Proposed Residential Development Land to the South of West Road, Sawbridgeworth
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PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT LAND TO THE SOUTH OF WEST ROAD, SAWBRIDGEWORTH Transport Strategy Project No. 12-039 May 2014 PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT LAND TO THE SOUTH OF WEST ROAD, SAWBRIDGEWORTH Transport Strategy Odyssey Markides LLP Tuscany House White Hart Lane Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 4AF Tel: 01256 331144 Fax: 01256 331134 [email protected] Project No. 12-039 May 2014 PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT 12-039 LAND TO THE SOUTH OF WEST ROAD, SAWBRIDGEWORTH Transport Strategy May 2014 DOCUMENT CONTROL SHEET REV ISSUE PURPOSE AUTHOR CHECKED REVIEWED APPROVED DATE - For review BM RJH BM RJH 09/11/12 A Final BM RJH BM RJH 12/11/12 B Updated Draft RJH RJH 08/05/14 C Final for Submission RJH RJH RJH RJH 21/05/14 RJH/bm/Reports/12-039-002C (i) PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT 12-039 LAND TO THE SOUTH OF WEST ROAD, SAWBRIDGEWORTH Transport Strategy May 2014 CONTENTS Page Executive Summary (iv) 1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 National Planning Policy Framework 2 3.0 Existing Conditions 4 4.0 Proposed Site Access 9 5.0 Highway & Accessibility Improvements 13 6.0 Summary & Conclusions 15 FIGURES 1 Site Location and Local Highway Network 2 Movement Framework 3 West Road Corridor DRAWINGS 12-039-001D Proposed Western Site Access 12-039-002C Proposed Eastern Site Access RJH/bm/Reports/12-039-002C (ii) PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT 12-039 LAND TO THE SOUTH OF WEST ROAD, SAWBRIDGEWORTH Transport Strategy May 2014 APPENDICES Appendix A Illustrative Masterplan Appendix B Public Transport Information Appendix C West Road Automatic Traffic Count Survey Results Appendix D TRICS Output Files Appendix E West Road / Site Access Junction PICADY Output Files Appendix F West Road Parking Survey Results RJH/bm/Reports/12-039-002C (iii) PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT 12-039 LAND TO THE SOUTH OF WEST ROAD, SAWBRIDGEWORTH Transport Strategy May 2014 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Transport Strategy has been prepared with respect to the promotion of Land to the South of West Road, Sawbridgeworth for residential development on behalf of Barratt Homes. It sets out how the proposed residential development of approximately 300 dwellings on this land at Chalks Farm, Sawbridgeworth could be brought forward and be both deliverable and acceptable in transport terms, the site having been allocated under Policy SAWB3 of the East Herts Council Draft District Plan. Through the review of the existing conditions in Sawbridgeworth it is demonstrated that the site is in a sustainable location with respect to local facilities, with access to high frequency bus services. The site has good connectivity to the existing footway network for safe, convenient access to these facilities and services. It is also demonstrated that the principles of the site access onto West Road have been agreed with Hertfordshire County Council, whilst junction assessment shows its acceptability in capacity terms. It is also shown that existing on-street parking along West Road is not at a level which would compromise any additional traffic, although there is also scope to formalise parking locations if necessary. This tallies with HCC’s advice when confirming that any off-site access issues in this part of Sawbridgeworth would not be insurmountable, HCC having identified an improvement scheme for the junction of West Road with the A1184 London Road which is capable of accommodating both this site and that at Land North of West Road. There is also scope to provide peak period bus services connecting the town to the railway station. The analysis contained within this Transport Strategy clearly demonstrates that the Land to the South of West Road, Sawbridgeworth is suitable for residential development in a sustainable and deliverable manner and can meet the requirements of the Local Plan. RJH/bm/Reports/12-039-002C (iv) PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT 12-039 LAND TO THE SOUTH OF WEST ROAD, SAWBRIDGEWORTH Transport Strategy May 2014 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This Transport Strategy relates to a proposed residential development on 35 acres of land at Chalks Farm, Sawbridgeworth, being promoted by Barratt Homes; refer Figure 1 and Appendix A. 1.2 With reference to Figure 1 the site is located on the western side of Sawbridgeworth, with the potential for access to be achieved onto the southern side of West Road. The site has been allocated for the development of approximately 300 residential dwellings as per Policy SAWB3 of East Hertfordshire District Council’s (EHDC) ‘Draft District Plan’. 1.3 This report sets out national planning policy with respect to transport in Section 2.0, while Section 3.0 gives background on the local highway network surrounding the site and its sustainable accessibility including to local facilities in Sawbridgeworth and public transport services. The potential for a suitable site access is set out in Section 4.0, whilst Section 5.0 discusses potential highway and accessibility improvements. Finally, Section 6.0 presents a summary and conclusions. RJH/bm/Reports/12-039-002C 1 PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT 12-039 LAND TO THE SOUTH OF WEST ROAD, SAWBRIDGEWORTH Transport Strategy May 2014 2.0 NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK 2.1 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has superseded 44 planning documents, including all national Planning Policy Statements (PPS) and Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) notes. 2.2 The key golden-thread that the government sets out throughout the NPPF is that 'The NPPF introduces a presumption in favour of sustainable development'. 2.3 This is specifically reiterated for Housing in Section 6, Delivering a Wide Choice of High Quality Homes, which aims to 'boost significantly the supply of housing'. Housing applications should be considered in the context of the presumption in favour of sustainable development. Promoting Sustainable Transport 2.4 Transport is covered in Section 4, Promoting Sustainable Transport. This is set out with the following ethos: The transport system needs to be balanced in favour of sustainable transport modes, giving people a real choice about how they travel. 2.5 Local authorities should support development which facilitates the use of sustainable modes of transport. To this end it states that 'Development should only be prevented or refused on transport grounds where the residual cumulative impacts of development are severe'. 2.6 The development would be designed in accordance with NPPF to: • Accommodate the efficient delivery of goods and supplies; • Give priority to pedestrian and cycle movements, and have access to high quality public transport facilities; • Create safe and secure layouts which minimise conflicts between traffic and cyclists or pedestrians, avoiding street clutter and where appropriate establishing home zones; RJH/bm/Reports/12-039-002C 2 PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT 12-039 LAND TO THE SOUTH OF WEST ROAD, SAWBRIDGEWORTH Transport Strategy May 2014 • Incorporating facilities for charging plug-in and other ultra-low emission vehicles; and • Consider the needs of people with disabilities by all modes of transport. 2.7 In accordance with NPPF a future planning application for the site will be supported by a full Transport Assessment and a comprehensive Residential Travel Plan. RJH/bm/Reports/12-039-002C 3 PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT 12-039 LAND TO THE SOUTH OF WEST ROAD, SAWBRIDGEWORTH Transport Strategy May 2014 3.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS 3.1 This section discusses the existing conditions in the vicinity of the site and concentrates on the accessibility of the site to the centre of the town which is focused along the A1184 London Road corridor. The accessibility in relation to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, and the public transport services, including bus routes along the A1184 and rail services from Sawbridgeworth railway station, are discussed demonstrating the site’s sustainable location. Local Highway Network 3.2 To the east of the site West Road connects to the A1184 London Road via a double mini-roundabout arrangement which also gives access to Station Road to the east. To the west of the site West Road gives access out of Sawbridgeworth towards Hertford. Figure 1 demonstrates the local highway network in the vicinity of the site. 3.3 West Road is subject to a 30mph speed limit between the A1184 London Road and c.250m west of the western site frontage, where it is subject to a 40mph speed limit until its junction with Beanfield Road. It is traffic calmed along the length of the 30mph section, with a series of flat top humps. 3.4 The A1184 London Road, where the main local facilities within Sawbridgeworth are located, is a c.750m travel distance from the centre of the site frontage onto West Road. Sawbridgeworth railway station is a further c.1.0km east along Station Road. 3.5 The site has two sections of frontage onto West Road either side of nos. 101 to 139. The western section is c.150m wide and the eastern section c.15m wide. 3.6 Along the western site frontage West Road is c.5.5m wide, with a row of houses on the north side that have driveway access directly onto it. East of this RJH/bm/Reports/12-039-002C 4 PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT 12-039 LAND TO THE SOUTH OF WEST ROAD, SAWBRIDGEWORTH Transport Strategy May 2014 there are houses with driveway access, on both sides of West Road to the eastern site frontage. 3.7 For approximately half of West Road, between the eastern site frontage and Roseacres, there are no residential dwellings on either side of West Road, then there is residential dwellings on both sides, with the dwellings on the north side being set back from the road. On this north side residents park their cars on- street as they have no other parking availability, leaving width only for unidirectional traffic flow. 3.8 East of Roseacres, to the A1184 London Road, West Road is a c.6.0m wide residential road with side roads and driveways accessing it.