Sutton Link Background to Consultation Report October 2018
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Sutton Link Background to Consultation Report October 2018 1.12. 1.13. 1.14. Contents 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 3 2. Why is the Sutton Link needed? .......................................................................... 4 3. Previous consultation ......................................................................................... 10 4. Option assessment summary ............................................................................. 11 5. Route options ..................................................................................................... 17 6. Tram or BRT options .......................................................................................... 26 7. Next steps .......................................................................................................... 31 List of Figures Figure 1 – Route Option 1 – South Wimbledon to Sutton town centre ..................... 18 Figure 2 – Route Option 2 – Colliers Wood to Sutton town centre ........................... 21 Figure 3 – Route Option 3 – Wimbledon to Sutton town centre ................................ 24 Figure 4 – Tram vehicle on the existing London Trams network .............................. 26 Figure 5 – Example BRT vehicle being assumed for the Sutton Link from Metz, France ...................................................................................................................... 27 Figure 6 – Artist’s impression of tram on Morden Hall Road..................................... 28 Figure 7 – Artist’s impression of BRT on Morden Hall Road..................................... 28 Figure 8 – Artist’s impression of tram on Throwley Way ........................................... 29 Figure 9 – Artist’s impression of BRT on Throwley Way ........................................... 29 Figure 10 – Artist’s impression of tram on St Helier Avenue..................................... 30 Figure 11 – Artist’s impression of BRT on St Helier Avenue..................................... 30 Page 2 of 31 1. Introduction 1.1. We are investigating the feasibility of options for improving public transport connections and supporting growth in Merton and Sutton. 1.2. We are consulting on proposals for a new, direct and quicker transport link between Sutton and Merton. We have called this the Sutton Link. 1.3. Feedback from the consultation will be used to inform further investigation and decisions on the viability of the scheme and the preferred route and mode. 1.4. The Sutton Link would create a high-capacity route for people travelling between Sutton town centre and Merton. It would connect with other major transport services into central London and across south London, including National Rail, London Underground, existing tram and bus services. It would make journeys by public transport quicker and more attractive, and reduce the need for trips by private car. 1.5. Many of the neighbourhoods along the proposed routes have limited public transport options. The Sutton Link would support new homes being built and would improve access to jobs, services, major transport hubs and leisure opportunities across both boroughs and beyond. 1.6. Our work is at a stage where we would like to know your views about three potential routes. We are considering a tram or ‘bus rapid transit’ (BRT) for the Sutton Link and would also like to know your views on this. 1.7. BRT is similar to a tram but runs on road segregated from traffic where possible, not on rails, and carries fewer people in each vehicle. 1.8. This document summarises the work we have undertaken and presents it to the public for the purpose of consultation. The consultation is intended to inform the public of our work to date and provide an opportunity for the public to influence the design and development of our proposals. 1.9. The purpose of this document is to supplement the information provided on the main consultation website and supporting factsheets. It provides further information on the context for the project, including policy support and the project objectives. It also provides additional information on the most recent option selection process, which has led us to the options that are presented in this public consultation. Page 3 of 31 2. Why is the Sutton Link needed? 2.1. Depending on which route is chosen, the Sutton Link aims to: Open up transport options for communities that could include St Helier, Rosehill and north Sutton, which are not served by high-capacity public transport Create or improve connections to other centres, which could include Wimbledon, South Wimbledon or Colliers Wood, with links to London Underground and National Rail services Make it much easier to travel by public transport to key locations along the route, which could include St Helier Hospital, a number of schools, the open spaces of Rosehill Park, Morden Hall Park and potentially the London Cancer Hub being planned for Belmont, via a future extension which would be enabled by the Sutton Link Make the roads safer and more attractive for people walking, cycling and using public transport Support the development of Sutton town centre, which is planned to create up to 5,000 homes and 2,000 new jobs by 2031, along with better public spaces and environments for walking and cycling Support plans for Morden town centre, which aim to provide up to 1,800 new homes and make the centre much more attractive for locals, workers and visitors to enjoy 2.2. At the moment parts of both boroughs have very limited public transport options and the Sutton Link would help enable the delivery of new homes and jobs in these areas. Supporting growth 2.3. The draft London Plan identifies the area in south London between Wimbledon, Sutton and Croydon, referred to as the ‘Tram Triangle’, as having the potential to deliver substantial housing and employment growth. The plan designates three Opportunity Areas in south London with an additional Area for Intensification which have a combined capacity for 34,000 jobs and 44,000 homes. To bring forward development on this scale requires substantial infrastructure investment. The Sutton Link is one such investment that could contribute to realising this growth, whether delivered as a tram or BRT service. 2.4. A potential extension of the existing London Trams network to Sutton has been identified as one component of our Trams for Growth programme. This 15 year plan seeks to ensure that the London Trams network has sufficient capacity to accommodate growing demand, improve reliability and support the regeneration of town centres in south London. 2.5. Sutton and Merton councils both have ambitious aspirations to support their communities with new homes, jobs and improved town centres. A new tram or BRT service will help support these aspirations. Page 4 of 31 Improving access to jobs and services 2.6. Some areas of Sutton and Merton, including Rosehill, St Helier and Belgrave Walk, are relatively poorly served by public transport. The existing public transport system in these areas is centred around bus services and is restricting residents access to jobs, services and leisure opportunities. The Sutton Link will therefore help address this issue with tram or BRT services providing faster journey times and new connections. This will give better access to job opportunities and other services in Sutton town centre and central London. Supporting a mode shift from cars to public transport 2.7. Walking distances, wait times and lower public transport service quality means that cars have historically been seen as a more effective way to travel between and within Sutton and Merton. Improving the public transport available through the Sutton Link project will therefore help encourage mode shift from private cars to public transport. Morden town centre 2.8. Morden has been identified as one of the major growth and housing opportunity areas in south west London by the Mayor, Transport for London (TfL) and Merton Council. 2.9. In October 2015, Morden town centre was given Housing Zone status by the Mayor, making it one of the 31 identified Housing Zones within London. Housing Zones are part of the Mayor’s Housing Strategy, delivered in partnership with London boroughs and their development partners. 2.10. A total of £600 million in funding has been made available by the Mayor and government for the construction of 75,000 new homes across all the Housing Zones in London. The programme will also support the creation of 150,000 associated jobs over the next ten years. 2.11. The building of homes in these areas will be supported by a range of planning and financial measures. All Housing Zones will be set up by an agreement which shares the duty of building these homes between partners. This will ensure the numbers of planned new homes are built. 2.12. The Morden Housing Zone will deliver a total of 1070 new homes. 2.13. Morden Underground station is used by approximately 10.5m passengers every year. The presence of such a large number of commuters, employees and residents should benefit the town centre. However, in previous consultations undertaken by LB Merton seeking views on the town centre, people said that Morden is not an attractive town centre to enjoy and has the potential to be better. 2.14. Alongside our development of the Sutton Link proposals LB Merton is preparing and consulting on a new Local Plan. The draft Local Plan contains further information on Morden town centre. LB Merton’s consultation