· A47 Blofield to North Burlingham Dualling [Scheme Name] Scheme[Scheme Number: Number TR010040TR100xx] 1.3 Introduction to the Application APFP Regulation 5(2)(q) Planning Act 2008 Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 Volume 7 7.1 Case for the Scheme APFP Regulation 5(2)(q) Planning Act 2008 Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 December 2020 Volume [x] A47 Blofield to North Burlingham Dualling Case for the Scheme Infrastructure Planning Planning Act 2008 The Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 A47 Blofield to North Burlingham Development Consent Order 202[x] CASE FOR THE SCHEME Regulation Number: Regulation 5(2)(q) Planning Inspectorate Scheme TR010040 Reference Application Document Reference 7.1 BIM Document Reference PCF STAGE 3 | HE551490-GTY-LSI-000-RP- TX-30018 Author: A47 Blofield to North Burlingham Dualling Project Team, Highways England Version Date Status of Version Rev 0 December 2020 Application Issue Planning Inspectorate Scheme Ref: TR010040 Application Document Ref: TR010040/APP/7.1 A47 Blofield to North Burlingham Dualling Case for the Scheme CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... 1 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Purpose of this Document ......................................................................................... 7 1.2 The Applicant ............................................................................................................ 7 1.3 Requirement for a Development Consent Order ........................................................ 7 1.4 Requirement for EIA .................................................................................................. 8 1.5 Planning Policy Context ............................................................................................. 8 1.6 Structure of the Report .............................................................................................. 9 2 SCHEME DEVELOPMENT AND OPTIONS CONSIDERED .................................. 10 2.1 Development History and Alternative Options ......................................................... 10 2.2 Options Identification ............................................................................................... 12 2.3 Options Selection .................................................................................................... 13 2.4 Non-statutory Public Consultation ........................................................................... 18 2.5 Preferred Route Announcement .............................................................................. 19 2.6 Statutory Consultation ............................................................................................. 19 2.7 Design Development ............................................................................................... 19 3 THE NEED FOR THE SCHEME ............................................................................. 21 3.1 Overview ................................................................................................................. 21 3.2 Description of the Existing Road .............................................................................. 23 3.3 Walking Cycling and Horse-riding ............................................................................ 25 3.4 Existing Land Uses & Character .............................................................................. 25 3.5 Description of the Scheme ...................................................................................... 27 3.6 Key Objectives of the Scheme ................................................................................. 28 4 TRANSPORT CASE FOR THE SCHEME .............................................................. 36 4.1 Overview of Transport Policy ................................................................................... 36 4.2 Baseline Data and Development of Model ............................................................... 41 4.3 Current Network Performance ................................................................................. 43 4.4 Future Network Performance................................................................................... 44 4.5 Walking, Riding and Horse-riders (WCHR) Assessment ......................................... 47 4.6 Transport Assessment Summary ............................................................................ 52 5 ECONOMIC CASE OVERVIEW ............................................................................. 54 Planning Inspectorate Scheme Ref: TR010040 Application Document Ref: TR010040/APP/7.1 A47 Blofield to North Burlingham Dualling Case for the Scheme 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 54 5.2 Overview of Economic Assessment and Methodology Used ................................... 54 5.3 Economic Assessment Results ............................................................................... 55 5.4 Economic Assessment Summary ............................................................................ 60 6 CONFORMITY WITH PLANNING POLICY AND TRANSPORT PLANS ............... 62 6.1 Policy Context ......................................................................................................... 62 6.2 National Policy ......................................................................................................... 62 6.3 Conformity of the Scheme with Sub-regional Plans ................................................. 79 6.4 Conformity of the Scheme with Local Development Plans and Local Transport Plans ................................................................................................................................ 82 6.5 Planning Balance .................................................................................................... 87 7 CONCLUSIONS ...................................................................................................... 89 7.1 Overview ................................................................................................................. 89 7.2 Need and Scheme Objectives ................................................................................. 89 7.3 Alternatives, the Scheme and its benefits ................................................................ 89 7.4 Compatibility with NNNPS ....................................................................................... 90 7.5 Delivery of Government Policy and Programmes .................................................... 90 7.6 Delivery of Local Planning and Transport Policy ...................................................... 90 7.7 The Planning Act 2008 ............................................................................................ 90 Planning Inspectorate Scheme Ref: TR010040 Application Document Ref: TR010040/APP/7.1 A47 Blofield to North Burlingham Dualling Case for the Scheme EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Case for the Scheme relates to an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. The application is being made by Highways England (the Applicant) to the Secretary of State for Transport (the SoS) under Section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 (PA 2008). If made, the DCO would grant consent for the A47 Blofield to North Burlingham Scheme (the Scheme). The Scheme is Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development, therefore an Environmental Statement (ES) is submitted with the DCO application (TR010040/APP/6.1). This assesses the potential impacts of the Scheme and proposes mitigation. Scheme Development In 2014 a Corridor Feasibility Study on the A47/A12 identified 22 problem stretches of road. This Study informed the Government’s Road Investment Strategy and an initial case was made to carry out a number of schemes including the dualling of the A47 Blofield to North Burlington. Later studies identified the following problems: · the A47 is ranked 2nd nationally for fatalities on A roads and the Blofield to North Burlingham stretch has recorded over 30-40 accidents of varying severity in various 5- year periods since 2011 · it is difficult to maintain and manage due to congestion and long diversion routes, especially at peak times and bank holidays · the corridor is a significant constraint to growth. Although a significant number of homes and jobs are expected over the next 15 years, which will result in increased traffic levels, there are constraints to development due to the anticipated limitations on the capacity of the highway network · routes and junctions are over-capacity, or will soon be, resulting in congestion. This impacts on route reliability and journey time delays, with speeds much lower than the daily average at peak times. This can have knock on effects, particularly in terms of safety terms, as traffic then uses the adjacent network. For the A47 between Blofield and North Burlingham eight initial options for identified and were assessed for their engineering, environmental, transportation and economic suitability. Four options were presented for non-statutory public consultation in early 2017 and Option 4 – building a new dual carriageway to the south of the existing