NORTHAMPTON CENTRAL AREA , DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND MOVEMENT FRAMEWORK Masterplan and project proposals Other sites 5.5 In addition to the above, the masterplan indicates potential commercial developments Summary at the Northern Gateway/Campbell Street (Site 13, 10,200m2 at 3 storeys), residential 5.7 This section of the report has set out a proposal led developments at the St Edmunds Hospital for a masterplan and key developments for site and along Bedford Road (site 14 - the the Central Area of Northampton. This is the development shown would provide some result of the identification of the Vision and key 620 two bed and 114 one bed apartments drivers of development and the appraisal of the at 4 storeys) and leisure and residential potential areas of change and investment within developments at various sites along the the Central Area. The key development projects Waterside. There is also the potential for the will deliver the required step change in the development of a healthcare campus at the range of services, accommodation, destinations, General Hospital, subject to the investment and infrastructure and employment in the development proposals of the NHS Trust. town centre. Summary of outputs 5.8 In the next two sections of the report we set out the complementary strategies for transportation 5.6 The total projected outputs of the projects listed and movement and the public realm. above are summarised in the table below. This relates to new build space only and does not take account of refurbishment or conversion. The amount of floorspace shown exceeds short term requirements but is designed to meet long term growth objectives. 45 NORTHAMPTON CENTRAL AREA , DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND MOVEMENT FRAMEWORK Transportation & movement strategy Introduction 6.1 This section provides details of the transport a. Completion of the Outer Ring Road around d. Improvements to bus infrastructure in the related masterplan proposals. This section is the north and west of the town though a town centre; structured as follows; combination of developer and government funding. e. Improvements to the streetscape within a. The existing constraints and opportunities; the town. b. Provision of Park and Ride sites at Upton and b. The main aims of the transport masterplan; Riverside with further sites to be identified close to the A508 to the north and south of the town. c. The transport masterplan proposals c. Potential parkway station close to the M1 on the Baseline Assessment West Coast Mainline. General Overview d. Provision of bus priority measures on all the 6.2 A detailed transport baseline assessment for main radial routes into the town centre. the town centre has been undertaken and is available separately. This section of the report e. Implementation of SCOOT UTC and bus summarises the main points identified in this priority at all signals on the radial routes into detailed assessment. the town. NCC Transport Strategy 6.4 Within the town centre the strategy includes: 6.3 Consideration of the policy documentation, relevant studies and discussions with the council a. Downgrading of the inner ring road and officers has highlighted the general transport improving the accessibility of the town centre strategy for the Northampton area. The strategy using non-motorised modes; includes the following key elements which are to be implemented over the next 5 to 10 years. b. Relocation or removal of the bus station; Figure 13: Key Growth Areas & Strategy Transport Links (see Figure 13 opposite). c. Provision of additional bus priority and changes to the junction layouts to accommodate proposed park and ride vehicles and other general public transport vehicles. 46 northampton NORTHAMPTON CENTRAL AREA , DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND MOVEMENT FRAMEWORK Transportation & movement strategy Travel Patterns in the Town Centre 6.7 The radial routes into the town centre and the Public Transport c. New transport interchange at Castle Station. c. There are limited opportunities to cross the 6.5 An assessment of Census data has identified inner ring road can become congested during 6.10 Public transport currently has a low mode share The rail station is remote from the town centre River Nene to the south of the town centre to the following information on travel patterns for the standard weekday peak periods. This is in comparison to the private car. Perceptions and pedestrian linkages are poor. This station the residential areas of Far Cotton, Camp Hill people living and working in the town centre. mainly due to limitation in capacity at a number amongst the public of public transport are is mainly used for car based park and ride for and Hunsbury Hill and also the proposed river of key locations. The limited space availability poor. A number of ‘flagship’ projects for public London and other major cities, as a result rail side developments from the town centre. a. Nearly 70% of journeys to work are undertaken means that major improvements in capacity of transport within Northampton have the potential has a limited role to play in terms of inward by car. the inner ring road cannot be achieved without to act as a catalyst for a change in perceptions. commuting into Northampton due to the 6.12 There are a number of national cycle routes that significant demolition of property. London-centric orientation of the network pass through the town centre, however, cycle b. Around 8% of journeys to work are undertaken a. New approach to bus service provision - The and the lack of stations within the immediate facilities within the town centre are limited and by Public Transport. 6.8 In addition to the ring road, there are two Greyfriars Bus Station provides a poor quality hinterland of Northampton. Provision of are poorly identified. Cycle parking facilities are further main routes that pass through the core of environment for bus users and is slightly remote enhanced interchange at the Station will be also provided on a limited basis within the town c. Majority of people who live close to the town the town centre; from the majority of the town centre. As a result a crucial component of enhanced overall centre. Cyclists tend to suffer from the same centre and work in the town centre walk the majority of buses also stop on-street within accessibility for the town centre to reduce the severance issues as the pedestrians. to work. a. Horse Market which is a four lane dual the town. Redevelopment of the Bus Station dependency on using the car to access. carriageway carrying traffic between the north site a offers the potential for a major overhaul of Car Parking Town Centre Highway Network and south of the town centre; and the town’s bus network, and an opportunity to Cycle and Pedestrian Networks 6.13 Given current demand levels for public car 6.6 The town centre exhibits a traditional street significantly enhance the service offer to existing 6.11 Within the retail core pedestrian facilities are parking, and equivalent levels of private car pattern with a number of radial routes feeding b. Lady’s Lane/Greyfriars which combine to and potential users. good. However, outside this core area the parking of approximately 6,000 spaces, there into a central core. Around this core is an orbital provide an east-west route across the northern motorised vehicle generally take priority and is not considered to be an issue with regard to route (inner ring road) for traffic circulating within part of the town centre core with in excess of b. Introduction of park and ride services. Given pedestrian facilities/environment is poor. Access present car parking supply. There is however a and around the town centre. There is minimal two lanes in each direction. sufficient priority measures, it is likely that the P to and circulation around the town centre is poor spatial distribution of car parking within the long distance through traffic within the town & R services will encourage a modal shift from made especially poor as a result of barriers to town centre, with a significant proportion of the centre, however, there is traffic passing from one 6.9 The majority of the other roads within the inner the car. pedestrian and cycle movements; available spaces located in the northern part of side of town to the other to access areas within ring road are low capacity routes that provide the town centre or close to the town centre. access to the main town centre commercial a. The inner ring road system creates a collar areas. On-street car parking and servicing for the around the central core, isolating a number of 6.14 There is limited guidance for users to the majority of the frontage retail and commercial the surrounding areas from the town centre. most appropriate car park to use and as such properties are also often accommodated on people tend to travel around the town to get these routes, and traffic speeds are restricted. b. Horse Market forms a significant barrier to a space that is the most convenient for their There is also significant pedestrian/vehicle pedestrian and cycle movements between the final destination. This results additional traffic interaction along these routes which can lead to residential, leisure and rail station uses in the movements and increased journey lengths, difficulties in crossing the roads. west of the town centre and the retail core in which is contributing to the congestion issues. the east of the town centre. 47 NORTHAMPTON CENTRAL AREA , DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND MOVEMENT FRAMEWORK Transportation & movement strategy 6.15 The majority of the car parks are at present d. Facilitate and maximise opportunities for new Pedestrianised pay and display which tends to restrict peoples development. Pedestrian Priority stay within the town and has been shown to be Bus & Access Only an inconvenience to visitors.