Northamptonshire Arc Connecting Northamptonshire October 2011 ii Connecting Northamptonshire Introduction 1 What is the Northamptonshire Arc? How will it be used? The Northamptonshire Arc is a locally developed The Northamptonshire Arc has already been Northamptonshire Arc A Prosperity Plan for Northamptonshire spatial concept covering the whole county. It adopted by Northamptonshire County Council represents an integrated approach to economic to help guide its investment activities and development, the environment and connectivity secured wider support from other local partners. and is a first concept of its type in the country. It It is also being used to help secure private provides a framework for planning and investment sector and central government investment and expresses priorities in a practical and spatial into the area and attract businesses and jobs. way. The details of this strategy are outlined in the It complements the Core Spatial Strategies document Northamptonshire Arc: A Prosperity Plan. which act as the key documents for allocating October 2011 housing growth and other development are The goal is that this strategy becomes prepared by the borough and district councils a statutory document. and the Joint Planning Committees. It will also help to provide a context for, and inform, the preparation of neighbourhood plans. A naturally resilient and low carbon This document focuses on connectivity, principally Northamptonshire transport and broadband provision and access. It is one of a series of more detailed action plans which concentrate on particular themes. Northamptonshire Arc A Stronger and Transformed Green Economy Connectivity Figure 1: Integrated Approach ‘this document focuses on connectivity, principally transport and broadband provision’ 1 Connecting Northamptonshire Drivers for a new 2 approach to Connectivity A number of important factors are impacting on Carbon emissions ‘Economic Northamptonshire and together combine to act Tackling carbon emissions is a big challenge as drivers for a new approach to connectivity. for Northamptonshire. At the national level growth and domestic transport accounts for 21% of total Road Congestion carbon emissions and more than half of these prosperity Economic growth and prosperity is a top priority are from the private car. One third of these is a top for Northamptonshire. Connectivity has a vital emissions are generated by trips under ten role to play getting people to work and to miles. This is where there should be considerable priority’ services such as education and health, as well opportunity in the shorter term to offer more as to leisure activities and for shopping. Local sustainable choices. The highest volume of businesses benefit from efficient logistics, access carbon emissions are created from medium to new markets for their goods and services, distance trips (10-25 miles). However, it is likely improved productivity, and the ability to draw that car travel will continue to be the dominant on a wider pool of labour. However, while the mode for these trips and a major impact on economic benefits are clear, congestion acts these emissions is therefore reliant on the as a drain on the local economy. This includes development of the Ultra-low Emissions Vehicle the costs of excess delays and negative impacts market. This is dependent on cost, regulation, on the amenity and attractiveness of town practicality for everyday use and availability of centres which can deter visitors and shoppers. convenient charging facilities. However, the case for shifting to Ultra-low Emission Vehicles is Parts of the strategic road network in the county strengthening, even though it is acknowledged are already experiencing severe congestion. that it will only be in the medium to longer-term This is particularly evident during peak hours that it becomes a mass-market alternative. and is caused through a mixture of through traffic, because of Northamptonshire’s strategic location, and locally generated movements. 120 Northamptonshire County Council’s technical modelling forecasts that congestion will get 115 significantly worse in the future with more and more junctions experiencing problems. 110 The modelling indicates that problems will be particularly acute around the main towns on the 105 A43 and A45 corridors which form the spine of the Northamptonshire Arc and also act as key 100 economic arteries. The problems are forecasted to be particularly acute around Northampton, on the A45 west to Daventry and the A43 south at 95 Towcester, and will be compounded by additional planned housing. The A43 and A14 around 90 Kettering and the A45 around Wellingborough 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 are also likely to be affected by additional England Northamptonshire housing. Because of this it is imperative that we find ways of managing the demand for travel Figure 2: Index of traffic growth and the impact on the network across the area. 2 Connecting Northamptonshire ‘The introduction of new technology and widespread use of smart-phones offers opportunities to revolutionise the way in which connectivity is enabled’ Health Travel patterns Health is vital to future prosperity and quality People travel for a wide variety of reasons. of life in Northamptonshire. The way in which Transport is therefore important to local quality connectivity is approached has implications of life and it features strongly in the factors for health locally. Air pollutants from transport that make somewhere a good place to live. can create poor air quality, particularly in urban areas and adjacent to parts of the strategic road At a national level, currently half of all trips are network. This can contribute to poor health in made for leisure purposes, including shopping, terms of heart and lung problems. This also has a visiting friends, entertainment and participating major cost in terms of treatment. Making cycling in sport, and some 18% of trips are made for and walking more attractive offers an easy business or commuting purposes. Most trips way for people to incorporate physical activity tend to average less than ten miles, 95% of all into their everyday lives and improve health. trips are less than 25 miles and 67% are less than five miles. For shorter distance travel, Access to transport the challenge is to make walking, cycling or public transport more attractive options. The needs of all groups in society should be considered when planning transport and Locally commissioned attitude surveys show access. For example, people with reduced a willingness to switch to these modes for mobility, older people and those living in shorter journeys. However, the barriers often rural areas face many barriers in undertaking cited by drivers include speed, convenience journeys. This is not just physical access, and safety (particularly for cycling). but also the availability, affordability and acceptability of transport. This is important in At the national level, cycle ownership is high Northamptonshire with an aging population, (about 40%), but only 1 in 10 people are but particularly in the rural areas where the regular cyclists. Given better provision, such population, on average, is almost six years older. as dedicated cycle paths, 3 in 10 car users say they would reduce their car use, and Access to employment, education and healthcare half cyclists say they would cycle more. also all have a key impact on life chances and social mobility and ultimately on growth. Job New Technology seekers in Northamptonshire often cite lack of The introduction of new technology and transport is a barrier to getting a job and many widespread use of smart-phones offers 16-24 year olds turn down training or further opportunities to revolutionise the way in which education because of transport problems. This connectivity is enabled. These include new is a big issue in the rural areas as evidence approaches to network management through suggests that young people in these areas, and the use of advanced traffic management those with learning difficulties and disabilities, systems, the provision of local real time travel are more likely to cite the costs of transport information to help people make journeys, energy as a constraint in pursuing post-16 learning. management devices to reduce costs, and the use of smartcards, similar to the oyster card in London, making it easier and more attractive to use public transport and other services. 3 Connecting Northamptonshire Digital Connectivity Affordability Access to superfast broadband is becoming Connectivity can be expensive, whether it involves ‘‘robust increasingly important for economic growth. operating a car (with the increasing associated business The first question people considering moving costs, including insurance – especially for young house often ask is about broadband speeds people – and fuel) or accessing broadband. cases and increasingly many jobs are only advertised Solutions to improve mobility and provide better need to be on-line. Access to broadband is also a major accessibility need to be identified which help determining factor in where businesses decide to ensure that alternatives are available at a developed to locate. It is changing the way people price which local people are able to afford. for future do business, how people interact and how people access entertainment. It is already Where investment in new infrastructure needs investments’ offering better and more efficient channels for to be public sector led, major constraints