John Clark Way Rushden Residential Travel Plan March 2021 Page Deliberately Blank. PAGE 2 Residential Travel Plan : John Clark Way, Rushden Contents 1 Introduction 07 2 Existing Site and Proposed Development 11 Existing Site 13 Proposed Development 14 3 Travel Plan Policy 15 National Guidance 17 Local Guidance 21 Parking Standards 22 4 Travel Plan Objectives 23 5 Sustainability Appraisal 27 Pedestrians 29 Cyclists 32 Public Transport 35 Services and Facilities Accessible by Non-Vehicular Modes of Travel 41 Impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic in 2020 43 PAGE 3 Contents 6 Residential Travel Information Pack and Scheme Administration 45 Residential Travel Information Pack 47 Appointment of a Travel Plan Coordinator 47 Administration 48 Promotion 48 Review 49 7 Identifying Measures 51 Walking 53 Cycling 53 Public Transport 54 Car Sharing 55 8 Travel Plan Targets 57 9 Review of the Travel Plan 61 10 Implementation of the Travel Plan 65 11 Summary and Conclusion 69 PAGE 4 Residential Travel Plan : John Clark Way, Rushden Appendices Appendix A Site Location Plan Appendix B Sketch Layout Appendix C Public Transport – Bus Information Appendix D Public Transport – Train Information Appendix E Travel Questionnaire - Example PAGE 5 Report Reference 18836/RTP Revision History Rev Amendments Prepared By Checked By Date First Issue N/A AN GBR 11/03/2021 PAGE 6 Introduction Page Deliberately Blank. PAGE 8 Residential Travel Plan : John Clark Way, Rushden Introduction The following paragraphs state the purpose of this document, and its constraints. A summary of existing and future site details; together with relevant transport guidance is also provided. 1.1 This Residential Travel Plan has been prepared by Woods Hardwick Infrastructure LLP on behalf of Connolly Homes. This document supports an Outline Planning Application for a proposed residential development to be sited on a parcel of land immediately north west of John Clark Way in Rushden, Northamptonshire. A Site Location Plan is included within Appendix A. 1.2 At the time that this RTP was drafted, the proposed development is for the construction of up to 39 dwellings which will comprise a flatted development. The existing land parcel is a Greenfield site which does not benefit from a means of access. As a result, the development proposals will also include the construction of a new site access road which will form a priority junction with John Clark Way. The Sketch Layout enclosed as Appendix B, shows a potential site layout for 39 flats. 1.3 In terms of highways and transport, the development lies under the responsibility of Northamptonshire Highways (NH), who act on behalf of Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) in their role as the LHA for the area. 1.4 This Travel Plan has been written in accordance with the Department for Communities and Local Government’s guidance contained within the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG); in addition to Northamptonshire County Council’s Residential Travel Plan Template for developers. 1.5 This RTP has been prepared to ensure that sustainable modes of transport are available to future residents and visitors by the time the first dwelling is occupied. It is supportive of the reduction in single occupancy vehicle (SOV) use to and from the site, and in favour of other more sustainable modes of travel. 1.6 This report concludes that an appropriate level of parking provision will be available onsite; therefore, reducing the need for future residents and/ or visitors to take up the opportunity for on street parking along John Clark Way, which runs parallel to the site’s north eastern boundary. 1.7 This RTP concludes that through the initiatives to be promoted within the plan; in addition to the number of sustainable travel options that are available within the immediate vicinity; the desired level of modal shift among residents of the site can be achieved. 1.8 Given the contents of this report, the proposal should be fully supported through the planning process based on the currently available sustainable travel opportunities. The proposed site access will help ensure that the potential for sustainable travel options such as cycling will be safeguarded for the lifetime of the development. For further details, please refer to the site’s accompanying Transport Assessment which was also prepared by Woods Hardwick Infrastructure LLP. PAGE 9 Page Deliberately Blank. PAGE 10 Existing Site and Proposed Development Page Deliberately Blank. PAGE 12 Residential Travel Plan : John Clark Way, Rushden Existing Site and Proposed Development The following paragraphs provide detail on the existing and proposed future residential development site; in relation to location, land uses, as well as accessibility by sustainable modes of travel. Existing Site 2.1 The proposed development site is located in Rushden, which is a market town within the local authority district of East Northamptonshire. Rushden is situated approximately 6.7km east of Wellingborough, 4.1km south of Irthlingborough, 7.4km south west of Raunds and immediately adjacent to the neighbouring market town of Higham Ferrers. 2.2 By road, Rushden is accessible via the A45 and the A6, which run parallel to the town’s eastern and north western extents respectively. Of the two, the A6 is the closest to the proposed site and forms a priority roundabout junction with the A5001 John Clark Way some 560m to the east. 2.3 John Clark Way is approximately 1.3km in length and forms a direct connection between the A6 to the east and Rushden High Street to the west. It runs parallel to the site’s south eastern boundary and includes a 3m wide shared cycleway/ footway on either side of the carriageway. The road is restricted to a maximum speed of 30mph and benefits from the presence of street lighting. 2.4 Within the vicinity of Rushden, the A6 runs in a north/ south direction. From Rushden, the A6 provides connections to northbound destinations such as Irthlingborough, Finedon, Kettering and Junction 10 of the A14. On the other hand, southbound destinations include Luton and Bedford. In a similar fashion, the A45, which also represent part of the Strategic Road Network (SRN), can be used to connect Rushden residents with the westbound destinations of Wellingborough, Northampton and Junction 15 of the M1. Alternatively, A45 eastbound destinations include Raunds, Thrapston and Junction 13 of the A14. 2.5 In the vicinity of the site, the width of the John Clark Way is approximately 7.3m. This road width is increased locally at the neighbouring John Clark Way road junctions made with Windsor Road (approximately 180m south), Bob Whitworth Way (approximately 370m south) and the A5028 Rectory Road (approximately 680m south). In addition to this, there is an uncontrolled tactile crossing complete with a central pedestrian refuse island, approximately 60m north of the position proposed for the site access junction connection to John Clark Way. 2.6 The existing site covers an area of approximately 0.817ha, and is currently laid to grass. The site is located on a parcel of land which sits between a former railway line to the west and John Clark Way to the east. The parcel of land to be developed initially formed part of a wider site which has now been developed for warehousing immediately north of the development boundary, and an associated attenuation basin which sits immediately south of the development boundary. PAGE 13 Proposed Development 2.7 The proposed development is for the construction of up to 39 dwellings, which will be complete with dedicated areas for parking, and land scaping. The development will be constructed as a flatted development comprising 2 blocks made up of 1 and 2 bedroom units. For a copy of the Illustrative Sketch Layout, please refer to Appendix B. PAGE 14 Travel Plan Policy Page Deliberately Blank. PAGE 16 Residential Travel Plan : John Clark Way, Rushden Travel Plan Policy The following paragraphs provide detail on the transport related planning policies that help define the scope of requirements that should be adhered to when considering development at the proposed site. National Guidance 3.1 Within the ‘Travel Plans, Transport Assessments and Statements’ section of the DCLG, PPG; the definition of a Travel Plan is as follows: ‘Travel Plans are long-term management strategies for integrating proposals for sustainable travel into the planning process. They are based on evidence of the anticipated transport impacts of development and set measures to promote and encourage sustainable travel (such as promoting walking and cycling). They should not, however, be used as an excuse for unfairly penalising drivers and cutting provision for cars in a way that is unsustainable and could have negative impacts on the surrounding streets’ 3.2 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF: February 2019) aims to bring about sustainable development and create positive growth, to create economic, environmental and social progress for this and future generations. 3.3 Section 9 of the NPPF focuses on promoting sustainable transport. NPPF Paragraph 111 states that all applications for developments that will generate significant amounts of movement should be supported by a Transport Statement or Transport Assessment. 3.4 NPPF Paragraph 108 states that in assessing sites that may be allocated for development in plans, or specific applications for development, it should be ensured that: • ‘Appropriate opportunities to promote sustainable transport modes can be – or have been – taken up, given the type of development and its location; • Safe and suitable access to the site can be achieved for all users; and • Any significant impacts from the development on the transport network (in terms of capacity and congestion), or on highway safety, can be cost effectively mitigated to an acceptable degree.’ PAGE 17 3.5 NPPF Paragraph 103 states that significant development should be focused on locations which are, or can be made sustainable, through limiting the need to travel and offering a genuine choice of transport modes.