Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (As Amended)
Burnley Council
Proposed business hub with conference use
Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF
Parking & Transport Statement
VTC (Highway & Transportation Consultancy) Vision House 29 Howick Park Drive Preston PR1 0LU
Tel : 01772 740604 Fax : 01772 741670 E-mail : [email protected] Web : www.vtc-consultancy.co.uk
20th December 2017 Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
C O N T E N T S
1. Introduction
2. Site Location and Previous Use
3. Existing Highway Network
4. Proposed Conversion Scheme
5. Traffic and Parking impact of the Proposed Conversion
6. Accessibility of the Proposed Development
7. Conclusions and Recommendation
References
Site Location Plan
Appendix 1 – Road Safety Information
Appendix 2 – Proposed Conversion Scheme
Appendix 3 – Sustainable Transport Information And LCC Accessibility Assessment
Photographs Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
1. Introduction
1.1 This Parking and Transport Statement has been prepared to accompany the planning application for a proposed business hub, with conference facilities, at the former Burnley Grammar School off School Lane in Burnley town centre. The proposed conversion of the former school will provide new office accommodation and business services in a location that is easily accessible by road or sustainable transport (walking, cycling and public transport).
1.2 During the preparation of the report the following investigations have been carried out : - an examination of the existing site and the adjoining highway network,
- an examination of the road safety records for the existing highway network,
- consideration of the parking provision for the proposed business hub within the site and in the surrounding area (on-street and off-street),
- an examination of the proposed conversion plans,
- an assessment of the traffic and parking impact of the proposed conversion scheme on the existing highway network, and
- consideration of the accessibility of the proposed business hub by sustainable transport (walking, cycling and public transport), in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF – Ref. 1). The Lancashire County Council Accessibility Assessment has also been completed for the site.
1.3 The following sections describe these investigations. Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
2. Site Location and Previous Use
2.1 The proposed business hub will be located at the former Burnley Grammar School on the north east side of Burnley town centre, as shown on the Site Location Plan.
2.2 The site is triangular in shape and bounded by the A679 Active Way on the west and the A682 Church Street to the east. School Lane runs along the southern perimeter of the site.
2.3 The site comprises the former school buildings of Burnley Grammar School which located to a new site in 1959. The main building is a Grade II Listed Building and is shown in Photograph 1. There are four other Listed Buildings, or monuments, within the site and St. Peter’s Church is located to the south of the site (a Grade II* Listed Building). Since the relocation of the grammar school the site has been used by Burnley College but the buildings are now vacant. The site has a car park for approximately 20 cars which is accessed off School Lane and is shown in Photograph 2. There are also several secure cycle parking lockers within the site.
3. Existing Highway Network
3.1 As described in Section 2, the site is bounded by the A679 Active Way, the A682 Church Street and School Lane on the north east side of Burnley town centre.
3.2 The A679 Active Way is a dual carriageway road that provides a northern by-pass of Burnley town centre. The road is part of a route that provides access to the M65 motorway at Junction 10, via Westgate, and Junction 11 via Princess Way. Active Way has a traffic signal controlled junction with Church Street on the north side of the site. The road has a 30 mph speed limit in the vicinity of the site. Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
3.3 Church Street is part of the A682 route that provides a north-south route on the east side of Burnley town centre. The road provides access to the residential areas on the north side of Burnley town centre and to Brierfield and also provides access to the residential areas on the south side of the town centre including Rose Hill. Church Street is a single carriageway road with a 30 mph speed limit.
3.4 School Lane is a one way street from Church Street to Active Way. The road has a 20 mph speed limit and on-street parking bays, as shown in Photograph 3. The parking bay on the south side of the road can accommodate, approximately, 7 cars and allows drivers to park for 40 minutes on Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.. There is also a parking bay on the north (site), side of School Lane which can accommodate approximately 5 cars. There is no restriction on the duration that drivers can park in this bay. There is a parking lay-by for disabled drivers outside the site which can accommodate 3 cars and which has a low level of existing use. There are footways on both sides of School Lane, as shown in Photograph 3.
3.5 The existing highway access to the site has good visibility for drivers who are emerging onto School Lane. The visibility splay to the left is in excess of 43 metres at the driver’s waiting position (2.4 metres from the edge of the carriageway), and is protected by double yellow lines to prevent parking. The 43 metre visibility splay is significantly in excess of the recommended 25 metre splay for an access onto a 20 mph road based on the guidance in the Manual for Streets (Ref. 2). Because School Lane is a one way street the visibility splay to the left (for the approaching traffic), is the only requirement.
3.6 School Lane also provides access to Bank Parade and the adjoining streets such as South Street, Bankhouse Street and Raws Street where there are offices and other commercial premises. There are a high number of on-street parking spaces on these streets which are in designated parking bays with a 40 minute parking limit on Monday – Friday between 8.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.. The level of occupancy in these parking bays is low during a typical weekday. Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
3.7 There is a contract car park at Bank Parade with parking for 33 cars. There appears to be vacancies for contract parking in this car park because it is, normally, around 50% occupied (there were 17 parking spaces available on Tuesday 31.10.2017 at 11.00 a.m.). There is also a Pay and Display car park located off Parker Street, as shown in Photograph 4.
3.8 An examination of the road safety records that are held on the Lancashire County Council (LCC), website MARIO (Maps and Related Information Online – Ref. 3), shows that there have been no recorded injury accidents on School Lane during the most recent 5 year data period that is displayed on the 19.12.2017. The website shows that there has been a slight injury accident at the junction of Church Street and School Lane during the 5 year data period and 2 slight injury accidents at the junction of School Lane and Active Way during the 5 year period. The website shows that there have been 6 slight injury accidents at the busy junction of Active Way and Church Street during the 5 year data period. This corresponds to, approximately, 1 slight injury accident per year (on average), at this heavily trafficked intersection. This is considered to be a, relatively, low annual accident rate for this type of junction.
3.9 Whilst any injury accident on the highway network is a cause for concern, there is no evidence of any serious road safety problems in the vicinity of the site. The road safety information is shown in Appendix 1. Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
4. Proposed Conversion Scheme
4.1 The proposed conversion of the former grammar school buildings into a business hub, with conference facilities, will allow the vacant Listed Building to be brought back into use on a key gateway into Burnley. The proposal will allow 100 people to work in a range of different offices and provide conference facilities for up to 200 people.
4.2 A new entrance and reception will be provided from the car park and a lift will be provided within the site to allow disabled employees and visitors to access the upper floor.
4.3 The existing car park will be used to accommodate at least 20 cars. The existing (under-used), disabled parking lay-by on School Lane will provide parking for blue badge holders near the site. The existing secure cycle parking lockers will be used for cycle parking and additional covered cycle parking will be made available. There will also be a parking area for powered two wheelers (PTWs). Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
5. Traffic and Parking Impact of the Proposed Conversion
5.1 The proposed business hub and conference facilities will be easily accessible by all modes of transport. The site is located adjacent to the major road network in Burnley for easy access to the motorway network and other strategic traffic routes. The site is also well located for access by public transport being close to the bus stops on Church Street and within a convenient walking, or cycling, distance of Burnley railway station and the town centre. The site is also easily accessible for employees to walk, or cycle, as described in the next section of the report.
5.2 Because the proposed business hub will be well located for access by sustainable transport (walking, cycling and public transport), the traffic generation of the proposed use will be at a, relatively, low level compared with similar business uses that are located out of town centres. The fact that the existing highway network has parking restrictions to control the location, and duration, of parking in the vicinity of the site will reduce the traffic generating potential of the proposed business hub. It would be inappropriate to provide high levels of parking for the proposed use because this would undermine the transport policies of Burnley Council and LCC to reduce private car use in urban areas to reduce traffic congestion and to improve air quality.
5.3 Based on the parking capacity of the car park and the possible use of the nearby contract car park at Bank Parade (10 spaces), the proposed business hub is expected to generate less than 30 private car trips during the weekday peak hours (0800 – 0900 hrs. and 1700 – 1800 hrs.). This level of traffic generation is not, normally, considered to be significant based on the guidance on Transport Assessment (Ref. 4). The site is likely to have generated higher levels of traffic generation when it was in use as a facility for Burnley College.
5.4 The proposed conversion scheme represents an opportunity to provide new business accommodation, and services, in a highly sustainable transport location in Burnley town centre where the employees would not need to own a car and can use sustainable transport. This will reduce the impacts of private car travel in terms of congestion and poor air quality in the town centre. Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
5.5 The proposed conference use at the business hub will require good transport information to be provided to people who will be attending conferences to ensure that they are aware that there is limited parking space available at the site and that there are good public transport services available. A Workplace Travel Plan will be prepared before first occupation of the proposed business hub and this could be secured with a suitable planning condition.
5.6 Therefore, the proposed conversion scheme will not a have a significant impact on traffic and parking levels in Burnley town centre and will assist the objectives of Burnley Council and LCC to (i) reduce traffic congestion (ii) improve air quality, and (iii) promote sustainable travel in urban areas. Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
6. Accessibility of the Proposed Development
6.1 As described in the previous sections of this report, the proposed business hub will be located in Burnley town centre and close to existing public transport services (bus and rail). The 2 kilometre walking isochrone for the site and the 5 kilometre cycling isochrone are included in Appendix 3 and show the areas where it will be possible for walking and cycling trips to replace car trips for employees and visitors, and for public transport services to be accessed. The existing bus services that operate near the site are shown in Table 1 :
Bus Service No. Route Weekday Frequency Harle Syke – Rosegrove via 5 General Hospital and Accrington Approx. every 20 mins Road (both directions) Barnoldswick – Padiham via M1 Earby, Nelson, Brierfield Every 30 mins. (both directions) Colne – Clitheroe via Nelson, M2 Brierfield, Read, Whalley Approx. every 15 – 30 mins. (both directions) Trawden – Accrington via M3 Nelson, Brierfield, Hapton, Every 30 minutes Huncoat (both directions) Keighley – Burnley via Nelson, M4 Brierfield (both directions) Every 30 mins.
Table 1 : Main Bus Services Operating on Church Street near the Site
6.2 As described in Section 4, secure, and covered, cycle parking will be provided within the development and this will encourage employees and visitors to, and from, the site. An area for parking PTWs will also be provided within the existing car park area.
6.3 The LCC Accessibility Assessment has been completed for the proposed business hub and this is included in Appendix 3. The assessment shows that the site has a score of 25 out of 30 and is in the ‘High’ Accessibility Category.
6.4 It is, therefore, considered that the site is in a highly sustainable location and there should be no minimum parking standards applied. Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
7. Conclusions and Recommendation
7.1 This Parking and Transport Statement has been prepared to accompany the planning application for the proposed conversion of the former Burnley Grammar School site to provide a business hub with a conference centre.
7.2 The report shows that proposed business hub will allow the Grade II Listed building to be brought back into use to provide new office and business facilities in Burnley town centre. The proposed business hub will provide employment space for up to 200 people in a highly sustainable transport location.
7.3 The existing car park off School Lane will be utilised for the proposed business hub and will include secure, and covered, cycle parking provided and parking for powered two wheelers (PTWs). There is existing blue badge parking available on School Lane, which is under-used, and this will be suitable for disabled employees and visitors to the site. There are on-street parking bays available for visitors to the site on School Lane and other streets for short-stay parking (up to 40 minutes), on Monday-Friday between 8.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m.. There is a contract car park available at Bank Parade with potential vacancies and there is also a Pay-and-Display car park at Parker Street and other public car parks in the town centre.
7.4 The report shows that the existing highway network that serves the site has a good road safety record with no evidence of any serious highway safety problems. The proposed use will not generate a high number of private car trips during the weekday peak periods which is estimated to be less than 30 vehicle trips during the weekday peak hours. This is likely to be a lower level of traffic generation than the previous use as an educational site for Burnley College. Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
7.5 The report shows that the site is highly accessible by sustainable transport (walking, cycling and public transport), with a score of 25 out of 30 using the Lancashire County Council (LCC), Accessibility Assessment for non-residential land uses. This will allow a high number of trips by employees, and visitors, to be made without a car and this will assist Burnley Council and LCC to reduce private car travel in urban areas and improve air quality. Because the proposed business hub and conference centre will be located in a highly accessible location by sustainable transport there should be no minimum parking standards applied. A Workplace Travel Plan will be prepared before the buildings are first occupied to promote sustainable travel at the site.
7.6 Overall, the proposed conversion will not have a significant or adverse traffic impact on the local highway network and it will be in a sustainable transport location. It is, therefore, recommended that there should be no highway or transport objections raised towards the planning application for the proposed conversion to a business hub and conference centre. Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
REFERENCES :
1. National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Department for Communities 7 Local Government March, 2013
2. Manual for Streets (1) Department for Transport September, 2007 ISBN : 978 0 7277 3501 0
3. Maps and Related information Online Lancashire County Council www.lancashire.mario.gov.uk
4. Guidance on Transport Assessment Department for Transport March, 2007 (now withdrawn but still considered to be relevant for this type of development) ISBN : 978 0 11 552856 9 Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
Location Plans:
Also refer to Application Drawings Location and and Site Plan submitted with this application. 1 km
SITE
Site Location Plan Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
Appendix 1
Road Safety Information 6 slight collisions
1 slight collision 2 slight SITE collisions
Road Safety Information 5 Years Recorded Injury Accidents from LCC Website MARIO 19.12.2017 Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
Appendix 2: Proposed Conversion Scheme: refer to the application drawings submitted with this application Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
Appendix 3
Sustainable Transport Information and LCC Accessibility Assessment Proposed business hub at School Lane in Burnley
5
(Church Street)
2
(Burnley Central)
2 (Leeds – Liverpool Canal)
3
5
2
2
4
25 2 Kilometre Walking Isochrone from Site 5 Kilometre Cycling Isochrone from Site Proposed business hub and conference centre Former Burnley Grammar School, School Lane in Burnley BB11 1UF PARKING & TRANSPORT STATEMENT ______
Photographs Photograph 1
The former Burnley Grammar School and proposed business hub on School Lane in Burnley town centre
Photograph 2
Existing car park Photograph 3
Parking bay and 20 mph speed limit on School Lane near the site
Photograph 4
Contract car park near the site on Parker Street