MILLWOOD DESIGNER HOMES LTD PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT: LILLYBANK FARM, BATTLE TRAVEL PLAN STATEMENT REPORT REF. 191631-01 June 2021 HEAD OFFICE: 3rd Floor, The Hallmark Building, 52-56 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3M 5JE T | 020 7680 4088 ESSEX: 1 - 2 Crescent Court, Billericay, Essex, CM12 9AQ T | 01277 657 677 KENT: Suite 10, Building 40, Churchill Business Centre, Kings Hill, Kent, ME19 4YU T | 01732 752 155 MIDLANDS: Office 3, The Garage Studios, 41-43 St Mary's Gate, Nottingham, NG1 1PU T | 0115 697 0940 SOUTH WEST: City Point, Temple Gate, Bristol, BS1 6PL T | 0117 456 4994 SUFFOLK: Suite 110, Suffolk Enterprise Centre, 44 Felaw Street, Ipswich, IP2 8SJ T | 01473 407 321 Email: [email protected] LILLYBANK FARM, BATTLE 191631-01 TRAVEL PLAN STATEMENT June 2021 Contents Page 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1 2. EXISTING SITUATION .................................................................................. 4 3. CONSENTED SCHEME .................................................................................... 9 4. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES .............................................................................. 11 5. MEASURES AND INITIATIVES .................................................................... 12 Appendices Appendix A Approved Masterplan Appendix B Welcome Pack AA/191631-01 i LILLYBANK FARM, BATTLE 191631-01 TRAVEL PLAN STATEMENT June 2021 Document Control Sheet ISSUE REV AUTHOR CHECKED APPROVED DATE PURPOSE - Draft for Review AA BS Draft 10/06/2021 Final for - AA DH KM 18/06/2021 submission Distribution This report has been prepared for the exclusive use of MILLWOOD DESIGNER HOMES LTD. It should not be reproduced in whole or in part, or relied upon by third parties, without the express written authority of Ardent Consulting Engineers. ii AA/191631-01 LILLYBANK FARM, BATTLE 191631-01 TRAVEL PLAN STATEMENT June 2021 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Ardent Consulting Engineers (ACE) has been appointed by Millwood Designer Homes Ltd to prepare a Travel Plan Statement (TPS) to seek discharge of Condition 24 of the consented residential development at land to the west of Lillybank Farm, Wattles Wish, Battle (hereafter known as ‘the site’). 1.2. The site has permission for redevelopment under planning application reference RR/2016/725/P for ‘Residential development with associated open space on land to the west of London Road, with all matters reserved other than access.’ with condition 24 requiring a TPS to be prepared. 1.3. A Transport Statement (TS) accompanied the planning application to Rother District Council (RDC) as the local planning authority. East Sussex County Council (ESCC) is the highway authority responsible for roads in the surrounding area. 1.4. This TPS has been prepared in accordance with the ESCC Travel Plans for Development (February 2020) document, with the aim of promoting the use of sustainable and active modes of travel for journeys to / from the site. It is primarily aimed at residents, but may also have a positive effect on the travel choices of visitors. Purpose of a Travel Plan 1.5. A Travel Plan is defined by the Department for Transport (DfT) and by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) as: a long-term management strategy for an occupier or site that seeks to deliver sustainable transport objectives through positive action and is articulated in a document that is regularly reviewed. 1.6. A TPS has the same goals and aims but is intended for schemes anticipated to have a lower impact. This TPS has been prepared to seek discharge of condition 24 of the approved development. 1.7. The benefits from a TPS can be categorised under three main headings: • Health Benefits; • Environmental Benefits; and AA/191631-01 1 LILLYBANK FARM, BATTLE 191631-01 TRAVEL PLAN STATEMENT June 2021 • Financial Benefits. Health Benefits 1.8. A reduction in the potential number of polluting vehicles on the roads surrounding the site will contribute to better air quality throughout the area. There are also well documented health benefits associated with active travel, such as walking and cycling, which are increasingly being recognised as ways to reduce sedentary lifestyles. 1.9. Regular moderate physical activity (including walking and cycling), can help prevent and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, stroke, mental health problems, high blood pressure, and musculoskeletal problems. Environmental Benefits 1.10. Climate change is a global issue that is affecting nations. The British Government has pledged to play its part in reducing harmful carbon and related emissions by setting carbon reduction targets: “it is the duty of the Secretary of State to ensure that the net UK carbon account for the year 2050 is at least 80% lower than the 1990 baseline. 1.11. Encouraging residents and visitors to make smarter, low carbon travel choices in the way they travel can reduce the impact that new and existing development across the region have on the local environment and air quality. 1.12. An increase in car trips can also contribute to negative local environmental issues such as severance and blight. By encouraging sites to reduce car dependency, the local highway networks will benefit from a reduction in vehicular movements and local communities will benefit from less traffic. Financial Benefits 1.13. There are financial benefits to be gained from increasing active travel rates and reducing harmful emissions produced by vehicles, both for individuals and for wider society. 2 AA/191631-01 LILLYBANK FARM, BATTLE 191631-01 TRAVEL PLAN STATEMENT June 2021 1.14. Individuals (specifically residents and visitors) can benefit financially from travelling to and from a site with a TPS in place due to the improved range of transport options available, some of which may be more cost-effective than car travel. 1.15. In some circumstances, TPS measures can remove an individual’s need for a car (or their household’s need for a second car), minimising the capital and on-going cost of car ownership. 1.16. An effective TPS can help encourage residents and visitors to lessen their environmental impact by reducing emissions from transport, lead a healthier and more active lifestyle, and reduce financial wastage. Structure 1.17. Following this introduction, the remainder of this report is structured as follows: • Section 2.0 describes the existing conditions in terms of the site’s accessibility on foot, by cycle and public transport; • Section 3.0 provides a description of the consented scheme; • Section 4.0 provides details of the aims and objectives; and • Section 5.0 outlines proposed measures and initiatives to encourage use of alternative modes of travel to the private car. 3 AA/191631-01 LILLYBANK FARM, BATTLE 191631-01 TRAVEL PLAN STATEMENT June 2021 2. EXISTING SITUATION 2.1. This section reviews the existing transport facilities in the vicinity of the site for all modes of travel, including walking, cycling, bus, rail and private car. The Site 2.2. The consented site is located on the northern edge of Battle, on land on the western side of the A2100 London Road. The overall site comprises an area of approximately 3.4 hectares, currently accommodates Lillybank Farm and is used for agricultural and equestrian purposes. 2.3. The site is bound by agricultural land to the north, the A2100 London Road to the east and Netherfield Hill to the south and west. The site location is shown at Plate 2.1. SITE Plate 2.1: Site Location (Source: Street Map) 4 AA/191631-01 LILLYBANK FARM, BATTLE 191631-01 TRAVEL PLAN STATEMENT June 2021 2.4. The existing access to Lillybank Farm is taken from Wattle’s Wish, north of Netherfield Road. An informal parking arrangement is in place at the farm without demarcated parking bays or the provision of any cycle parking. 2.5. The A2100 London Road is a single carriageway road, formed of two running lanes, linking Battle Town Centre with the A21 at Hastings to the south and Johns Cross to the north. Adjacent to the site, the carriageway is subject to the national speed limit of 60mph, reducing to a 40mph limit to the south of Virgin’s Lane for approximately 500m and then reducing again to a 30mph limit north of the town centre. Pedestrian Accessibility 2.6. The site’s location to the north of Battle Town Centre means a variety of local amenities and services are available to cater for the day-to-day needs of local residents without the need to travel by car. 2.7. The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) document ‘Providing for Journeys on Foot’ recommends suggested acceptable walking distances of between 500m (6 minutes, “Desirable”) and 2km (25 minutes, “Preferred Maximum”) for commuting and journeys to school. 2.8. Manual for Streets (MfS) identifies walkable neighbourhoods as being those typically characterised by having a range of facilities within an 800m (10 minute) walk distance, however not an upper limit, with walking offering the greatest potential to replace short car trips, particularly those under 2km. 2.9. Battle High Street is located approximately 960m to the south of the site and serves as a key employment and retail area for the town, providing a number of facilities within easy walking and cycling distance from the application site, including retail, supermarkets, restaurants, banking, health and leisure facilities. 2.10. Other local facilities within CIHT and MfS suggested guidance distances from the application site include Market Square (for Jempson’s Local, Post Office, Battle Library and the Battle Museum of Local History), Battle & Langton C of E Primary School, Battle Recreation Ground, Battle Abbey School, Battle Sports Centre and Claverham Community College. 5 AA/191631-01 LILLYBANK FARM, BATTLE 191631-01 TRAVEL PLAN STATEMENT June 2021 2.11. The A2100 London Road is a key route for pedestrians to access Battle. There is a footway on the western side of the carriageway which ranges from approximately 0.8m – 2.0m in width, connecting the site to surrounding public transport infrastructure and local facilities.