Lorries in The Vale of Evesham SUPPLEMENTARYPLANNING GUIDANCE :',-,t 1.'i- -l e-&-{'r:., i-:l-' : wW'{EFAYR.ry .; sffir*:r' - ,i' '*'-- _: 'r,i.1 I ai-+' November 2001 This SPG was adopted in November 2001 supplements will be replaced by or altered to by the three district authorities closely reflect it, in the current reviews of the responsible for the Cross Boundary Development Plans. Consultation area; Cotswold, Stratford-on-Avon and Wychavon 1.5 In March 2001, over 350 copies of the draft District Councils. SPG were distributed to: local Parish and Town councils; major businesses; haulage companies; 1. INTRODUCTION transport operators; local residents; statutory consultees and local Members of Parliament, 1.1 The Vale of Evesham has had a throughout the Cross Boundary Consultation traditional association with agriculture Area. A joint press release was issued, together horticulture, and market gardening. The Vale with interviews with local press and radio is also home to a number of former military stations advertising the availability of the draft bases and former airfields where SPG. Additional copies were then made redevelopment for employment uses, available to the District council offices and especially storage and distribution, has libraries in each of the districts, in order to give occurred on a large scale. other interested parties and local residents a further chance to comment. 1.2 The various employment uses have led to significant growth in the numbers of heavy 1.6 The responses were generally very goods vehicles (HGVs) passing through the positive, with only a handful of objections. area. Many of these lorries are the largest Approximately 22 suggested amendments, vehicles travelling to and from mainland most of which have been included in the final Europe. The resultant intrusion is a major version of the SPG. A summary report is concern particularly to communities living in available from Cotswold District Council. historic settlements located on the main lorry routes. The redevelopment of the MOD base 1.7 This SPG has been prepared in at Long Marston and the determination of accordance with the latest guidance set out in several major planning applications in the area PPG12: Development Plans; PPG7: The could further exacerbate these problems. Countryside; PPG13: Transport RPG10: Regional Planning Guidance for South West 1.3 Figure X shows that the problems are and RPG11: Regional Planning for the West spread over parts of the Counties of Midlands. Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire and the respective Districts of 1.8 This Guidance will be a material Stratford-on-Avon, Wychavon and Cotswold. consideration when assessing development proposals within the area. It should however be 1.4 This Supplementary Planning Guidance read in conjunction with the policies in the (SPG) has been produced to provide interim current, Stratford-on-Avon, Wychavon, and planning guidance for the authorities Cotswold Local Plans, and the emerging responsible for the area shown on Figure X. It reviews of these documents. is anticipated that existing planning policies which the SPG Lorries in the Vale of Evesham page 1 SPG November 2001 2. BACKGROUND 2.3 Given that the problem lay across District and County boundaries, a Cross Boundary 2.1 "Lorries in the Vale of Evesham" has been Issues Working Group was instructed to the subject of discussion between the respective produce a strategy to address the problem of Counties, Districts and affected communities for lorries in the Vale. over ten years. Possible mitigation measures An Officers Group was established in 1999, discussed to date include: followed by a Members Working Group • imposition of weight restriction orders established in 2000. • re-opening of Cheltenham to Stratford Railway Line for freight 2.4 In January 2001, the Cross Boundary • dualling of the Worcester to Oxford line for Working Group agreed joint funding for a freight and opening up disused stations Freight Study to identify the range of measures • encouragement of companies to relocate to reduce the impact of lorry traffic on to more suitable locations communities in the Vale. It is hoped that these • resisting issuing new operators licences findings will provide longer term highways at unsuitable sites solutions whilst still meeting the needs of the • new highway construction freight operators. As part of the research aimed • resisting approving planning at understanding current lorry movements, a applications for new HGV generating workshop took place in June 2001, attended by development. both Haulage operators and Parish representatives. 2.2 During October 1999, a public inquiry considered objections to a proposed Weight 2.5 Most of the representatives at the Restriction Order along the B4632 in Workshop including some of the operators, Gloucestershire from Mickleton to Willersey. supported the introduction of planning guidance The Inspector's decision acknowledged the policy which directs B8 development to more harm caused by HGVs haulage. It also sustainable locations. recognised the special rural character of the affected Cotswold villages, but concluded that 3. EXISTING POLICY FRAMEWORK the Order would have placed an "unreasonable burden" on other National Planning Policy Worcestershire villages. The Inspector, instead, 3.1 Planning principles underlying most of the suggested a compromise whereby only parts key policy documents indicate that, in the of the Order were put into place. All of the interests of the global and local environment, affected Councils agreed that the Inspector's new development should: suggestion was, at best, a form of temporary • be located along or near to existing mitigation and that the issue demanded long- settlements and sustainable transport term solutions. corridors and; • reduce the need to travel, especially by car. 3.2 Planning Policy Guidance Note 13 - • local authority Lorry Control Plans, which Transport (March 2001) paragraph 45 concentrate goods vehicles on the most advocates that local policies on freight suitable routes; and distribution can: • work with Local Businesses to improve the efficiency of their transport operators in • help to promote sustainable ways which also benefit the local distribution; environment. • identify and where appropriate protect sites and routes both existing and potential which Regional Planning Guidance could be critical in developing infrastructure 3.4 The cross boundary zone is covered by for the movement of freight interchanges; two planning regions, the South West and the • locate developments generating substantial West Midlands. freight movements away from congested central and residential areas; 3.5 Regional Planning Guidance for the South • encourage development which can be West (Sept 2001) advocates in paragraph 6.9 realistically served by rail or water, and that "in rural areas emphasis should be placed on allocate development where it has access providing housing in locations which are within or to trunk roads; well related to settlements which have or can • strike a balance between the interests of provide an adequate range of employment local residents and those of the wider opportunities and community services (schools, community, including the need to protect shops, medical facilities etc.). Policies should the vitality of local employment continue to strictly control new house-building in opportunities and the overall quality of life. the open countryside, away from established settlements. " Local authorities should not reject proposals where small scale business development or 3.6 Regarding freight transport, Regional its expansion would give rise to only modest Planning Guidance for the West Midlands additional daily movements, in comparison Region (RPG11 - April 1998) acknowledges to other movements on the site. that the "The movement of goods is of particular significance to the West Midlands, a region with 3.3 The Rural White Paper issued in above average reliance on manufacturing industry. November 2000 has a specific section on Its central position dictates that its transport system "reducing the impact of lorry traffic". It also carries high volumes of goods in transit suggests three possible types of initiatives for between other regions. The majority of goods reducing the impact of distribution lorries in travel by road and this pattern is likely to continue. market towns and rural areas: However, the Government wishes to encourage • through "Freight Quality Partnerships" greater use of rail freight. This is likely to be involving local businesses, operators, particularly appropriate for bulk loads over longer the police and local authorities as well distances. The Region has a number of railheads as local residents, in seeking to control which should be safeguarded for rail use. vehicles on a voluntary goodwill basis; Authorities should, through their development plans, consider the potential for designating sites for distribution and warehousing, uses, would be acceptable alternatives as particularly for bulky goods, near railway sidings they would also provide local employment (though access to the strategic highway network opportunities. It would, however, be may also be important)" (paragraph 10.22). inappropriate to be prescriptive in this general document and advice should be sought from the relevant local planning Structure Plans, Local Plans, and authority regarding a site's potential for Transport Plans redevelopment. 3.7 The County Structure Plans, Local Plans and Transport