M20 Junction 10a TR010006 7.1 Case for the Scheme APFP Regulation 5(2)(q) Revision A Planning Act 2008 Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 Volume 7 July 2016 M20 Junction 10a TR010006 7.1 Case for the Scheme Volume 7 This document is issued for the party which commissioned it We accept no responsibility for the consequences of this and for specific purposes connected with the above-captioned document being relied upon by any other party, or being used project only. It should not be relied upon by any other party or for any other purpose, or containing any error or omission which used for any other purpose. is due to an error or omission in data supplied to us by other parties This document contains confidential information and proprietary intellectual property. It should not be shown to other parties without consent from us and from the party which commissioned it. Date: July 2016 M20 Junction 10a Case for the Scheme TR010006 Content Chapter Title Page Executive Summary 1 Location of the scheme and description of proposals ___________________________________________________ 1 Background to the Scheme ______________________________________________________________________ 1 Consultation and engagement ____________________________________________________________________ 2 Planning policy context __________________________________________________________________________ 3 1 Introduction 5 Purpose of this document _____________________________________________________________ 5 Structure of the document _____________________________________________________________ 5 The Applicant ______________________________________________________________________ 6 Location of the Scheme ______________________________________________________________ 6 The Main Scheme ___________________________________________________________________ 7 The Alternative Scheme ______________________________________________________________ 8 Requirement for Development Consent and an Environmental Impact Assessment ________________ 8 2 The need for the Scheme 10 Introduction _______________________________________________________________________ 10 High Traffic Flows Leading to Congestion and Safety ______________________________________ 10 National Growth ___________________________________________________________________ 11 Local and Regional Growth ___________________________________________________________ 12 Incidents, Accidents and Network Resilience _____________________________________________ 13 Environmental Issues _______________________________________________________________ 13 Policy Summary ___________________________________________________________________ 14 3 Scheme objectives 16 Introduction _______________________________________________________________________ 16 Increase capacity __________________________________________________________________ 16 Combat congestion _________________________________________________________________ 16 Connect people ____________________________________________________________________ 17 Minimise environmental impact ________________________________________________________ 19 Improve reliability __________________________________________________________________ 19 4 Scheme development and options considered 21 Introduction and background to the Scheme______________________________________________ 21 Scheme development prior to September 2014 ___________________________________________ 21 Preliminary design _________________________________________________________________ 26 Consultation on the Scheme __________________________________________________________ 26 Changes to the Scheme following consultation ____________________________________________ 27 The Alternative Scheme _____________________________________________________________ 27 5 Economic case 28 Introduction _______________________________________________________________________ 28 Economic Assessment ______________________________________________________________ 28 Monetised Benefits _________________________________________________________________ 29 HA514442-MMGJV-GEN-SMW-RE-Z-7101 Revision A M20 Junction 10a Case for the Scheme TR010006 Non-monetised Benefits _____________________________________________________________ 31 Environmental and Social Benefits _____________________________________________________ 31 Value for Money ___________________________________________________________________ 32 6 Policy context 34 Introduction _______________________________________________________________________ 34 Policy context _____________________________________________________________________ 34 Strategic alignment and conformity of scheme with national planning and government policy ________ 35 Strategic alignment of scheme with local transport plans ____________________________________ 52 Strategic alignment and conformity of scheme with local development plans _____________________ 52 Strategic alignment with minerals and waste plans _________________________________________ 56 7 Conclusion 59 Scheme fit with objectives ____________________________________________________________ 59 Scheme fit with benefits _____________________________________________________________ 61 Scheme fit with policy _______________________________________________________________ 61 Glossary 62 Bibliography 63 Appendix A - Area for Development 65 HA514442-MMGJV-GEN-SMW-RE-Z-7101 Revision A M20 Junction 10a Case for the Scheme TR010006 Executive Summary Location of the scheme and description of proposals This application for development consent has been submitted by Highways England for the alteration to the M20 motorway by the creation of a new Junction 10a, which will form part of the motorway, the closure of the eastern slip roads on the nearby existing Junction 10 and the related highway works necessary to allow the new motorway junction to be integrated into the surrounding trunk and classified road network. The new Junction 10a will incorporate a new 2-lane dual carriageway link road to the existing A2070 Southern Orbital Road (Bad Munstereifel Road). An ‘Alternative Scheme’ includes the provision of new access in the form of a roundabout from the proposed A2070 link road to the proposed Stour Park Development site, located immediately south of the proposed A2070 link road. The Scheme will provide a new pedestrian / cycle bridge over the M20 to the east of the new Junction 10a, providing a link between Kingsford Street on the south side of the motorway to the A20 on the north side. The Scheme also includes a new footbridge to replace the existing non-compliant footbridge over the A2070 at Church Road, and a new retaining wall at Kingsford Street. Background to the Scheme The proposed new junction aims to support local infrastructure needs as part of the future growth plans to the South of Ashford. The planned growth will include associated improvements in education, leisure, retail and commercial development as well as better travel options and sustainable transport links. The recent developer-funded improvements to the existing M20 Junction 10, to increase the capacity and improve safety, will allow some development to go ahead but will not be sufficient for all the proposed development. The objectives of the Scheme are to: Increase the capacity of the road network to support and allow the delivery of residential and employment development either proposed or permitted within the Ashford growth area. Improve the safety of road users by alleviating congestion around the existing Junction 10 whilst creating the opportunity to enhance local transport facilities for non-motorised users. HA514442-MMGJV-GEN-SMW-RE-Z-7101 1 Revision A M20 Junction 10a Case for the Scheme TR010006 Provide a new route for traffic into Ashford via a new Junction (10a) and dual carriageway link road. Minimise the environmental impact and where possible allow enhancements to be made to the environment. Improve journey time reliability on the strategic road network. Consultation and engagement Following the commencement of the pre-application stage in September 2014, Highways England undertook its non-statutory engagement programme. This activity carried on for a period 15 months eventually allowing a period in December 2015 to plan for the statutory consultation. The formal statutory consultation process took place from 14 January to 17 March 2016 (Section 42, 47 and 48) and also 31 March to 5 May 2016 (Section 48). The primary consultation at the start of 2016 allowed a period for members of the community, statutory bodies, landowners and other interested parties to view the Scheme and talk to the project team through a number of communication channels. The additional Section 48 consultation allowed for an update on the Scheme. Details of the consultation and engagement carried out, comments received and how these have been addressed within the Scheme can be found within the Consultation Report, volume 5 of the DCO application. The Scheme set out within the DCO application has given careful consideration to all comments and representations received through the extensive consultation and engagement activities held. Scheme drawings can be found within Scheme Plans / Drawings / Sections, volume 2. Information on the land required for the Scheme, together with the reasoning for its requirement, can be found within Compulsory Acquisition Information, volume 4. The Scheme is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project