WOOLFOX GARDEN VILLAGE Initial Transport Appraisal JNY9819-01 Initial Transport Appraisal 01 28 March 2019 www.rpsgroup.com Document Status Version Review Purpose of document Authored by Reviewed by Approved by date 01 Draft Melanie A’Lee Brian Plumb Brian Plumb 28/03/2019 Approval for issue [Name] [Signature] Date. This report was prepared by RPS Consulting Services Ltd (‘RPS’) within the terms of its engagement and in direct response to a scope of services. This report is strictly limited to the purpose and the facts and matters stated in it and does not apply directly or indirectly and must not be used for any other application, purpose, use or matter. In preparing the report, RPS may have relied upon information provided to it at the time by other parties. RPS accepts no responsibility as to the accuracy or completeness of information provided by those parties at the time of preparing the report. The report does not take into account any changes in information that may have occurred since the publication of the report. If the information relied upon is subsequently determined to be false, inaccurate or incomplete then it is possible that the observations and conclusions expressed in the report may have changed. RPS does not warrant the contents of this report and shall not assume any responsibility or liability for loss whatsoever to any third party caused by, related to or arising out of any use or reliance on the report howsoever. No part of this report, its attachments or appendices may be reproduced by any process without the written consent of RPS. All enquiries should be directed to RPS. Prepared by: Prepared for: RPS Consulting Services Ltd ……………………………….., Melanie A’Lee Associate Director 140 London Wall, London. EC2Y 5DN. JNY9819-01 | Initial Transport Appraisal | 01 | 28 March 2019 www.rpsgroup.com Page ii Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 4 2 SITE LOCATION AND SURROUNDING TRANSPORT NETWORK .......................................... 6 3 ST. GEORGE’S BARRACKS REVIEW .....................................................................................16 4 DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL....................................................................................................19 5 TRIP GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION ...............................................................................22 6 TRAFFIC IMPACT ......................................................................................................................27 7 TRANSPORT POLICY ...............................................................................................................32 8 SUMMARY & CONCLUSION .....................................................................................................37 Appendices APPENDICES APPENDIX A – EXTRACT OF THE LOCAL CYCLE NETWORK PLAN APPENDIX B – PROPOSED ACCESSIBILITY PLAN APPENDIX C – PROPOSED ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS JNY9819-01 | Initial Transport Appraisal | 01 | 28 March 2019 www.rpsgroup.com Page iii 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 RPS are instructed to provide advice on the Highway and Transportation issues associated with the development of land at Woolfox, Rutland. 1.2 This Initial Transport Review has been prepared to consider the issues and opportunities available as part of their proposed site allocation on land to the east of A1 Woolfox, Rutland which is estimated to include circa 10,000 dwellings, schools and employment uses. The development will be in two key phases of development with Phase 1 with 2,500 dwellings, schools and employment and phase 2 seeing an addition 7,500 dwellings. The scope of this assessment is to consider the opportunities for access to the site, strategic links with the surrounding highway network, and to consider the opportunities for sustainable travel to and from this location. 1.3 At this initial stage the report provides an overview of the assessment of the development in relation to highways and transportation matters, including access and accessibility as well as the potential impact of development traffic on the road network. Following the promotion of the development area, a more detailed assessment will be undertaken forming part of a Transport Assessment report which would be submitted as part of supporting promotion for the inclusion of this site within the emerging Local Plan. Report Format 1.4 Section 2 provides a review of the site’s location, surrounding highway network and existing modes used by local residents for their work related trips. This section also reviews the existing footways/ PRoW/ Cycle routes that are currently provided within close proximity to the site and the sites accessibility to existing public transport provision. 1.5 Section 3 provides a review of the proposed Garden Settlement at St George’s Barracks, at Edith Weston. 1.6 Section 4 provides an overview of the development proposals including the facilities that could be provided on the site and the proposed means of access for all modes. This section also identifies the measures that could be provided to improve accessibility and reduce the need to travel by car. 1.7 Within Section 5 details are provided of the potential traffic that could be generated by a development of circa 10,000 dwellings and the distribution of trips likely to be made during the network peal periods as well as identifying the two key phases of the development stages. 1.8 Section 6 reviews the potential transport impact of the development traffic on the A1 and surrounding local highway network. This is a high level review and will be subject to a more detailed review as part of TA. 1.9 Section 7 reviews the existing Central and Local Government transport planning policies that are pertinent to the site and related to highways and transportation. 1.10 A summary of the report’s findings is provided in Section 8 together with its conclusion. JNY9819-01 | Initial Transport Appraisal | 01 | 28 March 2019 www.rpsgroup.com Report Summary 1.11 This initial transport review demonstrates that a sustainable development can be provided at this location with safe and suitable means of access for all uses provided. It is considered that the impact of the development can be suitably mitigated ensuring the development does not result in a severe impact. Furthermore, the improvements provided will not only benefit new residents to the site but also existing residents within the local area. It is also considered that the site will conform to the relevant planning policy guidelines in terms of new development sites. JNY9819-01 | Initial Transport Appraisal | 01 | 28 March 2019 www.rpsgroup.com 2 SITE LOCATION AND SURROUNDING TRANSPORT NETWORK 2.1 This section of the report provides details of the site’s location and surrounding highway network as well as the existing facilities that are available for sustainable travel. Site Location 2.2 The site covers an area of approx. 450 hectares and is situated to the eastern side of the A1, at Woolfox within the district of Rutland. The disused Royal Air Force Airbase is located with the southern extent of the site, with access from the slip road serving the A1. The current land use across the remainder of the site is predominately arable farm land. The site is to the south of Stretton and Clipsham villages and approximately 6miles to the north east of Oakham and approximately 6 miles to the north of Stamford. A location plan is provided in Figure 01 below. Figure 01 - Site Location 2.3 The site benefits from its location directly adjacent to the A1 which provides a strategic north- south route linking to larger areas such as Peterborough to the south and Grantham to the north. 2.4 The site is also well placed strategically, being easily accessible to a wide area of Rutland suitable for jobs, shopping, schools and leisure provisions. 2.5 In order to establish the general modes of transport for existing residents within this area of Rutland use, a review of the 2011 Census database has been carried out. The table below identifies the main modes used by residents to travel to/from their place of work for the more JNY9819-01 | Initial Transport Appraisal | 01 | 28 March 2019 www.rpsgroup.com local areas of Oakham, South Witham and Stamford as well as the County of Rutland and South Kesteven District. Table 2.1 – Travel to Work Modes (2011 Census) Mode Town/ Village Car or Car or van Train Bus Taxi Motorcycle Van Cycle Walk Passenger Driver Oakham 1% 1% 0% 1% 60% 6% 6% 24% South Witham 1% 3% 0% 1% 81% 5% 2% 6% Stamford 1% 1% 0% 1% 60% 6% 4% 26% Rutland District 1% 1% 0% 1% 64% 5% 5% 22% South Kesteven 2% 3% 0% 1% 71% 6% 3% 13% Source 2.1: 2011 Census Database 2.6 The above table suggests that a low number of residents use the train as their main mode for work even though Oakham and Stamford have a railway station. Bus use in South Witham is higher than Oakham and Stamford although more people walk to work in Oakham and Stamford due to the level of employment uses provided within the towns. 2.7 The site is situated within the County of Rutland but is also close to the District of South Kesteven, the above table shows that Rutland has a low level of bus and train use although 22% of people walk to their place of work whereas South Kesteven has a higher level of bus, train and car use but a lower level of walking trips. For the purpose of this review, the modal splits for Rutland have been used Local Facilities 2.8 Whilst the above Census data reflects the main modes for travel