Environmental Statement Chapter E Transport 31 May 2012 30373/02/MH/LM Transport Planning Associates 21 Berkeley Square Bristol BS8 1HP 0117 925 9400 www.tpa.uk.com Llantarnam, Torfaen : Environmental Statement Contents E1.0 Introduction 6 Site Description 6 E2.0 Policy Context 7 E3.0 Assessment Methodology & Significance Criteria 8 Assessment Methodology 8 Significance Criteria 9 Consultation 11 E4.0 Baseline Conditions 13 Sources of Baseline Information 13 Local Highway Network 14 Pedestrian and Cycle Accessibility 16 Proximity to Local Services and Amenities 17 Public Transport Provision 19 Baseline Traffic Flows 21 Personal Injury Accidents 24 E5.0 Potential Effects 27 Introduction 27 During construction 28 After Completion 29 Assessment of Cumulative Effects 33 E6.0 Mitigation Measures 36 Introduction 36 During construction 36 After Completion 36 E7.0 Residual Effects 38 Introduction 38 During construction 38 After Completion 38 E8.0 Summary & Conclusions 40 E9.0 Abbreviations 41 E10.0 References 42 2545825v1 Chapter E - Transport P3 P4 Chapter E - Transport 2545825v1 Llantarnam, Torfaen : Environmental Statement Tables 1 Table E3.1 Impact Significance 10 Table E3.2 Consultations 11 Table E3.3 Record of Discussions with Torfaen County Borough Council Highway Officers 12 Table E4.1 Sources of Baseline Information 13 Table E4.2 Suggested Acceptable Walking Distances 18 Table E4.3 Baseline Pedestrian and Cycle Journey Length 19 Table E4.4 Summary of Public Transport Services 20 Table E4.5 Summary of Existing Bus Services from Llantarnam Park Way 21 Table E4.6 2012 Baseline Traffic Flows 23 Table E4.7 2022 Baseline Traffic Flows 24 Table E4.8 Newport Road 24 Hour Two-Way Traffic Flows 24 Table E4.9 2012 & 2022 Baseline Accident Rates 26 Table E5.1 Impact of Construction Traffic at Newport Road Roundabout 29 Table E5.2 2022 Forecast Study Area Total Traffic Flows 30 Table E5.3 2022 With Development - Pedestrian and Cycle Journey Lengths 31 Table E5.4 2022 With Development Accident Rates 33 Table E5.5 2022 Forecast Study Area Total Traffic Flows - Base 2022 + Development + Cumulative Effects 34 Table E5.6 2022 With Development + Cumulative Effects Accident Rates 35 Table E7.1 Table of Residual Effects - Transport 39 Table E8.1 Transport Environmental Impact Significance With Development (With Mitigation) - General Summary 40 2545825v1 Chapter E - Transport P5 Llantarnam, Torfaen : Environmental Statement E1.0 Introduction E1.1 This chapter considers the environmental impact of the proposed development in terms of traffic and transport. It has been prepared by Transport Planning Associates on behalf of Redrow Homes South Wales. Site Description E1.2 Llantarnam is located within the County Borough of Torfaen. The site is situated to the south of Llantarnam, between Cwmbran to the north and Newport to the south in an area bound by the A4042 to the east and the A4051 to the west. Newport Road runs on a south west – north east alignment through the site. E1.3 The sites comprise four parcels of land as illustrated on Figure E1: i Site 1 = Malthouse North; ii Site 2 = Welsh Government (WG) Site; iii Site 3 = Malthouse South; and iv Site 4 = Cottage Site. E1.4 These four sites form part of the planning application. E1.5 The cumulative impact in terms of traffic and transport at two additional sites (Parcel A and Parcel B) as shown on Figure E1, are also considered. These sites do not form part of the application. E1.6 The site is strategically positioned between existing residential development and the Llantarnam Industrial Estate, which is a major employment area. The Estate has developed as a result of the proximity of strategic arterial transport routes, including, the A4042 Trunk Road and the M4 Motorway. E1.7 The site and its relationship with the local highway network, pedestrian and cycle accessibility, proximity to local services and amenities, schools, employment, retail and leisure opportunities are considered generally in the Transportation Assessment (TA). P6 Chapter E - Transport 2545825v1 Llantarnam, Torfaen : Environmental Statement E2.0 Policy Context E2.1 The traffic and transportation aspects of the scheme have been carried out in accordance with “Technical Advice Note (TAN) 18” prepared by the Welsh Assembly Government in 2007, IEA Guidelines for the Environmental Assessment for Road Traffic, Institute of Environmental Assessment and the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), Highways Agency. E2.2 The proposals have also been considered in the context of the following documents: i The DfT guidance ‘Manual for Streets’ (2007) and ‘Manual for Streets 2’ (2010); ii Guidance on Transport Assessments (Department of Transport (DfT, 2007); iii Gwent Structure Plan (1996); and iv Torfaen Local Plan (2000). E2.3 Torfaen County Borough Council resolved on the 4 th October 2005, to cease work on the Torfaen Unitary Development Plan and commence work on the Torfaen Local Development Plan. The Gwent Structure Plan (1996) and Torfaen Local Plan (2000) remain in force until the Torfaen Local Development Plan is complete. E2.4 The main thrust of up-to-date policy contained within these documents is to reduce car dependency by making walking and cycling trips easier and by encouraging public transport trips between housing and jobs, shops and services. 2545825v1 Chapter E - Transport P7 Llantarnam, Torfaen : Environmental Statement E3.0 Assessment Methodology & Significance Criteria Assessment Methodology E3.1 The ES Scoping Report identified that the following traffic and transport issues should be investigated within the ES/TA: i The local highway network ii Pedestrian and cycle accessibility iii Public transport accessibility iv Highway Safety v The magnitude and consequences of any changes arising between the baseline and with development or construction phases on traffic flows on the local road network within the study area. E3.2 The ES assessment work will be carried out within an agreed study area which includes the following junctions: i The Crown, Croes-y-Mwyalch, Woodlands and Cwmbran Drive roundabouts. ii the Newport Road four arm roundabout with Llantarnam Park Way and Cory Park iii the Newport Road crossroad junction with Malthouse Lane and Pentre Lane iv the Llantarnam Park Way junction with Ty Coch Lane. E3.3 The study area for non-car modes is constrained to the reasonable travel distance to facilities within the locality from the development site. The furthest extremities of this cordon are no more than a two kilometre walk from the centre of the redevelopment site. The study area is defined on Figure E1. E3.4 A Scoping Opinion from Torfaen County Borough Council (TCBC) has been received dated 20 th January 2012. This contains responses from the Welsh Government Transport Division which is included in detail within the consultation section of this chapter. Their comments are considered either as part of the EIA or within the TA as appropriate. E3.5 The Scoping Opinion from the Welsh Government (WG) has been received and is set out in detail in the consultation section of this Chapter. P8 Chapter E - Transport 2545825v1 Llantarnam, Torfaen : Environmental Statement Temporal Scope E3.6 Traffic surveys were carried out in October 2010 for links and junctions identified within the study area. Growth factors have been calculated from historical growth figures in this instance rather than from TEMPRO data. This approach has been agreed with Torfaen highway officers. A permanent ATC counter is located in the vicinity of the Three Blackbirds public house on Newport Road. This has enabled a growth rate to be calculated per annum between 1996 and 2009 in order to determine future year traffic flows. The temporal scope for the ES is as follows: i 2012 Year of Registration of Planning Application ii 2022 Future Assessment Year E3.7 The assessment years are considered appropriate as it is envisaged that first occupations will occur late in 2013. At this stage a conservative build out rate of 60 dwellings per annum is forecast which would result in the development being completed in late 2020. The future assessment year will therefore include the full development profile. E3.8 Personal Injury Accident records have been considered for the five year period between July 2006 and June 2011 has been analysed for the study area including the Crown, Croes-y-Mwyalch, Woodlands and Cwmbran Drive roundabouts and Newport Road. Significance Criteria E3.9 There are four categories of impact significance considered, which are Negligible (i.e. nil or close to nil); Minor (or slight) significance, i.e. not noteworthy or material; Moderate significance, i.e. noteworthy or material and Major (or substantial) significance, i.e. extremely noteworthy or material. The situation with and without mitigation measures will be considered. These are considered in Table E3.1. E3.10 Each significance criteria can relate to a Beneficial (positive) or Adverse (negative) impact. 2545825v1 Chapter E - Transport P9 Llantarnam, Torfaen : Environmental Statement Table E3.1 Impact Significance Impact Significance Subject Area Major Moderate Minor Negligible Traffic Flow Traffic associated Traffic associated Traffic associated Traffic associated within the with the with the with the with the Study Area development development development development changes 24 hour changes 24 hour changes 24 hour changes 24 hour or peak hour or peak hour or peak hour or peak hour traffic within the traffic within the traffic within the traffic within the Study Area by Study