Impact Assessment Version 2015 Assessment of: Bridge Road Widening Service: PT&E – Transport Planning Head of Service: Dave Black Date of sign off by Head Of Service/version: 22 October 2015 Assessment carried out by (incl. job title): Lloyd Orriel – Graduate Transport Planner Section 1 - Background Description: Bridge Road, is a key link on the outer bypass and Exeter’s Strategic Cycle Network and is critical to the transport infrastructure of Exeter. It provides an important link across the River Exe on the Exeter bypass providing access to the city centre and Sowton and Marsh Barton industrial estates. The bridge road widening scheme delivers two lanes outbound on Bridge Road from the existing merge/lane drop to the junction with the A379 and Sannerville Way and improvements to pedestrian cycle facilities along Bridge Road. Reason for change and Proposed strategic developments on either side of Bridge Road will increase pressure on an already busy Bridge options appraisal: Road corridor, which has an important strategic function, being one of the few crossings of the River Exe. The scheme will have a significant impact by increasing capacity. By providing two lanes outbound the scheme will reduce queuing and exit blocking at Countess Wear, improving conditions for traffic exiting the city. The scheme helps to unlock development whilst providing reliable journey times. 1 Section 2 - Key impacts and recommendations Social/equality impacts: The scheme will provide positive social impacts for commuter and will enhance an existing leisure cycle route. There should also be an improved environment for employees and visitors to nearby employment sites such as Marsh Barton Industrial Estate. Environmental impacts: The proposal involves marginal land-take adjoining an existing well used road corridor. Considerate placement of the scheme on the north side of the Countess Wear Bridge has avoided potentially significant impacts on the nationally and internationally protected Exe Estuary statutory site. Additional measures have been taken to protect mature oak trees sited in close proximity to the scheme. There will be a neutral impact on air quality and the scheme will reduce stationary queuing traffic. Improving traffic flow also has the advantage of improving the fuel efficiency of engines and reducing carbon emissions. Economic impacts: The scheme will improve end to end journey times, primarily at peak times. It will achieve this by reducing delay and queuing on Bridge Road and, consequently reducing exit blocking at Countess Wear roundabout. Other impacts (partner Widening of the road, has led to better accessibility and potential for business growth at either end of Bridge agencies, services, DCC Road. It will help facilitate new housing at either end of the scheme facilitating 3,500 houses at Newcourt and policies, possible 2,500 houses at South West Exeter. It is required to unlock this growth within the Exeter City Council Core ‘unintended Strategy and Teignbridge Local Plan and is identified in the Local Transport Plan. consequences’): How will impacts and Monitoring traffic flows and journey times. The DfT will expect a Monitoring and Evaluation Report to be actions be monitored? produced 1 year post opening and 5 years post opening. 2 Section 3 - Profile and views of stakeholders and people directly affected People affected: Existing and future residents and businesses located in Exeter and Teignbridge served by Bridge Road. Diversity profile and needs The carriageway widening scheme is not expected to disadvantage any particular group of people with protected assessment of affected characteristics. The enhancements to the shared use path running parallel to the scheme will benefit people with people: disabilities and parents with prams. Other stakeholders: Exeter and East Devon Growth Point; Highways England; Statutory Environmental Bodies (English Heritage, Environment Agency, Natural England), Network Rail; Exeter City Council, Teignbridge District Council Consultation process: The Bridge Road scheme was previously considered as part of the Exeter Principal Urban Area (PUA) Improvement Scheme, which itself was being prepared for a Major Scheme Business Case (MSBC) submission to the Department for Transport (DfT) before the comprehensive spending review in 2010. The Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan 2011-2026 refers to the scheme within the Exeter Core Strategy. The local transport plan was subject to a rigorous consultation prior to adoption in March 2011. Research and information None used: 3 Background Analysis This section describes how relevant questions and issues have been explored during the options appraisal. Section 4a - Social Impacts Giving Due Regard to Equality and Human Rights The local authority must consider how people will be affected by the service, policy or practice. In so doing we must give due regard to the need to: Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation Advance equality of opportunity and Foster good relations. Where relevant, we must take into account the protected characteristics of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, sexual orientation, race, and religion and belief. This means considering how people with different needs get the different services they require and are not disadvantaged, and facilities are available to them on an equal basis in order to meet their needs; advancing equality of opportunity by recognising the disadvantages to which protected groups are subject and considering how they can be overcome. We also need to ensure that human rights are protected. In particular, that people have: A reasonable level of choice in where and how they live their life and interact with others (this is an aspect of the human right to ‘private and family life’). An appropriate level of care which results in dignity and respect (the protection to a private and family life, protection from torture and the freedom of thought, belief and religion within the Human Rights Act and elimination of discrimination and the promotion of good relations under the Equality Act 2010). A right to life (ensuring that nothing we do results in unlawful or unnecessary/avoidable death). 4 The Equality Act 2010 and other relevant legislation does not prevent the Council from taking difficult decisions which result in service reductions or closures for example, it does however require the Council to ensure that such decisions are: • Informed and properly considered with a rigorous, conscious approach and open mind • Done so, taking due regard of the effects on the protected characteristics and the general duty to eliminate discrimination*, advance equality and foster good relations. *This means that the decision will not result in unlawful direct or indirect discrimination, harassment or victimisation in relation to the provision of services and functions, education, premises, work or associations. • Proportionate (negative impacts are proportionate to the aims of the policy decision) • Fair • Necessary • Reasonable, and • Those affected have been adequately consulted. Characteristics Describe any actual or potential negative Describe any actual or potential neutral or consequences (e.g. disadvantage or community positive outcomes for the groups listed. tensions) for the groups listed. (Consider how to advance equality/reduce (Consider how to mitigate against these). inequalities as far as possible). All residents (in general): None identified The scheme will manage congestion and is expected to benefit all people with protected Age (from young to old): characteristics. Disability (incl. sensory, Improved width shared use paths will reduce the mobility, mental health, learning conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians on disability, ill health) and carers existing narrow sections. In particular, this will of disabled people: improve conditions for parents with prams or Culture/ethnicity: nationality, people who use wheelchairs. skin colour, religion and belief: Sex, gender and gender identity (including Transgender & 5 pregnancy/maternity): Sexual orientation: Other socio-economic factors such as families, carers, single people/couples, low income, vulnerability, education, reading/writing skills, ‘digital exclusion’ and rural isolation. Human rights considerations: Section 4b - Environmental impacts An impact assessment should give due regard to the following activities in order to ensure we meet a range of environmental legal duties. The policy or practice does not require the identification of environmental impacts using this Impact Assessment process because it is subject to (please select from the table below and proceed to the 4c, otherwise complete the environmental analysis table): X Devon County Council’s Environmental Review Process for permitted development highway schemes. Planning Permission under the Town and Country Planning Act (1990). Strategic Environmental Assessment under European Directive 2001/42/EC “on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment”. 6 Describe any actual or potential negative Describe any actual or potential neutral or positive consequences. outcomes. (Consider how to mitigate against these). (Consider how to improve as far as possible). Reduce waste, and send less waste to landfill: Conserve and enhance biodiversity (the variety of living species): Safeguard the distinctive characteristics, features and special qualities of Devon’s landscape: