NIDR DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT PROJECT NAME: NORTHERN INNER DISTRIBUTOR ROAD DOCUMENT TITLE: DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT PRE FIX: NIDR/03/A DOCUMENT REFERENCE: 072 Version No. Type of Doc Created by Checked by Date 1.0 Final Bob Richard 24 April 2008 McWilliams Needs 072 Page 1 of 14 NIDR DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT CONTENT 1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................3 2 AMOUNT ...............................................................................4 3 LAYOUT ................................................................................5 4 SCALE...................................................................................6 5 LANDSCAPING.....................................................................7 6 APPEARANCE......................................................................9 7 CONTEXT............................................................................13 8 CONCLUSION.....................................................................14 1 072 Page 2 of 14 NIDR DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT INTRODUCTION 1.1.1 This design and access statement covers the design principles and concepts with regard to the Northern Inner Distributor Road (NIDR). This statement should be read in conjunction with all other planning documentation as listed in ‘Northern Inner Distributor Road Document and Drawing Register’ NIDR/03/A/071 1.1.2 The NIDR will reduce congestion in the Greenway Road and Priorswood Road areas of Taunton and will open up substantial areas of brownfield development land. 1.1.3 The objectives of the NIDR, as part of the Taunton Transport Strategy are specifically to: • Meet the requirements of the Taunton Transport Strategy • Meet the requirements of Project Taunton • Reduce the rate of growth in congestion in Taunton Town Centre • Improve Air Quality on average throughout Taunton • Provide additional road capacity to accommodate planned growth • Provide safe and well-linked pedestrian and cycle facilities 1.1.4 The development is functional. It is a new link in the highway network and its design is constrained by national standards and accepted good practice. There is also a need for the design to take into account future planned development proposals alongside the proposed new road. 1.1.5 It is in line with the relevant National, Regional and Local Policies, and in accordance with the Taunton Deane Borough Council Local Plan (November 2004) and the emerging Taunton Town Centre Area Action Plan (TTCAAP). Due consideration has been given to the Urban Design Framework and the supporting Design Code (2004) as well as the emerging Taunton Town Centre Design Code (currently subject to consultation), though it should be noted that the emerging Town Centre Design Code in Section 01 Introduction and Context Fixes states ‘ At the time of drafting this code, the following proposed developments were assumed as fixes: • All development with existing planning consent (for example the first Phase of development at the Cricket Club and the Midas Homes development at Tangier) • The alignment and design of strategic proposed infrastructure (Third Way and NIDR) . 1.1.6 The Public Consultation for the emerging TTCAAP has now ended and the examination of the TTCAAP is programmed for the end of April / early May 2008. 072 Page 3 of 14 NIDR DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT 1.1.7 The Manual for Streets (MfS) is deemed not to apply to the strategic element of these proposals, i.e the main through route. 1.1.8 Part of the scheme is the subject of a separate outline planning consent to Abbey Manor Developments Ltd. This consent is for mixed residential and employment use including the provision of the strategic road (NIDR), with Abbey Manor having the responsibility for the design and construction of the length of road within their boundary. This length of road will be the subject of separate planning approval, which will be submitted to Taunton Deane Borough Council by the developers. 1.1.9 The delivery of the developer’s section of the NIDR is a requirement contained within the Section 106 Agreement for this development. Close liaison between the Developer’s Designers and the design team associated with the County Council’s section of the NIDR has been undertaken to ensure that the designs correlate. 2 AMOUNT 2.1.1 The proposal includes approximately 1.6Km of new road, orientated roughly east/west, for the majority of its length but turns to a north/south direction at the eastern end. It forms an integral part of a new mixed use development, creating a new connection to Taunton railway station and future development at Firepool. It connects with Staplegrove Road in the vicinity of Chip Lane at a new roundabout. THE NIDR then runs alongside the existing railway line before passing over Station Rd adjacent to Whitehall. It then continues eastwards through a new junction to provide a connection to Taunton Station before passing through the proposed mixed use development and then turns north/south. A new bridge in the Firepool area, across the River Tone and the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, is proposed together with an associated footbridge. The existing Kingston Loop Bridge above Station Road is to be refurbished and will carry the NIDR over Station Road. Chip Lane footbridge is also to be replaced. 2.1.2 The area covered by the scheme is approximately 3 hectares comprising existing highway, retail park, operational Network Rail land, greenfield open space and brownfield development land with planning consent. It should be noted that conditional certificates of sale have been approved by Network Rail for the Network Rail land required for the NIDR. 2.1.3 The road generally comprises a standard 7.3m wide carriageway with a 3m wide off-road segregated footway/cycleway and a verge of varying width between around 1m and 2m. The carriageway is slightly narrowed to fit over Kingston Loop Bridge. The verge is at it’s narrowest between Kingston Loop Bridge and Chip Lane over which length Network Rail operational requirements constrain the amount of land available. 072 Page 4 of 14 NIDR DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT 2.1.4 The 3 major junctions on the scheme consume the smallest area possible while providing the capacity to deal with the predicted traffic flows. In the case of the new junction at Staplegrove Road and Chip Lane advantage has been taken of the geometry of the roundabout to include environmental and road safety improvements to local residents. 2.1.5 Where small areas of land are separated from adjacent areas of similar use e.g. in the vicinity of MFI and Priory Park these will be landscaped to provide mitigation for the adverse effects of the new road. The design of the alignment of the scheme is such that these areas of separation have been kept to a minimum.Layout 3 SITE LAYOUT 3.1.1 The site generally runs east/west and parallels the railway line in the northern part of town. At it’s eastern end the route runs north/south and passes over the River Tone and Bridgwater and Taunton Canal in the vicinity of Priory Fields. It links Priory Avenue with Staplegrove Road and creates a new junction in the vicinity of Taunton railway station, which will also provide access to future developments at Firepool. The layout is as shown on drawing Nos 5049578/HW/GA/001 Rev A, 002 Rev A and 003 Rev A. 3.1.2 The proposal is designed to accommodate vehicular traffic as well as cyclists and pedestrians. 3.1.3 Cycle routes through the residential estate, providing access to the canal from the NIDR, are included in the Abbey Manor proposals. 3.1.4 Footway/cycleways are provided as part of the development to allow for the safe movement of vulnerable road users and to improve access for them to the town centre and leisure routes alongside the river and canal. 3.1.5 The wing walls of the north abutment of Firepool Bridge will be orientated to provide a direct connection to the adjacent residential buildings in the Abbey Manor development, making the bridge and canalside property an integral part of the overall revitalisation of this area of derelict land. 3.1.6 The NIDR will provide an additional east/west link, which will reduce congestion and traffic accidents in the Greenway Road and Priorswood Road areas. The Transport Assessment, submitted as part of this application – SCC/NIDR/03/074 indicates an overall reduction in levels of congestion within Taunton, a significant increase in average speeds in peak hours and an increase the number of car trips assigned to the network. Overall, therefore, the NIDR scheme would have a beneficial impact on network operating conditions, although it would induce some additional car trips. 072 Page 5 of 14 NIDR DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT 3.1.7 Several comments from the Police landscaping Liaison Officer relate to Chip Lane Footbridge, including a request for the route over the structure to be illuminated. The bridge will be illuminated and this will form part of the ‘integral design’ of the structure. Any vegetation on the approaches will be removed or suitably pruned to improve natural surveillance/visibility. 3.1.8 The officer suggested that if the new footbridge is going to be enclosed, a vandal-proof CCTV system is recommended to monitor persons crossing the footbridge. If not enclosed there still may be a need for external CCTV monitoring. The issue of enclosure is to be discussed with Network Rail, as they have requested that it be enclosed. If the structure remains ‘open’ it will afford visibility, to and from the bridge, no worse than the current situation. 3.1.9 More general observations such as ‘straight-through’ sight lines, avoiding the creation of hiding places and the use of anti-grafitti paint have been acknowledged in the design. 4 SCALE 4.1.1 The carriageway levels will generally be at or around existing ground levels along the length from Staplegrove Road to just east of the proposed railway station junction where the road becomes part of the Abbey Manor development.