The Proposed Network Rail (Felixstowe Branch Line Improvements- Level Crossings Closure) Order Planning Statement March 2017 Felixstowe Branch Line Improvements and Level Crossing Closure Contents 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Background 3.0 Site and Surroundings 4.0 The Proposal 5.0 Planning History 6.0 Policy Considerations 7.0 Design and Access 8.0 Conclusion Felixstowe Branch Line Improvements and Level Crossing Closure 1. Introduction 1.1 Network Rail is applying to the Secretary of State for Transport for the Network Rail (Felixstowe Branch Line Improvements - Level Crossings Closure) Order (“the Order”) under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (“the 1992 Act”). 1.2 Pursuant to Rule 10(6) of the Transport and Works (Applications and Objections Procedure) (England and Wales) Rules 2006, the application for the Order is accompanied by a request for a Direction under Section 90(2A) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. If given, the Direction would grant deemed planning permission, so far as it is required, is deemed to be granted for the development sought to be authorised by the Order, subject to any conditions. 1.3 The Order seeks authorisation for the closure of six level crossings over the Felixstowe Branch Line railway, the construction and maintenance of a proposed replacement bridleway bridge and environmental mitigation together with associated closures and diversions to the Public Rights of Way (PRoW) network. 1.4 This Planning Statement is one of a suite of documents submitted in support of the TWA application and sets out the planning policy case for the proposed scheme having regard to provisions of local and national planning policy. It concludes that the scheme is compliant with planning policy and should be granted. 2. Background 2.1 The proposals included in the Order form part of a wider scheme to increase the capacity of the Felixstowe Branch Line. 2.2 The Felixstowe Branch Line runs between the East Suffolk Line at Westerfield Junction and Felixstowe Town Station. It serves the Port of Felixstowe, which is the largest container port in the UK and handles more than 3,000 ships each year. 2.3 To accommodate growth, and reduce pressure on the A14 road, Network Rail is planning to carry out works to improve the Felixstowe Branch Line, involving the doubling of the current single track for a length of approximately 1.4km, with a new line of rails on the southern side of the alignment. These works would increase capacity from 33 freight trains per day to up to 47 per day. 2.3 The Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company (“the Company”) obtained authorisation to construct an additional track along the Felixstowe Branch Line together with other works in 2008 under the Felixstowe Branch Line and Ipswich Yard Improvement Order 2008. Deemed planning permission for the additional track and other works was also granted by the Secretary of State in connection with the Order. 2.4 Planning permission replacing the deemed planning permission granted by the Secretary of State of State was subsequently granted by Suffolk Coastal District Council on 25 August 2010 and by Ipswich Borough Council on 17 June 2010. 2.5 The powers of compulsory acquisition and use of land required for the works conferred under the 2008 Order expired in October 2013 and the Company renewed those powers under the Felixstowe Branch Line (Land Acquisition) Order 2014. Network Rail has submitted a further application for an Order to be made under the 1992 Act to enable the relevant land powers under the 2014 Order to be transferred from the Company to Network Rail. The application was submitted on 28th September 2016 and is currently being considered by the Secretary of State. Felixstowe Branch Line Improvements and Level Crossing Closure 2.6 Network Rail and the Company also intend to enter into an agreement under the provisions of the 2008 Order to transfer the relevant powers to construct works conferred under that Order from the Company to Network Rail. 2.7 Although the existing powers authorise the construction of a dual track of approximately 7km in total length adjacent to the Felixstowe Branch Line, Network Rail can achieve the forecast increase in capacity of the line by constructing a smaller length of additional track than that authorised to be constructed. Network Rail therefore intends to dual 1.4km of railway track near to the villages of Trimley St. Martin and Trimley St. Mary and carry out works to vehicular level crossings at Westerfield, Levington, Morston Hall and Thorpe Lane. 2.8 Subject to the granting of the Order and associated deemed planning permission, Network Rail also proposes to close six level crossings, provide a replacement bridleway bridge and environmental mitigation as well as associated works including changes to the public rights of way network. It is intended that these additional works will be carried out at the same time as the construction of the additional track. Scheme Benefits 2.9 The benefits of the scheme are summarised below: Improved safety through the closure of pedestrian level crossings; Connectivity maintained through the provision of a suitable replacement crossing over the Felixstowe Branch Line and associated upgrades to the PRoW network, and The provision of environmental mitigation including landscape screening and ecological enhancement. 3. Site and Surroundings 3.1 It is proposed to construct a bridleway bridge across the Felixstowe Branch Line near Trimley St. Martin and Trimley St. Mary in the Suffolk Coastal area. The bridleway bridge is located approximately 2.5km north-west of Felixstowe, 0.5km west of Trimley High Road and 0.5km north of Trimley Station. 3.2 The existing Felixstowe Branch Line runs between the East Suffolk Line at Westerfield Junction and Felixstowe Town Station. It provides a connection with Trimley to Felixstowe North Freightliner Terminal Line and the Felixstowe Docks Branch at Felixstowe Beach Junction. 3.3 The line forms part of the route between the Port of Felixstowe and freight terminals in the Midlands and North. It is formed of a single track between Westerfield Junction and Trimley and is considered a constraint given the limited number of freight trains that can operate on the route at any given time. 3.4 The land between Westerfield Junction and Felixstowe Port is a mix of residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural land. The land use where the works are proposed to take place is mainly agricultural. 3.5 The River Orwell and Trimley Marshes are located to the west. To the south of Trimley Station lies a rail junction where the North Terminal Branch leaves the Felixstowe Branch, heading south towards the Port with the railway line acting as a boundary between agricultural and industrial land uses. 3.6 The Trimley area is predominantly rural in nature with green open space comprising of farmland with pockets of residential properties located to the west of the railway. The village centre and residential units are located to the east. The Trimley area is served by a network of PRoW Felixstowe Branch Line Improvements and Level Crossing Closure consisting of public footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways and byways many of which intersect the railway. The closest residential properties to the existing railway line and proposed works are at Grimston Lane and Stennets Close and are directly adjacent to the railway line. 4. The Proposal 4.1 The Proposed Scheme comprises the permanent closure of six level crossings. The affected level crossings and the length of diversion are listed in the Table below: Level Crossing Length of Permanent Diversion Thorpe Common 300m Grimston Lane 270m Trimley 1km St. Martins 70m Gun Lane 300m Keepers Lane 1.7km 4.2 A plan showing the level crossings proposed to be closed and diversions is contained in the Environment Statement submitted in support of the application for the Order (Figure 3.2). 4.3 The level crossings which are proposed to be closed are passive crossings, meaning that it is incumbent on the user to decide whether to cross the railway. The risk as passive level crossings is therefore in part dependent on the willingness and ability of users to use the crossings correctly. 4.4 At the footpath level crossings (Thorpe Common, Grimston Lane, Trimley and St. Martin), users are instructed to ‘Stop’, ‘Look’, ‘Listen’ and ‘Beware of Trains’. Network Rail regularly inspects the level crossings and cuts back vegetation to ensure that approaching trains can be seen from the ‘decision point’ (location at which a user decides to cross the level crossing). 4.5 At Gun Lane and Keepers Lane level crossings, pedestrians use the same method as above to cross the railway. Telephones connected to the signal box are also provided and users with vehicles or equestrian users are instructed by signage to call to check that a train is not approaching before they start to cross. Bridleway Bridge and Changes to the PRoW Network 4.6 Network Rail recognises that the existing PRoW Network is an asset to the area and the importance of maintaining connectivity across the railway. It is therefore proposed to construct a replacement bridleway bridge at the location of Gun Lane Level Crossing. This crossing point has been selected as it is relatively central to the Level Crossings which are proposed to be closed. Locating the bridge further south or further north would result in lengthier diversions for users of the Level Crossings. 4.7 The bridleway bridge will comprise of a steel deck and approach ramps structure at a ratio of 1:15 and 170m in length in order to comply with guidance provided by the British Horse Society. The bridge will also be accessible via steps.