existing Site

The site forms part of a wider area that received outline planning permission in 2010. The site itself comprises a 2-hectare field consisting of a hilly grassed area to the west of the newly constructed residential properties. Access to the residential properties are via Reef Way which is a cul de sac formed as a signal controlled junction onto Battle Road.

Hailsham town centre is located to the south of the permitted site with Hailsham Community College and residential properties located to the west.

2.2 Pedestrian Network

The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) published a document in April 2015 titled ‘Planning for Walking’ which states that after driving and being driven, walking is the most common form of travel in Britain. It accounted for 22% of all journeys in 2012 (National Travel Survey, Department for Transport, annual). Furthermore, across Britain it was considered that about 80% of journeys shorter than 1 mile were made wholly on foot (DfT, annual).

The area benefits from footways and street lighting on both sides for the majority of roads in the area. There is a signalised pedestrian crossing located at the Reef Way / Battle Road junction which comprises tactile paving and dropped kerbs.

2.3 Cycling Network

The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) published a document in October 2015 titled ‘Planning for Cycling’ which states that the majority of cycling trips are for short distances, with 80% being less than five miles and with 40% being less than two miles. The majority of trips by all modes are also short distances (67% are less than five miles, and 38% are less than two miles); therefore, the bicycle is a potential mode for many of these trips (DfT, 2014).

The footway on the northern side of the A295 Battle Road is a shared footway/cycleway which allows cyclists to travel off the carriageway.

Part of National Cycle Route 21 passes approximately 1.3km south-west of the site (5-minute cycle). This is also known as the ‘Cuckoo Trail’ which provides a traffic-free route from Polegate to Heathfield.

2.4 Public Transport Accessibility

The nearest bus stop is located approximately 320m south (4 minutes’ walk) of the site access on the A295 Battle Road (Bus Stop ‘Hailsham Community College). This bus stop provides timetable information and a flag pole. Additional bus stops are located approximately 620m south-west (8 minutes’ walk) of the sites access on the B2104 London Road. Table 2.1 provides information on the bus routes and their frequencies.

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Table 2.1 – Local Bus Services (Services per hour) Service Mon – Fri Mon – Fri Bus Stop Route Number (Peak) (Off-peak) Eastbourne – Polegate – Hailsham - 54 1 1 Uckfiled Hailsham Community Stone Cross – Polegate – Hailsham – 142 1 1 College Ringmer - Lewes 142 Hailsham – Ringmer - Lewes 1 1 Hellingly – Hailsham – Langney – 1X 2 2 Eastbourne Berwick – Alciston – Polegate – 44 0 1 Eastbourne Eastbourne – Polegate – Hailsham - 51 2 2 Heathfield Old Railway Eastbourne – Polegate – Hailsham - 51X 2 2 Bridge Heathfield Hastings - Bexhill - Sidley - Hailsham - 98 2 2 Polegate - Eastbourne Hailsham - Heathfield Community 267 1 0 College Hailsham - Heathfield Community 269 1 0 College

Polegate railway station is located approximately 5.9km (70 minutes’ walk or 20-minute cycle) south of the site. The station is operated by Southern with 8 trains per hour to the following destinations:

• 2 trains to Ore (via Eastbourne); • 2 trains to London Victoria (via Haywards Heath); • 2 trains to Brighton; • 1 train to Hastings; and • 1 train to Eastbourne.

2.5 Local Highway Network

The site is accessed from Reef Way, a relatively new road and has not yet been adopted. The road is approximately 6m wide, with 20mph speed limit signs and traffic calming features.

Reef Way connects to Battle Road (A295) via a signalised T-junction, 180m to the north of the site. Battle Road provides a connection to Hailsham town centre to the south and villages to the north. The road has an approximate width of 7m in the vicinity of the junction with Reef Way and is subject to a 30mph speed limit.

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3 Baseline Travel Information

The expected pupils and staff numbers associated with the school once full occupied are summarised in Table 3.1.

Table 3.1 – Expected Pupil and Staff Numbers Expected Total

Pupils 80 Teaching Staff 48 Non-teaching Staff 17 Visitors 2

Given the nature of the school, the method of travel for pupils will be dependent on the specific requirements of each child. A baseline travel survey would therefore be undertaken after 6 months of the first school intake to establish the actual baseline modal split for students. Staff details are also unknown at this stage. A baseline travel survey of staff method of travel to work would also be taken 6 months after the first school intake.

Following the baseline travel surveys, the Detailed Travel Plan produced by the operator would be updated to include modal split details as well as other information such as the date on which the survey was undertaken, the number of students/staff surveyed and the response rate.

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4 Travel Plan Objectives

The high level objectives of the Travel Plan are summarised below:

• Minimise the number of car-based trips generated by the proposed development – particularly single occupancy car trips during the weekday morning and evening peak periods on the surrounding highway network. • Increase the number of trips made to and from the site by sustainable transport modes. • Address the access needs of students, staff and visitors by supporting walking, cycling and use of public transport. • Reduce the environmental impact of the trips that will be generated by the proposed development. • Address the needs of mobility impaired users through the provision of disabled car parking spaces. • Contribute towards the creation of a sustainable development. • Raise awareness of the implications of all forms of travel on the environment, and the safety, well-being and health of students, staff and visitors. • Ensure that traffic and travel issues are included in the school curriculum - including their impact on the environment.

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5 Management of the Travel Plan

The Detailed Travel Plan would be managed by a Travel Plan Coordinator (TPC). The TPC will be responsible for implementing, monitoring and maintaining the Travel Plan, as well as managing any associated funding. A TPC would be appointed before the opening of the school and it is envisaged this will be a member of school staff. A more detailed breakdown of the responsibilities of the TPC is provided below:

• To act as a point of contact for staff, students, parents and visitors with regard to relevant travel issues and questions. • To act as a point of contact for transport operators, and East Sussex County Council and where necessary, facilitate meetings with interested parties. • To keep abreast of any changes in relevant national or local transport policies and programmes so as to ensure that the Detailed Travel Plan remains up-to-date and appropriate to serve the needs of the development. • To maintain current public transport timetable and fare information and ensure that this information is made readily available to users of the site. • To share information relating to any car share schemes and sustainable transport groups/events with users of the site. • To set targets for modal shift towards sustainable transport modes. • To monitor the effectiveness of the Detailed Travel Plan on an annual basis and to track progress towards the modal share targets that have been set through monitoring and annual reviews. • To take action if surveys of travel behaviour demonstrate that modal share targets are not being met.

Once the TPC has been appointed, contact details of the TPC would be provided to East Sussex County Highways and included in the Detailed Travel Plan.

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6 Targets and Monitoring

6.1 Detailed Travel Plan Targets

Targets are measurable goals by which the progress of the Detailed Travel Plan will be assessed. Targets should be ‘SMART’ – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. Following the baseline travel surveys SMART compliant targets will be set. These targets will cover a five year period but will be monitored on an annual basis. More detail on monitoring of the Detailed Travel Plan is provided in Section 9.

Pupils

Given the special educational need requirements of pupils traveling to the school, it is unlikely that many children/parents would have the option to change their travel behaviour. Similarly, parents may also rely upon organised transport, provided by East Sussex County Council, for their children to travel to school. The measures detailed in Section 7 will therefore seek to encourage a low proportion of children travelling to school by single occupancy car/taxi where possible and educate children on the importance of sustainable travel to influence their mode choices outside of school and in the future.

Staff

Following the baseline travel survey, modal shift targets will be set to reduce the number of staff travelling to the school in single occupancy vehicles by 10%.

6.2 Monitoring and Review

The Travel Plan will be monitored on an annual basis against the modal shift targets to determine the extent to which the objectives and targets of the Travel Plan are being achieved. The first annual travel survey will take place 1 year after the opening of the school.

The TPC would be responsible for monitoring the Travel Plan and the annual travel survey. Following the annual travel survey the Travel Plan would be updated to include:

• Details of how the updated travel survey questionnaire was undertaken. • The updated travel survey questionnaire. • The updated raw travel survey data. • Analysis of the results of updated travel survey. • Any proposed revisions to the Travel Plan. • Any proposed revisions to the Action Plan for the following 12 month period.

Costs associated with monitoring the Travel Plan would be met by the school operator.

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7 Travel Plan Measures

This section describes the Travel Plan measures that will be considered to achieve the modal shift targets that are set out within Section 5. Measures to encourage walking, cycling, and the use of public transport have been included. The full Travel Plan would confirm the measures that will be implemented along with implementation timescales and costs over the duration of the Travel Plan.

It is recognised that measures to increase sustainable travel will differ between students and staff that commute locally in Hailsham and those that commute from destinations further away within East Sussex. The package of measures that has been identified includes active travel measures to encourage more walking and cycling journeys for local journeys as well as measures to encourage public transport and car sharing for longer distance journeys.

Costs associated with implementing the range of measures would be met by the school operator.

7.1 Provision of Sustainable Travel Infrastructure

Cycle Parking

Covered and secure parking spaces will be provided at the school in line with parking policy.

Taxi and Minibus Drop-off Area

A drop-off area will be created within the site, dedicated for use by taxis and minibuses.

7.2 Marketing and Promotion Strategy

Modeshift STARS

It is envisaged that the Detailed School Travel Plan would be developed using the Modeshift STARS platform. Schools are awarded a gold, silver or bronze accreditation depending on the number of sustainable travel measures that they have implemented and the corresponding level of mode shift. This rating system encourages schools to implement Travel Plan measures to obtain a higher level of accreditation.

Provision of Sustainable Travel Information

Information relating to sustainable transport networks would be provided to all staff, pupils and visitors - including details of the Travel Plan as well as information on the Travel Plan measures. This information would be provided on a dedicated sustainable travel information section of the school’s website. Sustainable travel information would also be provided for pupils and parents through regular newsletters and for staff through the staff noticeboard. The following information would be provided as a minimum:

• Walking information. • Cycling information. • Bus and train timetables and maps. • Information on the potential cost savings of using sustainable transport. • Details of car sharing websites (for staff only). • The contact details of the Travel Plan Coordinator.

Sustainable transport information would also be provided on a noticeboard that would be located in the main entrance of the school and updated regularly. This information would include leaflets, maps and information on local sustainable transport networks including walking, cycling and public transport routes.

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Cycle to Work Scheme

Members of staff would be offered the DfT’s Cycle to Work scheme which allows employers to loan cycles and cycling safety equipment to employees as a tax-free benefit. The scheme was introduced to promote healthier journeys to work and to reduce environmental pollution.

7.3 Sustainable Transport Groups / Events

Sustainable Transport Education

Pupils would be educated on sustainable travel modes. This could include: cycle training for pupils (where appropriate), the promotion of the health benefits of active travel and road safety awareness training.

Sustainable Transport Events

Sustainable transport events that encourage a shift towards sustainable transport modes would be promoted for staff including Walk to Work Week and Cycle to Work Day.

Personal Travel Planning

A complimentary Personalised Travel Planning session would be offered to each member of staff. The session would be provided through “myPTP” - which can integrate and provide data for all modes of transport, car-sharing and driving. “myPTP” delivers a detailed and interactive personalised travel plan to users via e-mail. Details include travel options, travel times, number of changes, petrol costs, CO emitted and calories burnt for journeys. ₂ 7.4 Action Plan

Table 7.1 sets out the action, the organisation responsible for delivering the action and the deadline by which the action should have been completed. The action plan will be managed by the TPC.

Table 7.1 – Summary of Action Plan Action Responsibility Deadline Provision of Sustainable Transport Infrastructure Provide covered, secured cycle parking for staff and pupils. Developer Prior to Occupation Taxi and Minibus Drop-off Area Developer Prior to Occupation Marketing and Promotion Strategy Provide sustainable travel information to staff and students TPC Ongoing Offer members of staff DfT’s Cycle to Work scheme Operator Based on Demand Sustainable Transport Groups / Events Education of Sustainable Transport modes School Based on Demand Promote sustainable transport events TPC Based on Demand Provide personal travel planning session for each member of TPC Based on Demand staff

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Appendix 1 – Site Location Plan

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6100034-MLM-ZZ-XX-DR-TP-1003-P01-LOCATION PLAN

REEF WAY SCHOOL, HAILSHAM LOCATION PLAN Reef Way School, East Sussex Framework School Travel Plan © MLM Consulting Engineers Limited

Appendix 2 – Proposed Site Layout

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